Bathrooms That Rock!

The Latest Line of Products Equip Bathrooms to Entertainment While Performing the Essentials.

Showers that sing, toilets that play original music, and bathtubs that vibrate with light shows are all aimed at keeping you entertained while engaging in the essentials. With the latest line of products, the bathroom is becoming the most entertaining room in the home. Do we dare say that the bathroom is the modern media room?



Over the years, we’ve witness the evolution of the bathroom from a practical, utilitarian space into a spa retreat.  This latest trend takes the loo to another level… Want a bathroom that you can boogie in?

Here’s a look at bathroom three fixtures built to entertain:

The  MoxieTM Showerhead:

The Moxie showerhead by KOHLER® takes singing in the shower to a new level. Remember those shower radios that stick to the shower wall? Well, imagine a whole dance club experience with a showerhead that is both DJ and Disco Ball. The Moxie showerhead has a wireless speaker with Bluetooth®  technology that streams music from your smart device. Not only can you dance and sing your heart out in the shower, you are the DJ streaming your own playlist or songs from IHart Radio, Pandora, or any MP3 player. Now, if you want shower time to be an intellectual pursuit, you can even stream audio books through the Moxie.

Last month, I met with the Kohler folks at the 2013 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas and experienced the Moxie showerhead firsthand. Leslie Bronson, Kohler Product Manger, says the Moxie showerhead integrates technology and the need for music in all areas of someone’s life….and I do mean ALL areas.

It’s a concept Kohler takes literally with a rollout of other products that keep that music flowing seamlessly in all areas of the bathroom. Priced at $199, the Moxie showerhead is selling well, Kohler reports.

 

VibrAcoustic®   Bathtub:

If you prefer a bath to the shower, no problem, the bathtub can transform into your personal boombox complete with massaging sound vibrations. The VibrAcoustic bathtub by Kohler plays music in sync with vibrations while you relax in tub.  “Because your body is primarily water, you feel those vibrations moving through you to give you a deep sense of relaxation, massaging you inside from the inside, out,” explains Jen Bryan, Senior Market Analyst in charge of Kohler Bathing Products.

 

The VibrAcoustic tub has six preprogrammed music experiences or you can stream your own music wirelessly or with an AUX cable.

Kohler had a sound therapist design the six preprogrammed music experiences to help the user relax and lower the heart rate for a Zen-like, spa experience. In addition to the music and massage, the VibrAcoustic throws in a little mood lighting to complete the sensory experience.

Kohler calls it chromatherapy lighting and the VibrAcoustic has eight color options that are choreographed to work with the sound and vibration experience. The user can cycle through all 8 colors or pick a color for mood lighting and ambiance.

NuMi® Touchless Toilet:

You can take the music to your toilet too with NuMi, a smart toilet with every technological bell and whistle you could image. The NuMi plays your favorite tunes from two speakers in the back. You can connect your MP3 player to the remote to play your own songs, listen to the radio or the NuMi’s own original composition designed to evoke a relaxing, spa-like ambiance.



Nick Grant, Senior Market Analyst for Toilets and Bidets at the Kohler, calls it the “touchless toilet.” Upon entering the room, the NuMi seat sensor lifts the lid. A blue light on the right side of the toilet allows males to tap their foot over the light to lift the seat up. NuMi also flushes itself after it senses 90 seconds of no motion. For the complete experience, the NuMi features a front and rear bidet wand, remote-controlled by the touchscreen and a dryer for what Kohler calls a “gracious user experience.”



For additional comfort, the NuMi has a heated seat, a foot heater and even deodorizes itself. The NuMi has its own night lite that makes the toilet bowl glow in the dark. Did I mention that the NuMi speaks 12 different languages? The NuMi retails for $6,390 and despite it’s luxurious price tag, Kohler says it’s doing very well in the marketplace.

Kohler says these new products “embrace the demand for constant connectivity.” So it seems the “bathroom break” has become more like a multimedia continuum of our daily lives.

