With January here, many of us are dreading winter’s long, dreary onset. It means shorter days, longer nights and spending time indoors reading, knitting or sitting fireside and catching up on movies. Dreaded nights be damned, as the Crawleys of Downton Abbey have returned to our midst. With the Great War upon them, we’re anxiously awaiting if Mr. Bates’s past will be unearthed and if Anna will accept him; whether Thomas will be revealed as a scheming cad and war dodger; and, most important, will Matthew and Lady Mary finally get it together? To commemorate the occasion, we thought these Victorian-inspired items might resonate with fans of the show. In fact, we’d be so bold to say that their addition could instantly elevate one’s abode from ordinary homestead to lavish manorhood.

Beacon by Hudson Valley Lighting^®

Beacon by Hudson Valley Lighting

Perfect for brightening the butler’s pantry, kitchen or entryway, Hudson Valley Lighting’s Beacon is certain to add understated but essential drama to any room. With finely tuned detailing and streamlined hardware, this attractive pendant or flush-mount application provides functional elegance suitable for everyday.

Broadway by THG^®

Broadway by THG

With a range of more than 35 available finishes, THG’s Broadway tap is elegant enough for a lady’s glamorous bath or would make a welcome addition to the handsome water closet located off the billiards room. Streamlined, the Broadway, with classic detailing and featuring handsome inset porcelain, will certainly never talk out of turn.

Canterbury Floor-Mounted Tub Filler by GRAFF^®

Canterbury by GRAFF

There is nothing more evocative of period-style than perfectly appointed freestanding floor-mounted tub fillers. GRAFF’s Canterbury tub filler is a study in grace and stature: reminiscent of days gone by but engineered for today’s more discerning homeowner. Available in seven finishes (polished chrome, Steelnox^® satin nickel, olive bronze, polished nickel, neo brass and antiqued brushed nickel), with a matching handshower and an optional ceramic insert, plus a healthy 50 inch shower hose, the Canterbury is the perfect choice for the Victorian bath.

Circa Vanity by Stone Forest^®

Circa Vanity by Stone Forest

Hand-carved from a single block of carrara marble, the Circa Vanity and offers a bold, architectural alternative to the Vintage Washbasin. Two options for the stand include open Palmer legs, or a wengé or maple cabinet by Vanity Flair.

La Scala by Corbett Lighting

La Scala by Corbett Lighting

The very definition of excess and opulence executed exquisitely is Corbett Lighting’s chandelier, La Scala. Combining multi-faceted clear beads and smoky crystal drops, La Scala takes drama to a new level with its cascading tiers, flame-inspired bulbs and silver leaf finish. Also available as a sconce, La Scala is offered as a six-, eight and 18-light chandelier and seems perfectly at ease in a dining room or main entryway as it does adorning the grand ballroom.

Finally, check out this video to learn more about the extraordinary history of the real-life “Abbey.”

Less Is More

Hastings Tile & Bath: Chelsea

According to an IFDA survey, Americans will be living in smaller spaces with fewer rooms by the year 2020 – increasing the need for products with uncluttered, clean lines. Enter the Chelsea small tub by Hastings Tile & Bath and Vola’s Round Series. The Chelsea tub might have downsized for 2012, since it now comes in a smaller version measuring 58 inches wide from tip to tip – but it still has curves in all the right places. The Round Series is a sleek and uncluttered collection of waste bins and tissue dispensers that save space (and hide the technical parts) by sitting flush against the wall.

Hastings Tile & Bath: Vola's Round Collection

Made in America

2012 will be the year of “Made in America.” More Americans today are seeking out “Made in America” products because they want to support local businesses and jobs. Even Europeans are gravitating towards American-made faucets because they want quality and classic American style. The Haley faucet by Watermark Designs, with its bold yet sophisticated lines, invokes timeless American design. Not to mention all of Watermark Designs’ faucets are manufactured in Brooklyn, one of America’s most renowned creative melting pots.

Watermark Designs: Haley

Bath 3.0

Watermark Designs: Luxury Shower System (LSS)

One of the most significant shifts in the bath we’re seeing for 2012 is the introduction of digital and wireless technologies that allow users to customize their bath experience according to their preferences – whether it’s water temperature or music playlists. The Luxury Shower System (LSS) from Watermark Designs and ThermaSol’s Bluetooth-enabled Serenity Light & Music System are two products that are taking the bath into a new era in the New Year.

