Adpro Futureofbath
Adpro Futureofbath
Adpro Futureofbath
OF BATH
EDITOR’S
LETTER
2
Designers must balance technology
and beauty in the bath.
A compelling mix of high design and
high-tech, the “Best Of” winners at this
year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show really Although Milan’s biannual International
highlight all the latest themes. Intelligent Bathroom Exhibition has been postponed
technology is embodied by the voice- until June (along with its parent show, Salone
activated and app-enabled U by Moen Smart del Mobile), creative collaborations coming
Faucet. Brizo embraced the Japanese wabi- out of Italy are already making elegant waves:
sabi concept of perfectly imperfect design Tailor Made, a line of sinks, vanities, and
in its Kintsu Bath Collection. And the desire shower trays by Ceramiche Piemme and fash-
for seamless minimalism is enhanced by ion house Valentino; and Discover Bathroom,
workhorse products like the wall-recessed a porcelain-slab line by ceramic tile producer
linear floor drain by Drains Unlimited (see Fondovalle and bathroom furnishings manu-
Clockwise from top: Antonio
our story on curbless showers on page 9). facturer Edoné, are two that come to mind. In
Lupi sinks; Belwith Keeler
our Future of Bath Trend Report, learn how chisel-molded Sandrine
hardware; the Water Monop-
the latest tech-forward trends are impacting
oly Martha copper tub;
the most traditionally tech-free room in the Grohe Essence
collection faucet
home.
—Katy Olson
Editor, AD PRO
COVER: ROGER DAVIES
HEADSHOT: GABRIELLE PILOTTI LANGDON. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES
THE
L AT E ST
INTELLIGENT
able in circular or square form and 15 metal
finishes, also includes a reservoir designed to
INNOVATIONS accommodate aromatherapy oils.
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ideal for early-adopter clients. BY MEL STUDACH a hands-free, motion-sensing toilet featur-
ing a dual-angle cleansing bidet in addition to
an integrated heated seat, a warm air dryer, a
deodorizer, and an auto-flush system.
A M P L E N AT U R A L L I G H T I S N O N - N E G O T I A B L E
in creating an airy en suite bathroom. With
sizes up to 48 inches wide and 90 inches tall,
Marvin’s new Awaken Skylight (1) ranks
among the largest skylights on the mar-
ket. Even after the sun goes down, the unit’s
built-in LED system can mimic daylight 1
3
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES
THE
L AT E ST
E A R T H LY D E L I G H T S
Nature’s beauty–from sculptural geodes and chiseled stone to satiny mother of pearl–
is a hallmark of the latest feel-good hardware.
BY MEL STUDACH
4
1
2 3
4 5
5
BY MEL STUDACH
2
THE
L AT E ST
2
TA P P I N G I N
F R O M T H E WA B I - S A B I A E S T H E T I C O F B R I Z O ’ S N E W K I N T S U B AT H C O L L E C T I O N
t o Z u c c h e t t i ’s c u r v i l i n e a r B e l l a g i o , b r o u g h t t o l i f e b y E u r o p e a n
desig ner duo Mat teo Thu n a nd A nton io Rod r ig uez, t he latest faucet s
6
e m b r a c e a w id e r a nge of a r t i s t ic, a n d of t e n i n t e r n a t io n a l, i n f lu e n c e s.
4 6
1 Brizo Kintsu Angled Widespread
Faucet With Knob Handles,
Teak Inlay in Polished Chrome
(Fall 2020)
7
Widespread Bathroom Faucet
Zucchetti Waterwords
6 Collection, Bellagio
Three-hole Basin Mixer
5
Grohe Essence Collection
7 Widespread Bathroom Faucet
in Brushed Nickel Collection
7
poured resin tubs and sinks
FOR THE TU S CA NY- B A S ED LUXE B ATHROOM
brand Antonio Lupi, technology is just as
important as technique. The family-owned
firm has three trademarked materials, and
it uses the newest—Cristalmood—a tinted,
glossy-finish resin comprised of polyes-
ter resin and pigment, to craft tubs, sinks,
and other bathroom furniture via a unique
hand-pouring method. Andrea Lupi, CEO,
shares a glimpse inside the studio and the
painstaking process.