5 Design Trends To Update Your Home in 2013

Recently, I attended a seminar entitled “90 Design Ideas in 90 Minutes,” at the 2013 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. Fifteen architects and interior designers took to the podium to share what’s trending in architecture and decor.  I’ve distilled the information down to 5 ideas that can easily update your home on a budget.

Monolithic Surfaces:

Monolithic Design Ideas

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Kitchen Products on Houzz- For Example:

Aprons · Dish Racks · Kitchen Countertops · Kitchen Islands And Kitchen Carts · Kitchen Hoods And Vents · Refrigerators And Freezers · Blenders And Food Processors · Toasters ·

Solid surfaces wrapped in singular materials are the main attractions in many modern homes this year. Envision a kitchen island wrapped in concrete or white carrera marble from the base to countertop. Marc Thee, Co-CEO of Marc-Michaeals Interior Design Inc., says the new trend is clean, structured material- monolithic sweeps of material especially natural or living edge materials such as wood. “Ornate or overdone design is out of favor. No longer do homeowners want heavy moldings, fabrics and furniture. The trend is light, clean, natural, simple,” says Thee.

The monolithic look can be affordable when wrapping a feature with cost-effective materials such as porcelain tiles.  “A wood clad wall creates a lot of interest,” says Thee, who cites an example of monolithic design. “Wood plank walls with random heights and thickness create texture in a room.”

[caption id="attachment_471" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Monolithic wood plank walls and ceiling in New American Home 2013[/caption]

Concrete is gaining a lot of attention with this monolithic aesthetic. “Concrete is trending because it’s always recyclable 50 percent made of ash from coal factories and it’s very cost-effective,” says Suzanne Felber of Life Stylist.

[caption id="attachment_446" align="aligncenter" width="560"] concrete countertop seamlessly blends with wood into a monolithic kitchen island.[/caption]

Concrete countertops and sink bowls are showing up in kitchen and baths. One reason, says Felber, is that concrete allows more personalization of a space by mixing with fills.

 

High Contrast Spaces:

From the kitchen to the master suite, living space that contrasts is the dominant aesthetic in 2013. Architects, Builders and Designers are combining materials in stark contrast. Envision a white kitchen with dark floors or perhaps white Calcutta marble with espresso cabinetry in the bathroom. The two-toned kitchen is the best illustration of this design trend.

Two-Toned Kitchens on Trend

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Kids Products on Houzz- For Example:

Baby Swings And Bouncers · Baby Toys · Children Lighting · Highchairs · Kids Beds · Kids Decor · Kids Toys · Rocking Chairs And Gliders ·

 

Many kitchen designers are integrating two-toned styles with a white island surrounded by dark brown wall cabinetry or a dark brown island with white gloss cabinets for a clean, on-trend look. At the International Builders’ Show this year, Mei Kitchens showcased its new contemporary line of two-toned kitchen and bath designs including its industrial look in stainless steel and gray. Mei calls its new line clean and modern with more than 40 color options.

 

Collection Cases instead of Bookcases:

[caption id="attachment_463" align="aligncenter" width="560"] a collection case embedded in stone fireplace mantle in New American Home, Las Vegas for 2013 International Builders' Show[/caption]

 

The growing popularity of eBooks and electronic readers has rendered the traditional library and bookshelves obsolete. Instead, designers are transforming the bookcase into a “collection case” to show off personal collectables. Envision a collection case with cantilever shelves and you get the effect.

 

Shared Spaces:

[caption id="attachment_458" align="aligncenter" width="560"] peek-a-boo bathtub in master suite from New American Home in Las Vegas[/caption]

To maximize the function of square footage, many newer home layouts making use of shared space. Envision a master bath with alcoves for exercise equipment or a coffee bar. Another example is the “wet environment” or Euro shower that  has the tub next to shower in one single space so essentially there is a tub in the shower. Architects, Builders and Designers are incorporating visual “peek-a-boo” spaces that look into the adjoining space. One example is in the master suite where the tub is in a “peek-a-boo” space visible from the bed.

