Kitchen Bath

Staff -- Interior Design, 10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM

Zucchetti Rubinetteria ZSB125

With the contract market in mind, creative duo Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez teamed up to pare down traditional taps for the Simply Beautiful collection. Fortunately, its spare style does not limit the residential potential of the ZSB125, the single-lever wall-mounted faucet in chromed brass. 800-655-2534; zucchettionline.it. circle 700

Viva Ceramica Fleurs

Artist Massimo Gardone's signature photography looks light as fluff, but a second glance reveals it is subtly infused with unexpected emotional heft. Luminous and slightly abstracted florals give his Fleurs accent tiles the quality of pleasant anticipation. 39-0536-998701; cerviva.it. circle 702

Alape WT.RX 700

Design director Jürgen Kloss compares his company's WT.RX 700, a new, freestanding oval washbasin, to a sculptural fountain. Stocked in white “glassed steel,” the nearly-30-inch-tall minimalist design also ships in custom colors, with a square-footprint version available. 800-774-1181; alape.com. circle 705

Miele DA 5000

The stainless-and-glass-framed opening at the bottom of the robotic DA 5000, a 4-foot-long hood, more than doubles in size electrically, from a slim 5 inches to approximately a foot in width. The integral direct and indirect halogen lighting can be dimmed. 800-843-7231; miele.com. circle 703

Samuel Heath V116

Though famous for faucetry inspired by early plumbing classics, this English supplier also has been experimenting with ultra-modernism. The spare V116 is a deck-mounted, three-hole basin filler with pop-up waste lever. The rounded spout is in polished chrome–plated brass or stainless steel. 44-121-766-4200; samuel-heath.com. circle 704

Urban Archaeology Loop di Loop

Almost ¾-inch thick, Loop di Loop tiles are handmade in a Marrakech factory using a proprietary mixture of cement and marble dust.Suitable for floors and walls, both residential or commercial, the 8-inch pattern is one of more than a dozen in the clever,Moroccan-made line. 212-431-4646; urbanarchaeology.com. circle 710

Garogres Avenue

Among 20 products in the line, Spanish-made Avenue tile presents matte-finish porcelain in colors called Oxido and Titanio. A wide range of sizes is available: 18 inches square, 2 by 18 inches, 2 inches square, 12 by 24 inches, 6 by 24 inches, 2 by 24 inches, and 2 by 12 inches. 34-964-701-056; garogres.com. circle 706

Jaclo Tondo

Shower ceilings are beginning to get a little crowded—what with waterproof overhead lighting jostling for position with top-mounted rain showers. Inresponse, the company has created the multifunction category Lumiere shower heads. The line's stainless steel Tondo softly lights a stall while emitting soothing raindrops from above. 800-852-3906; jaclo.com. circle 709

JSG Oceana Diamond

Your fumbled razor or aerosol shouldn't harm a Diamond vessel sink (though don't try dropping a hammer, which will crack glass just as it would porcelain). Jeannette Specialty Glass engineered the sink's new Hard Roc borosilicate glass to resist sudden temperature changes, chemicals, and abrasion, as well as routine clumsiness. 724-523-5567; jsgoceana.com. circle 707

Electrolux 27-inch Front-load Washer and Dryer

The manufacturer's 27-inch Front-load Washer and companion 27-inch Front-load Dryer take vibrant new exterior shades for a spin. Sporty options include turquoise sky (sales of this color model benefit ovarian cancer research), silver sands and, of courseisland white. Significantly, an 18-minute wash cycle and the ability to dry clothes within a similar timeframe promise both water andenergy savings. 877-435-3287; electrolux.com. circle 708

Alessi 8.1190.2

The Italian blue-chip houseware maker tapped Dutch architect Wiel Arets to develop a contemporary bathroom suite. Laufen manufactures the resulting Dot collection's clean-lined pedestal washbasin 8.1190.2 using slick white porcelain. The eponymous dot appears as a singular circular indentation in the surface. 212-941-7300; alessi.com. circle 711

Poggenpohl Dining Desk

Sit back and enjoy the show. The new Dining Desk expands to incorporate modular functions—from a teppan yaki grill to hot and cold boxes, thanks to a clever Draenert mechanism that can be motorized. The Statuario marble surface shown is just one of 13 available natural stones offered; five wood veneers provide additional options. 800-987-0553; poggenpohl-usa.com. circle 712

Houzer Novus

Crisply mount a Novus sink as shown, or choose not to expose any of the stainless reveal at the lip. Either way, the multifunctional basin offers nearly-square 3/8-inch-radius corners and a working depth of 10 inches. The interchangeable dual platform system fits an additional work surface along with a drying or cutting board. To quiet the kitchen, the 30-inch stainless bowl is backed by sound insulation.800-880-3689; houzersink.com. circle 715

Graff Solar

The Solar series floor-mount tub filler is one of 21 designs (plus numerous shower configurations) in this contemporary line, which references the Prairie style and muscular modernism of Gerrit Rietveld and California's Case Study houses. The solid brass faucet with ceramic valves comes in polished chrome, steelnox, and architectural black. 800-954-4723; graff-faucets.com. circle 713

Bradley Corporation Aerix

Compact hand dryers in the Aerix line can be individually tweaked, for air speeds that will facilitate drying in as little as 10 seconds in active installations. Or, choose quieter operation at a lower speed for sound-sensitive environments, such as libraries. Vandal-resistant finish options for the cover include white enameled steel, cast iron, or satin-finish stainless. 800-272-3539; bradleycorp.com. circle 714

Laufen Palomba

You may think you spy Mother Nature's mitts all over the organic-shaped ceramic castings in the Palomba collection of porcelain basins. But it's actually prolific designers Ludovica and Roberto Palomba who are responsible for the new suite, which also encompasses tubs, toilets, matching mirrors, and bath furniture to complete the look. 41-617657554; laufen.com. circle 720