The Background
“We wanted to make a new material as resis-
tant as stone, but clear as crystal,” Lupi
says. “Antonio Lupi started working with
solid surfaces in 2001, presenting our first
sink made of Corian, called Slot. Then we
worked with other resins.” In 2007, the brand
explored Ceramilux, a material made of
calcium carbonate, aluminium trihydrate,
and polyester resin, and in 2008 it designed
with Cristalplant, another versatile solid
surface. “In 2015 we launched Flumood, an
innovative material [that is] ecological, com-
pact, nonporous, uniform, and nontoxic,
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with a surface that is easy to clean with
common cleaning products,” Lupi says.
“The research for a new resin started in
2016, and it took more than two years of
research and development to create Cris-
talmood. We launched it at Salone del
Mobile in 2018.” At first, the only color
Antonio Lupi offered was Fumé, a smoky
gray, but now it has nine other “smart, new
colors,” including lime, amber and wine.
The Process
“The processing stages of Cristalmood
are quite long—two to three days. Cris-
talmood is manually poured into molds.
Then the object is extracted and finished
strictly by hand-sanding it to remove all
imperfections, both inside and out. The
manual intervention and craftsmanship
are essential, in fact; the [products] just
extracted from silicone molds appear
rough. We sand and polish manually in
order to remove the imperfections and
[brighten] the object.”
The Results
“Each product is unique and unrepeat-
able. Two sinks won’t ever be identical,
for there are slight differences in color,
size, and thickness.”
The Demand
“The Albume, Opale, and Vitreo wash-
basins and the Reflex bathtub have been
especially successful,” shares Lupi.
AND SAFETY
BY ERINN LOUCKS
S
KIP A S TEP: TAKING in the St yleDrain line f rom
the design-disrupting— California Faucets does just this.
and, for certain clients, Decorative center drain options
potentially hazardous— a r r ive i n a ra nge of ha rdwa re -
curb out of the shower complementing finishes.
9
is a le ad i ng re q u e s t Usually set next to an exterior
in bathroom renovations. A 2019 wall, linear drains are narrow and
National A ssociation of Home long and have only one floor slope
Builders study found that 82 percent instead of the four necessary for
of those surveyed installed curbless a point drain to circulate water
showers, a significant uptick from downwards. Since the floor is sloped
54 percent in 2004. With a level evenly in this case, any size of tile,
floor, the foundation is set for a i ncludi ng popula r la rger sizes,
seamless, moder n desig n—plus, works. There are increasing degrees
aging-in-place clients have one less of invisibility for linear drains. For
tripping danger to impact the design an ornamental touch, linear drains
of their home. The issue, then, is with decorative grate designs and
where the water goes. Drains, both finishes drain the water via a visible
hidden and decorative, become the pattern. The frame of tileable drains
most important design element at can be adjusted to fit tile or stone so
play. Shower drains fall into two it lies flush with the shower flooring.
groups: linear and point. The more Water then trickles down around
traditional point drain is usually the edges of the drain. There are
centered, with the surrounding floor options like the 3/8-inch gap of
sloped around it. Because of the the slot linear drain from Infinity
circular slope required for the drain Drain, with an opening so narrow
to function, smaller tiles—typically that it is hard to even perceive. And
not much larger than four by four From top: QuickDrain USA QuickDrain USA’s WallDrain is
WallDrain; Infinity Drain slot
inches—are necessary. While point linear drain; California
installed inside the wall itself for
d rai n s c a n b e u ncent ere d, t he Faucets Strathmore drain zero disruptions within the shower
majority are installed center stage floor. Both point drains and linear
in the shower and make a point of drains should drain with equal
being noticed. Launched by Beverly efficiency, and the end goal is the
Hills designer Christopher Grubb, same: a bathroom floor lacking in
t he newly released St rat h more barriers—both visual and physical.
FROM LEFT: TREVOR TONDRO. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES
PLUGGING
New products
transform the most
IN
10
private room into
the most connected
BY ERINN LOUCKS
DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN
PLUGGING
But even technophiles may need some way to achieve balance.” AD100 designer
GAME CHANGERS
AD PRO ROUNDS UP SOME OF THE LATEST
persuasion to see how a product like a smart Alexa Hampton, who has integrated features TECH INNOVATIONS.
shower system, a breakout category at this like radiant-heat floors and high-tech Toto
From Duravit, the SensoWash i integrated show-
year’s KBIS, can enhance their experience toilets into bath projects, advocates using er-toilet comes with a heated seat, individual
IN
in a room long set up to be a haven from out- mirrored jib cabinets, articulating magni- adjustments for water, an air dryer, and an automatic
side distractions. “People are more open to fying mirrors, LED strip lights in cabinets, opening/closing lid in the Plus version. For additional
11
ease of use, SensoWash i connects via Bluetooth to an
the idea of smart products once they’ve tried extra-deep shower niches, and thermostats
app and a remote.