[caption id="attachment_451" align="aligncenter" width="954"] peek-a-boo tub in master suite from Marc Thee of Marc Michaels Interior Design, Inc.,[/caption]

 

Indirect Lighting:

More attention focuses on lighting in 2013 for both function and design aesthetic. Indirect LED lighting underneath cabinets, in alcoves and embedded in trim and mouldings adds ambiance and an edge to any room. LED strings of light are affordable and easy to install in just about any area of the home with minimal electrical work required.

The concept of chromotherapy is gaining a lot of traction in home products where the user can change the color of backlighting or ambient lighting.



Now, even the mundane bathroom fixture is getting personality with products such as the Moxie showerhead and Numi toilet by Kohler that both feature chromotherapy lighting. The user can change the color scheme to fit his or her mood.

[caption id="attachment_450" align="aligncenter" width="230"] Moxie Showerhead with chromotherapy color options from Kohler[/caption]

 

Products that cast a pattern of light such as a door with a light grid or mesh that allows light to come through in beautiful pattern are also popular, notes Felber.

 

 

 

 

 

5 Design Ideas to Update Any Home

Color Trends for 2013 Nix Neutrals For Statement Hues

Karen LeBlanc, Home and Lifestyle Blogger Featured on Houzz

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Furniture on Houzz- For Example:

Armchairs · Bar Carts · Bar Tables · Benches · Buffets And Sideboards · Dining Chairs And Benches · Dining Tables · Ottomans And Cubes ·

 Opposites Attract as Color Makes a Comeback in Home Decor for 2013

Color is making a huge comeback in home décor and design. Beige walls are out of fashion along with the idea of flipping homes for a quick buck. As more homeowners opt to stay put in their homes for the long haul, they are trading in neutrals for statement hues that bear their own unique décor signature.

Sherwin-Williams has pegged the Color Trends for 2013 and packaged them in four distinct palettes. Recently, while attending the International Builders’ Show in Vegas, I spoke with Sue Wadden, Color Consultant and Interior Designer for Sherwin-Williams.  "The 2013 Color forecast is called Opposites Attract. We featured four collections ranging from deep, dark, saturated masculine tones, all the way to bright, energetic, exciting colors with punches of gray, black and white as palette cleansers, “ explains Wadden.

Every year, Sherwin-Williams culls their color forecast from what’s trending in fashion, pop culture, consumerism and the arts. The reigning color for 2013 is Aloe, as anointed by Sherwin-Williams.

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="376"] Aloe SW6464 Color of the Year 2013 as deemed by Sherwin-Williams[/caption]

“This is no ordinary pastel – Aloe is funky and glamorous, demure and free-spirited. While Aloe’s vibe can verge on retro, when paired with caviar blacks, crisp whites or soft grays, suddenly Aloe has a new soul and attitude. And Aloe is highly adaptable, making it a perfect pick for everyday spaces such as a breezy sunroom or a well-dressed living room,” says Jackie Jordan, Sherwin–Williams director of color marketing.

[caption id="attachment_426" align="aligncenter" width="4266"] Aloe, Color of the Year pictured on the walls[/caption]

Here is a breakdown of the Four Color Palettes in 2013’s Color Forecast:

Midnight Mystery:

[caption id="attachment_423" align="aligncenter" width="4079"] Midnight Mystery Palette pictured in plum brown and mink[/caption]

This color palette features oxidized, metallic hues. “Midnight Mystery connotes a moodiness inspired by the futuristic Victorian vibe of steampunk design. It’s a turn of the century aesthetic, a mixture of Thomas Edison and visible mechanics,” explains Wadden. The palette has dark, earthy colors counterbalanced with green grays.

Honed Vitality:

[caption id="attachment_421" align="aligncenter" width="4080"] Honed Vitality Palette pictured in Spiced Cider[/caption]

These earthy, desert inspired colors kick up the neutral palette a few notches with pops of blue for sky and water. The palette draws inspiration from the layered hues of  mineral deposits, sea-buffed stones and the weathered shutters of a rustic farmhouse. “It’s very grounded to the earth and very useable for interior and exterior residential and commercial,” says Wadden.

Vintage Moxie:

[caption id="attachment_425" align="aligncenter" width="4072"] Vintage Moxie Palette pictured in Radiant Lilac[/caption]

This collection of 60s inspired pastels has a retro glamour of pearls, florals and classic feminine silhouettes tempered by funky accents and attitude, according to Sherwin-Williams. Wadden calls them “pastels on speed.” She suggests using these colors as interior pops set off by a white canvas.

High Voltage:

[caption id="attachment_418" align="aligncenter" width="5344"] High Voltage Color Palette pictured in Electric Lime and Extra White[/caption]

These bright colors mirror the neon lights of Vegas and 80s fashions. The High Voltage collection has an electric feel and works well with palette cleansers such as black, white, gray and clear acrylics as primary backdrops. “The High Voltage collection is based on the technology of LED lighting and pop culture. They are brights tied to consumer merchandise,” explains Wadden.  She cites as an example, an all white room with electric lime green chairs.

So now that you know what’s trending in color for the home, how do you use such bold hues? I asked Wadden for a few tips.

Use a neutral as a primary wall color and accessorize with colors.

You can stay on trend by incorporating splashes of color without making the focus all about a trend color. “Paint the front door rustic red and the exterior charcoal. It’s very rich and on trend,” says Wadden. Think of pulling in color with tile, flooring, carpeting and fabrics from any of these four color palettes.

Take cues from colors you like.

“It doesn't have to be a commitment to the color trend but the whole environment you create,” explains Wadden.  She suggests creating a room that is fashion forward in these colors or using unexpected colors on the ceiling. One example is a front door in plum and a purple couch. “I like the exterior of the home to be a signature of  the home’s interior,” says Wadden.

As a culture, we are becoming more color-conscious, as illustrated by the proliferation of chromotherapy home accessories from bathtubs and toilets to backlighting. I’ll be covering that topic in my next blog posting. Until then, be sure and subscribe so that you don’t miss a single posting on the latest in home design and décor.

The Electric Fireplace, A Hot Property in Home Design for 2013

 

[caption id="attachment_344" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Electric Fireplace by Modern Flames
www.modernflames.com[/caption]

One of the latest trends to light up a room is the electric fireplace. Recently, I attended the International Builders’ Show in Vegas where electric fireplaces were the hot property in home design. There are several reasons why:

Electric Fireplaces are Affordable:

[caption id="attachment_334" align="aligncenter" width="4188"] Electric Fireplace by Hearth and Home
www.hearthnhome.com[/caption]

A gas or wood burning fireplace can cost you approximately $3,000 to purchase and install plus the cost of the gas lines, which can run as much as $400.  An electric fireplace costs approximately $1,000.

Electric Fireplaces Can be Installed in Any Room:

[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Electric Fireplace by Hearth and Home Technologies[/caption]

Because electric fireplaces don’t require ventilation, they can go in any room with a 120 Volt electrical outlet to plug into. The electric fireplace simply hangs from the wall so the possibilities are endless.

[caption id="attachment_337" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Electric Fireplace in masterbath by Modern Flames[/caption]

Imagine an electric fireplace flickering nearby while soaking in your tub, reading fireside in your family room or enjoying an al fresco evening by the flickering light of your outdoor living room hearth.

Electric Fireplaces Go with Any Décor:

[caption id="attachment_341" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Electric Fireplace by Modern Flames
www.modernflames.com[/caption]

Manufacturers are capitalizing on this trend in the hearth industry launching new electric fireplace product lines in many styles. These electric fireplaces have cool capabilities that traditional fireplaces just can’t pull off. Some have colored LED backlighting that can be programmed to rotate up to nine different colors or remain constant. The base of the firebox can feature stones or a glass rocks.

[caption id="attachment_333" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Electric Fireplace with LED backlighting by Hearth and Home Technologies.
www.hearthnhome.com[/caption]

In order to appreciate the beauty of these affordable faux fireplaces, I put together a Vlog with some video clips so you can really appreciate how an electric fireplace can light up a room.

http://youtu.be/2R_FGTT2ZCI