The Kitchen and Bath People's "Product of the Week" - Wall Mounted Faucets

One of those spots I hate cleaning the most is that tiny sliver of counter between the back of my faucet and the backsplash. It's a tight spot that gets gooey and grimy every time I wash my hands or do the dishes. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to cleanly swipe that surface without any obstacles? Well friends, that is one of the beautiful things about a wall mounted faucet! Paired with an undermount sink, even better.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful, Design by Ruthie Sommers, Photo by Don Freeman

A recent client of mine has opened my eyes to this... why didn't I think of this before?? Well, here are some great looking designs I've found for the kitchen and bathroom:

For a clean and modern look in the kitchen, here is Kohler's Torq faucet.Or, go with Danze's Opulence faucet for a more vintage, cottage look.But if you're feeling a bit daring and want ultimate flexibility, how about Kohler's Karbon faucet, available as a wall mount.
For your bathroom, here is a beautifully classic yet modern faucet; Showhouse by Moen's Solace faucet.

And for the traditional home, here is Brizo's Tresa faucet.
There are also single handle wall mounted faucets. I like Jado's IQ faucet...

Now, for a word to the wise. In case, heaven forbid, something were to go awry with the faucet, it's good to have an easy way to get to the source of the problem. Plan ahead by placing these types of faucets on a wall that's shared with a closet or somewhere you can strategically place a removable panel. Or, incorporate a detail like what's shown in the photo above. Notice that the faucet is actually mounted on a bulk coming out from the wall. It creates a clever little shelf; but I imagine perhaps the top slides away, allowing access behind. Great design can be practical and look great!

Thanks for stopping by! Give us a call at 919-933-7855 if you're thinking about updating your bathroom, or even just your faucets, and live in or around the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill triangle. - The Kitchen and Bath People

A Custom Kitchen : Sinks

We all want options. Demand (and, in some cases, need) along with designer innovation have led to some great options for the kitchen's "wet zone." With numerous options for sink depth, finish, style, and organization tools along with an endless variety of specialized and well designed faucets, the kitchen sink can be just as personalized as you!
The Cascade sink by Elkay has an integral drainboard and surrounding lip providing a perfect ledge for any accessories you choose, including a cutting board, wire rack, and colander. The drain board can act as a space to push these accessories out of the way when you need access to the whole sink. Embossing within the sink allows you to insert the wire rack at different levels, bringing dishes up to you and minimizing your need to bend over the sink.
Franke uses a similar lip design to support your sink accessories... but they take it a step further with an integrated knife rack and utensil wells!I love the open, industrial feel to this sink (it's really just the way the sink is installed). A great display for nice pots and makes everything easy to find... it reminds me of a chef-style kitchen. This is also by Franke.
For practicality's sake, here we have a shallow sink. This particular sink is from Moen. For anyone with back problems, this will certainly help alleviate any pains brought on from bending over to wash dishes. Like the wire rack in the Elkay Cascade sink, this bring the dishes up to you, minimizing bending. This is also ADA friendly. For anyone bound to a wheel chair, this sink's depth leaves plenty of knee space below (assuming you don't have cabinets in the way) and makes it easier to reach your dishes in the sink.
Kohler's Karbon faucet has style and function. With all its joints, you can position it to spray water exactly where you want and it will hold that position. It's like a little interactive sculpture for your kitchen, with a purpose! Being a brass and carbon fiber (the stuff road bike frames are made of, making them ultra light-weight) blend, the faucet can be manipulated with weightless fluidity.
Jado's Saffron faucet has the look you would expect to see in any chef's kitchen. This faucet brings professional kitchen design into the home. The high arching hose design provides maximum durability and flexibility and makes it easier to wash those large stock pots.Brizo's Pascal faucet is absolutely fabulous! This guy allows both hand-free and touch-control functionality which conserves water and makes clean up so much more efficient. Water can flow in both a spray or a stream. Just watch this video (link found on the upper-left side of the page) showing the Pascal in action. Quite the culinary experience. Touch free makes life so much easier when dealing with raw meat!!

