The Family Bathroom

Get away from me!! It’s MY turn! Hurry up!! Your elbow is in MY space!!

AAAAAaaah the Family Bathroom. Let’s assume you have kids. Or let’s assume there are TWO people using the bathroom. And let’s assume that there is a battle for space. And you don’t have room for two sinks. How about a larger than normal sink with TWO faucets? There are a variety of options from several manufacturers. Following up on my previous discussion regarding the Fear of Modern, I suggested tiptoeing into this design area by mixing modern with traditional. This is an example of a modern sink with two traditional faucets over it.

And how can you resist this one?

What about storage you ask? This is the same sink built in with counter space and a shelf below.

This is a small bathroom with a small vanity but STILL– two people could brush their teeth or wash their hands at the same time.

By incorporating sinks like this, in the 37” range, you can (hopefully) allow for an upright cabinet for storage.

And when it comes to the shower and a growing family, a handshower on a slidebar is a must-have. Your toddler can take a “big kid” shower at age 3 and your growing teenager can raise the showerhead to their 5’8” or their 6’5” height. (Plus, short moms and tall dads can both have the showerhead at a reasonable height). And if your plumbing codes allow it, it’s always nice to shower together with two shower heads!

When I think of little boys, or big ones for that matter, I think about the toilet cleaning issues. With this in mind, it’s hard to beat a wall-mount toilet. (I’ll address these further in a future blog) They’re easy to clean under and there is less of them to clean overall. Think of all of the space you’ll save!

I had to include this photo even though there is no slide bar because this bathroom has a wall-mount toilet IN THE SHOWER!! It’s a great space saver. You couldn’t do this with a floor-mount toilet but think of the space you could save. This is called a Wet Room and I’ll discuss this in a future blog, too.

Family is all about closeness anyway, right? So squeeze in and consider two faucets over one big sink, showering together and building a wet room.

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Chrome is BACK!! Let’s talk about Popular Finishes

I’ve been saying this for a while now: “Chrome never goes out of style”. Well, now I have proof. According to the April 2012 of The Retail Observer, chrome has been specified in 52% of kitchens, up 18% from last year, and in 65% of bathrooms, up 19% from last year. Chrome suits a traditional period bath as much as it does a sleek modern one.

For those traditional baths, polished nickel is a lustrous choice with a hint of warmth that exudes elegance. This finish has increased 4-7% over the last year. It appears that this increase is at the expense the brushed finishes. (Brushed nickel has decreased 16-20% in the past year!!)

FYI, bronze finishes decreased from 49%-to 41% last year. Stainless rose 4% in kitchens over the last year.

We have all of these finishes on display in the store so COME ON IN!

This is a photo of a To-Die-For Zucchetti faucet in polished nickel. Elegance and Individuality.

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Check out the rest of the Zucchetti line here

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Samuel Heath Fixtures

Aaaaaah the Samuel Heath Fairfield. I like to pet it. It is one of the most beautiful fixtures in our showroom. It’s traditional design is not overly so. It’s curves and details are in perfect proportion to its handles and spout. It’s one line that just GLEAMS in polished nickel: a starlet in her best light. For those gutsy enough to make a statement, it’s fabulous in a golden brass finish, too. This golden color is definitely making a style comeback as evident in several recent design magazines and at last year’s ISH convention in Germany. Add wooden or crystal handles to really personalize this beauty.

This is a link to the Samuel Heath website but it’s just SO much prettier and pet-worthy in person

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