ThermaSol Bluetooth enabled controls

Customizations

THG: Beluga

Faucet and bath accessory customizations will also be big for 2012. THG, the French luxury bath atelier of custom-crafted faucetry and bath fixtures, created the Beluga as a custom piece before launching it as part of their collection. Watermark ID, the custom division of Watermark Designs, also has a tradition of working along-side architects, designers and developers to design and fabricate customized bath fittings and accessories.

Watermark ID customized bath fittings

With such notable new changes and innovations in the world of bath products and design, it’s undoubtedly going to be a great New Year!

Mix and Match

“From high-low pricing, to mixed finishes and styles, antiques and vintage mixed with modern forms – true eclecticism is taking hold in the design world,” said Merrill. It’s partly a response to the economy and partly environmental. “We’re all reusing and refurbishing what we have, stretching the budget, splurging on some items, saving on others, keeping things out of landfills,” she adds.

Mix and match Hastings Tile & Bath's GDO Raised Panel Ceramic Tile

With Hudson Valley Lighting's® Chatham

The Old-World Lived In Look

“The ‘old-world’ Belgian design style that has been in for a couple of years is still going strong,” said Merrill. “It features weathered gray oaks, the natural patina of age and use, the weighty feeling of good construction, and it’s ready to last generations. Nothing is overly fussy or precious.”

GRAFF®’s Bali faucet in Oil Rubbed Bronze

Spa Bath

Our lives are so stressful that more people are looking to relax at home and feel like they’re off at a high-end spa. Merrill tells her clients, “Calming colors, simple lines and ease of use are the key ingredients. Calgon, take me away!”

Stone Forest's® Papillon Bathtub

It’s looking like it’s going to be another great season for interior design this Fall and we thank Linda Merril for her insights, which are always welcome on the pages of Styleture.

1. Cache by Zephyr^®

Cache range hood by Zephyr

Cache’s subdued and elegant design is only enhanced by its ability to eschew clutter and create ordered elegance in the kitchen. Cache offers a spacious storage compartment discreetly hidden beneath a sweeping, understated hood and utensil rail.

2. Profile Smart by Caroma^®

Profile Smart toilet/sink combo by Caroma

The Profile Smart is a compact basin, faucet and dual flush toilet tank in one. The integrated faucet utilizes fresh water for washing hands – just like a typical cold-water tap. The water then drains from the basin into the toilet tank reservoir below until it is used for flushing. Now that’s what we call ingenious , sustainable design!

3. Vesta Fire Table by Stone Forest^®

Vesta Fire Table by Stone Forest

Urban backyards and smaller outdoor spaces don’t have to compromise design, as Stone Forest asks the question, ‘why not combine your fire pit with your outdoor table?’ The Vesta Fire Table’s granite top and stainless steel base provide a safe, sturdy and eye-catching vehicle for producing warm outdoor flames—and a table for alfresco entertaining.

Shia LaBeouf

Success is not easy to come by in Hollywood; millions of hopefuls try, but only a fraction of a fraction actually succeed. There is no doubt that Shia LaBeouf, 25, star of hit films such as “Transformers”, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, “Eagle Eye” and “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”, is breathing in that rarefied air of success that so few will ever get to experience. With such success comes all the perks including the seven-figure salary and the palatial movie star home; not long ago, LaBeouf plunked down $1,825,000 for a 2,463 square foot bachelor pad in Sherman Oaks, California.

Shia LaBeouf’s Sherman Oaks Bachelor Pad

Set on over ½ an acre with natural, panoramic, mountain and city views, LaBeouf’s hip 1958 mid-century home features 4 bedrooms including a large master bedroom, 3 bathrooms, a sunken living room, floor to ceiling walls of glass that offer views over the L-shaped swimming pool, an ultra-modern cook’s kitchen with stainless steel appliances as far as the eye can see and a separate office (for reading “Transformer” sequel rewrites, we presume). The sunken living room is actually wrapped in glass, features a fireplace, saltillo tiled floors, and is the perfect pleasure den for LaBeouf to romance his numerous female guests. For that matter, so is the backyard with a plethora of mature, shade giving trees and the aforementioned L-shaped pool from which guests can peer far off into the distance at Encino, Tarzana and even Calabasas. To park his eye-catching automobiles, Labeouf’s home features a stunning, stone-floored private motor court and a two-car carport. It’s hard not to admire LaBeouf for this relatively reasonable home purchase; with all the “Transformers” money that’s been flowing his way, the star could have dropped ten times the dough he spent here on some overblown Beverly hills estate. Instead, the first time home buyer, who reportedly had previously lived with his parents in La Canada, chose this tasteful, sound residence perfect for someone of his age and with his bachelor lifestyle.