Have you ever wondered how a custom sink might make your life easier? If you live in North Carolina's triangle area and are interested in customizing your kitchen, please contact us for more information at www.thekitchenandbathpeople.com!

Tax Credits Encourage Green Remodeling as part of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Did you know that "spending $10,000 to retrofit a 1960's home with energy efficient features could save 8.5 tons of carbon... by comparison, increasing the energy efficiency of a new home 35% over current state requirements would cost $5,000 and would only reduce emissions by 1.1 tons."* In conclusion, "retrofitting existing homes with energy efficient features is 4-8 times more carbon and cost efficient."* I guess this is due to the waste and pollution caused by new construction as well as the further diminishing of our ever shrinking, precious green spaces.

Well, there is good news for you home owners out there who want to reduce your carbon footprint as well as save dollars on your water and energy bills. If you've been watching or listening the the news lately you've probably heard a lot of talk about the United Nations Climate Change Conference currently under way in Copenhagen. Then adding to that, there's still constant chatter on the economy. To both combat climate change and stimulate the economy, through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, our states have been given money (our tax dollars) to provide tax incentives for purchasing and installing certain Energy Star appliances. This is being detailed and carried out by each individual state. You can find more information about these rebates by clicking here. North Carolina will begin phasing the rebate initiative in April of next year! If you happen to be in New York City over the holidays you can view Fagor's green kitchen installation at the Wired pop-up store through December 27. So far, the types of appliances that will qualify (that are of a particular interest to me) include Energy Star clothes washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators/freezers (there are of course others).This is Electrolux's front loading washing machine. Not only does it have the Energy Star label for its energy and water efficiency, my favorite feature is its 18 minute wash cycle!! AND it partner drier.... 18 minutes too! "Ready before you are."

All Miele dishwashers qualify for the Energy Star Program. The G 2002 Series uses only 5.1 gallons of water in the normal cycle, and a measly 1.2 gallons in the economy cycle. Above, take a look inside.

GE has a whole slew of Energy Star refrigerators. Above I've pictured there Profile model.

With the new year approaching, now is a good time to begin thinking about ways to decrease your carbon footprint. If you decided to do a complete kitchen or bathroom renovation, here are a few more green products (that do not qualify for the tax rebate) to give you "feel-goods" and maybe even lower some bills...

This is TOTO's Eco Promenade toilet and one of MANY water efficient models out there. The EPA has partnered with WaterSense to develop third party testing for water-efficient products. Toilets with the WaterSense-label use 32% less water and perform as well or better than non-labeled products. These save the average household 11 gallons of water per day!

Faucets can also earn the WaterSense label. This RSVP faucet by Brizo has earned the label due to it's laminar flow.

This beautiful surface is from the ECO line by Cosentino (makers of Silestone). These products incorporate recycled bottles, mirror, cystal ash and ceramic; they are non-porous products that will never need to be sealed; and installing it can contribute to 5 LEED points.

Not only can bamboo add beauty and visual interest, it is a highly renewable (aka. green) resource. Bamboo can be used for countertops, floors, accents, accessories, and much more!

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com


*Nations Building News Online; Expanded Energy Tax Credit to Boost Demand for Renovation Jobs; February 16, 2009

Not Your Grandma's Clawfoot Tub...

Lately we've been receiving several phone calls for bathroom remodels. Why the sudden appetite for bathroom renovations? Beats me. But we sure are happy to see some potential business!

In light of bathrooms renovations, I thought it might be fun to showcase some beautiful freestanding tubs. Bathtubs have developed from the claw foot into an array of styles, providing something for everyone. Not only are free standing tubs a beautiful focal point in the bathroom, if you actually use the tub, a good soak in a hot bath is beneficial to your health. A hot bath will increase your heart rate - improving circulation, relax muscles, lower blood pressure, and can counteract stress and help you sleep at night. Hydrotherapy incorporates both hot and cold water baths, depending on what aches, to soothe various ailments whether it be a sprained ankle, poor circulation, a cold, hemorrhoids, arthritis, insomina... the list goes on. Water is natures healer.

In this metro-chic, modern meets tradition bathroom the soaking tub was placed smack in the middle of the space. Talk about the center of attention! I love the striking, black and white, mosaic tile backdrop housing the "spa-bar". This is where an otherwise divided "his and her" bathroom comes together... so dramatically romantic!

This image reminds me of the Spinning Teacups ride at Disney World, maybe it's just those little girls... but I love it. The travertine material just glows... so natural and so relaxing.

Japanese were the originators of the healing bath soak; and it is still an integral part of their culture. The shedding of ones clothes symbolically casts-off the cares of the day. They then scrub and cleanse themselves before sinking into the hot bath. To them, the bath is purely for relaxation and their well-being.

Now to the traditional western bath we're all used to. The exaggerated ball in claw foot on this tub is so theatrical!

This clean-lined, contemporary tub is a piece from WS Bath Collections. The headrests are a veneered marine ply wood and the outside can be covered with either a wood or -get this- leather finish! An interesting thought providing a clean, tailored look (the details are quite beautiful) but I'm really curious to know how those materials stand up to the constant humidity. Well, it comes with a quality guarantee certificate so why not go for it? :)

Ah, this modern meets tradition tub is probably my favorite of the pieces I'm showing. The metallic finish & simple, classic shape of this bathtub will fit seamlessly with a variety of bathroom themes. So elegant.

A bath; what a wonderful way to reconnect with nature. 'Tis the Season for indulgences, take time out of your busy schedule to heal your body and soul.

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com

Photo Credits : Photo 1 - Featured in Traditional Home Magazine, Bathroom Design by Robert Young, Photography by Greg Scheidemann, Tub by Kallista; Photo 2 - Tub by Stone Forest; Photo 3 - Tub by WS Bath Collections; Photo 4 - Tub by Victoria and Albert; Photo 5 - Tub by WS Bath Collections; Photo 6 - Featured in Elle Decor, Design by Jeffery Weisman and Andrew Fisher, Photography by Grey Crawford, Tub by Waterworks; Photo 7 - Featured in Elle Decor, Bathroom Design by George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, Tub by Agape

Planning for Your Future with Universal Design : in the Bathroom

According the the AARP, most Americans prefer living in a familiar place, their home, throughout their later years in life. Certified Aging in Place specialists can help homeowners fold universal design into their home, providing a space that is comfortable and safe and allows elderly to maintain their independence. Universal design is the "green of the future" as it will preserve its value for years to come, adding convenience for all users at any age. Below are some ways to subtly and beautifully incorporate universal design in your bathrooms.

It's a good idea to consider installing a sink in the bathroom that will allow wheelchair access. This wall-mounted sink by Decolav is handicap accessible as well as fashionable and functional with ample counter space and an integral sink basin, making clean-up a breeze.

Here's a more transitional and "homey" look. This custom design uses TOTO's Ryohan sink and looks like a piece of furniture. The open space below conveniently allows for wheelchair access.

Another detail to think about is your faucet's design. The lever handles on these Delta faucets are universally easy to use, for children as well as older individuals with arthritic hands.

It's also smart to consider lever handles for doors, instead of door knobs, throughout your home. This lovely lever handle is manufactured by Rocky Mountain Hardware.

While you may not need grab bars now, if you are remodeling a bathroom, go ahead and have your contractor install blocking needed for the bars to make that addition easier down the road. Now, thank goodness, manufacturers are putting more thought into the design of grab bars, like this one shown above, from Moen.

Check in next week for ideas to "universalize" your kitchen!

If you are interested in a kitchen or bathroom remodel or addition, please visit our website at thekitchenandbathpeople.com


Photo Credit : Photo #2 - Photography by John Ferrarone for Frank Webb Bath Center