Pratt & Larson Ceramics G2-46

The Intaglio series, from Portland-based design principal Michael Pratt, mingles 1-inch G2-46 mosaic circles with a coordinating accent strip. The company's hand-crafted production process promises six glaze surfaces—watercolor gloss, parchment matte, craftsman matte, crackle, metallic, and R. gloss—in virtually any color. 503-231-9464; prattandlarson.com. circle 716

Mr. Steam 220

Home spa model 220 isan electric towel warmercomposed of welded steelin polished chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel, or white. The heating element is stainless steel. Optional robe hooks and towel racks can increase functionality, while an aromatherapy accessory will gently warm essentialoils to scent the room.800-767-8326; mrsteam.com. circle 717

Sonia Versatile

Designer Raul Villares-Gayan's Versatile bath console offers, as the name suggests, seemingly endless mix-and-match options. Water-resistant, marine-grade plywood—in white, walnut, wengé, and ash—supports glass fronts adorned with either colored or serigraph prints. The wall-mount counters are convertible with the addition of stainless steel legs.888-766-4287; sonia-sa.com. circle 719

Sun Valley Bronze Corduroy

Corduroy tile is certified to contain more than 90 percent pre-consumer white bronze, thus qualifying it to earn LEED credits. As with the company's bronze hardware, precision engineering and quality control at the manufacturing facility in Hailey, Idaho ensure longevity wherever the tiles are installed. 866-788-3631; svbronze.com. circle 718

Attivissimo Barcode

Forget frozen food and jet packs. The foreseeable future is going digital. Suitable for countertops and backsplashes, Barcode tiles utilize rough-ground, polished, satin, and antiqued finishes—in various colors that can be personalized. They come in an 8-inch square or 16-inch square. 212-980-1500; attivissimosrl.it. circle 725

Boffi Ice

German-based Neunzig Design co-principals Barbara Funck and Rainer Weckenmann cooked up the surface-mount light fixture Ice in their return engagement for this Italian design powerhouse. When used beyond the borders of the U.S. and Canada, the 2-foot-long, plastic-enclosed fluorescent lamp draws 13 watts of 220/240-volt current. 39-03625341; boffi.com. circle 721

Hastings Tile & Bath Dolce 4504

Sometimes the absolute minimum will chalk up as much, much more. Italian plumbing perfectionist Fantini's strong, striking, state-of-the-art Dolce 4504 is a single-hole–mount mixing faucet with a single lever and a 5¼-inch spout. Choose the sleek brushed Hi-nox finish or a traditional polished chrome. 800-351-0038; hastingstilebath.com. circle 722

Sono Bath Hydros

Where, exactly, does the water drain? The mysterious Hydros vessel sink exists in the conceptual space between art and design, function and sculpture, says designer Jae Omar. The nearly 29-inch-wide Caesarstone units sell in colors ranging from eggshell and mocha to desert limestone, blizzard, cinder, and concrete. 310-492-4006; sonobath.com. circle 724

Waterfall Bathroom Furniture Twenty-one

Thanks to two fully functional center drawers flanked by additional storage, designer Lucy Price's Twenty-one vanity offers Rat Pack styling—for pack rats. The combination of low-VOC paints, FSC-certified woods, and the optional 3-Form countertops made from recycled bottles are very much of the present moment. 888-521-3141; waterfallbath.com. circle 723

Bazz Custom Vanity

Iko Aviv's wall-mount Custom Vanity hails from his American-made line emphasizing recycled or recyclable materials, nontoxic laminates, and sustainably forested wood for veneers and panels. The glacier-white Corian, inlaid with waves of light-colored oak veneer, is only one of the custom combinations possible.212-206-7400; bazzeo.com. circle 726

Siematic S1

With an eye on the future, the S1 kitchen concept mixes white or gray pianolacquer with exotic woods. The aircraft-derived door design is handle-free, and drawers with oak-and-rubber “Grip Deck” bottoms utilize the manufacturer's push-button MaticMotion hardware. The concept also integrates a flat-screentelevision, CD/DVD player, radio, an Internet connection, and even an iPod charger. 215-604-1350; siematic.com. circle 730

Vitraform Pullman

The Pullman pedestal sink still ranks as a classic, thanks, in part, to its proprietary double-laminated process. Durable and suitable for both commercial and hospitality installations, the acid-etched glass fixture is offered in three new colors: peach, starphire, and clear. 888-338-5725; vitraform.com. circle 727

Artistic Tile Chocolate Stone Borders

Fortunately, this eye candy isn't the least bit fattening. The Chocolate Stone Borders collection serves up 2-inch-square confections layered with marble, limestone, and onyx. They come in three luscious color categories—dark, white, or caramel—and sell in foot-long sets of six tiles, mesh-mounted in single-file lines. 877-528-5401; artistictile.com. circle 729

Watercolors LG017

Peanuts got it wrong. Happiness may be a warm puppy for some, but others would prefer a warm towel on a nippy morning. This British company's Legacy collection LG017 towel warmer can be heated either electrically, or with water. The design is one of many, offering optional accents such as reeded or rope pattern tubing; choose from among 10 metal finishes. 845-424-3327. circle 728

2008 FALL MARKET TABLOID – KITCHEN & BATH

Don't miss our other 2008 Fall Market Tabloid kitchen & bath features:

• Chips Off a Bold Block
  Like father, like sons. Michael and Christian Sieger have followed in their father's footsteps, perpetuating a family tradition of cosmopolitan taste grounded in historical context...+ SlideshowSee the full 2008 Fall Market Tabloid.