it,” says AD100 designer Michelle Nussbau- inside medicine cabinets as “some tricks to
With a design inspired by peb-
mer, owner of Dallas showroom Ceylon et [let product] remain hidden, but useful.” bles, the Neorest NX1 Intelligent
The Capstone
Cie. “It’s important for them to see it, and Indeed, manufacturers are catering to Connected Home Toilet from Toto has a sensor
have a little bit of a training session.” the budding technophile with intuitive, Smart Mirror operation with auto open/close and
boasts voice and auto flush; aerated cleansing water,
Technology works best in the bath if it’s built-in solutions as well as upgrades to the
touchscreen capa- a warm air dryer, a heater seat, and
not the focus, as Lovato points out: “Incor- traditional. Case in point: Kohler’s newly an in-bowl catalytic deodorizer.
bilities, allowing the
porating natural materials, textures, and updated Moxie showerhead, which launches user to ask Google
variances of color, and allowing the entire this summer, incorporates Amazon’s virtual questions, watch
space to stand out, rather than highlight- assistant Alexa. As with a standard Alexa, a videos, download
apps, and check
ing the display panel or the thermostat, is a homeowner can request music, inquire about
social media.
stocks, or order more conditioner. But Moxie
is designed to be waterproof and formatted
U by Moen
Kohler’s sleek Moxie showerhead is to overcome the white noise of running water Smart Shower
Alexa-enabled. in the shower. It’s also an entry-point product is a Wi-Fi-based
for the tech-hesitant, since many are already shower con-
trolled by either
familiar with Alexa’s capabilities.
voice activation, a
While tech shouldn’t be the focus, it also smartphone app,
can’t be an afterthought. Overcome installa- or an in-shower
The Jason
tion challenges, Lovato advises, by printing controller. Com-
Wu for Brizo
patible with
out all specs in advance for contractors and Collection
Amazon Alexa,
other tradespeople. “I share with them any balances both
Google Assistant,
Scandinavian
installation videos that may help,” she adds. and Apple Home-
and Baroque
“Communication between the trades and Kit, the shower
infuences and
boasts the ability
suppliers is very important.” is available with
to create up to
The best products don’t necessarily look optional Smart-
12 personalized
TouchPlus,
high-tech. Instead, they seamlessly incor- The ThermaSol presets.
which allows
porate innovations to help create a modern Smart Shower
hands-free and
draws the powers
sanctuary that aims to reduce stress, not touch-sensitive
of water, sound,
promote it. For example, one of Nussbau- operation.
steam and light
mer’s go-tos is a vanity mirror embedded under the user’s
with a connected screen: “It allows you to use complete control
with a sleek, mod-
social media, download apps, and check the ular design.
weather,” she says. “What else could a girl
want while she’s putting on her lipstick?”
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Known for its near-silent water-
The single-jet Rain Spray Brizo’s proprietary H2Oki-
fall, the system’s PowderRain jet
system releases air-en- The single spray setting netic Technology directs
The unit’s AirPower process distributes microfine droplets for
riched water droplets. crisscrosses the spouts to water through a sculpting
Spray compounds water with air a soft and airy soak. Additional jet
The Ghost Combi unit also create a pyramid-shaped channel to create a dense,
Mode to create plumper, pearl-like options, RainStream and Intense
features a more assertive outpouring of intense water concentrated spray. Full
droplets. PowderRain, produce a more
Central Nail jet and a water- droplets. spray and massaging spray
powerful, linear H2O output and a
fall-like Cascade jet. options are also available.
vigorous downpour, respectively.
The surface cleans easily with a The cylinder fixture and spout Brizo suggests users wipe
Flexible silicone nozzles Dirt and limescale deposits wipe
warm water and vinegar surface cleans simply with away any deposits from the
Cleaning 101 hinder dirt and limescale- swiftly off the nozzles’ silicone
solution. Avoid chlorine to natural bath cleaners, such as soft rubber spray holes with
deposit buildup. material with a damp cloth.
prevent corrosion. warm water and vinegar. the touch of a finger.
VOLA IMAGE COURTESY OF HASTINGS TILE & BATH. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES