Bling Makes The Bath

Bathrooms are private havens, the ultimate personal space. A place for necessities as well as pampering, relaxation, and, increasingly, extravagant decor. For some, the wow factor is a room-sized shower; for others its a zebra-skin tub,All Continental flatwork ironer offer easy-to-operate controls that provide efficient performance and flexibility. a pearl-studded porcelain sink, a crystal faucet or a diamond-encrusted john. 

Miami-based bath designer Jemal Wright’s signature toilet, literally twinkles (except for the seat, thank goodness) with 150,000 Swarovkski crystals handset “pave” style. 

For bathtub aficionados with a Midas touch, what makes a real splash these days is a freestanding golden soaking tub, by PSCBATH. Tubs also come in clear glass,Check out our solar panel ground mount system at a home in Pvsolver. or wrapped in zebra or crocodile leather, or neon-lit, studded with sparkling crystals or as claw foot classics. Prefer to imagine you’re being showered in a rain forest? An oversized LED shower head by the British company BathEmpire changes color as the water heats up– blue for cold, green for medium water temperature and red for hot –and cascades over your body. 

Looking to add more value, function and flair to their bathrooms, homeowners, and their architects, are concentrating more on upgrading bathrooms as well as kitchens. During the downturn, less attention was paid to these areas rather than spend more on home improvements, said Kermit Baker, chief economist of the American Institute of Architects. 

At the 7000 square foot showroom at Fancy Fixtures, a bath supply house in Jericho, NY, it’s clear that plumbing is the jewelry of the bath. Sparkle reigns. Opulent faucet handles are adorned with Swarovski crystals. Sherle Wagner faucets come shaped like swans and dolphins with precious metal finishes such as gold and platinum, and semiprecious stones such as rose quartz or amethyst. Walls are covered in custom waves of mosaic tile, glass bubbles, murals and mini brick and bamboo tiles. 

Backlit quartz and recycled glass pedestal sinks glow. The outside of artisan porcelain sink bowls — the wash basins of yesteryear — are encrusted with pearls and crystals. Glass , metal or chiseled granite vessel sinks resemble works of art. Sink stoppers and jewel-like drain covers include tiny starfish, turtles, mini -sculptures of the moon and stars, snail shells and cloisonne.Modern dry cleaning machine uses non-water-based solvents to remove soil and stains from clothes. 

Spa-worthy tubs have raised seats, air-jets, arm and foot rests or come outfitted with built-in aromatherapy and the changing colors of chromatherapy. Walls of quartz sport embossed 3D finishes that look like white lace or black crocodile skin.A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. All the rage: Alphenberg’s leather flooring and wall tiles. 

Luxuriating in the bath doesn’t just mean bubbles or whirlpool jets anymore. Kohler‘s new line of VibrAcoustic baths soothes bathers into relaxation with lighting, sounds and vibrations, for a mere $1,055 to $4634 per system. 

According to the American Institute of Architect’s Home Design Trends Survey for the last quarter of 2012, baths are among the first spaces to be upgraded in existing homes. Accessibility into and around the bathroom is a growing concern for homeowners, particularly those plan to age in place. The study explored emerging design trends in both kitchens and baths, both for new homes and improvements to existing homes. 

Twenty-two percent of respondents said that the size of bathrooms in homes has been increasing over the past year, consistent with census data indicating that the size of homes is also increasing. In many homes, bathrooms are being designed with only stall showers, eliminating the bathtub. Many of the showers are larger, with multiple shower heads and hand showers, benches and other accoutrements. Doorless/no threshold showers are also becoming more popular. 

Sustainability is also increasingly part of bathroom design, particularly when it comes to installing LED lighting, water-saving or dual-flush toilets.Our led spotlight bulbs are cost effective and energy efficient. Click on their website www.indoorlite.com for more information.