With plenty of privacy, awesome views, opportunities to enjoy both the indoors and out, not to mention a plethora of romantic sunsets, there’s no doubt Shia LeBeouf’s home will keep him happy for years to come. Or at least until he decides to flip it.

Bob Gifford, the Director of Bath Products at Hastings Tile & Bath

In late 2008, Hastings Tile & Bath, well-respected importer and distributor of contemporary bath and tile products with a 125-year history, unveiled a collection of their own called ‘Chelsea.’ The collection is made up of highly stylized faucets, sinks and tubs; all which have smooth and sensuous curves and marvelously relate to one another. What would compel Hastings to become product designers? We sat down with Bob Gifford, the Director of Bath Products at Hastings Tile & Bath because he is the designer behind the new line and we wanted to find out what inspired the man who’s seen thousands of fine bath designs in his lifetime. We also wanted to know what his thought process was and how he came to design one of the most beautiful contemporary faucet and bath collections on the market today.

Tell us about your background in product design.

I don’t have formal training in product design, though I do have a degree in architectural drafting and I’m conversant with AutoCAD of course. From the beginning of my career with Hastings, I’ve been ‘designing’ in one way or another: everything from our trade show booths and showroom displays, to custom glass shower systems. I have also been influential in determining many of the product designs we’ve brought to market from our suppliers in Italy. Add that to the fact that I’ve been drawing since I picked up a pencil, and it all makes sense. It’s a passion.

What type of support did the management team at Hastings provide?

The management at Hastings, particularly Michael Homola, the President of Hastings, have been supportive since day one. In fact, the entire company has been involved in some way with this collection – I really prefer to think of the Chelsea Collection as a team effort.

How long had you been thinking of designing products and why did you decide that now was the right time?

Well, you might say that I’ve been thinking about this for quite a long time, and the reality is that there is probably never a ‘perfect’ time to take the plunge, but waiting for perfect timing won’t produce anything. We also felt the market still had a desire for products that were well designed. We love the fact that the collection is truly that: plumbing and fixtures. Many manufacturers’ collections are based around plumbing and accessories – we wanted to design pieces that actually related to one another in a deeper way.

Chelsea H125 faucet

The faucet you designed, the Chelsea H125 seems to have it all: wonderful lines and ‘green’ technology – was this something that evolved over time, or did you know right away that you wanted to design a faucet line that has all the bells and whistles? This faucet also seems to push the boundaries a bit – was it challenging to manufacture a faucet to these precise specifications?

All of us on the team felt that if we were going to get involved in product design, we should produce something with everything we have always asked our suppliers to produce over the years. We felt it was important to push the limits of what’s been done before: the world certainly doesn’t need another ordinary faucet! We also wanted to produce something that couldn’t be easily imitated or copied – from the energy efficiency aspect to the lead-free construction and the complicated shape of the spout and handles – you won’t see knock-offs of this faucet.

We know that there are other pieces in the Chelsea Collection: sinks and tubs – so which really came first in your mind – the sinks and tubs, or the faucet?

The tub was the first piece but they were all conceived together; we wanted to have a coordinated family of products. We have additional designs for this collection that will be unveiled next year: a fantastic shower head, freestanding tub and shower sets, a second smaller Chelsea tub and new finishes like gloss black!

The Chelsea Collection

You’ve said that you have a notebook full of designs: does this mean that this is just the beginning of your career as a product designer for Hastings, and when might we see more designs?

I’ll never stop designing, and everyone at Hastings is looking forward to our continued growth of product offerings.

Most if not all of the editorial team members at Styleture are suckers for distinctly crafted decorative plumbing fixtures and bathroom accessories. Perhaps no other manufacturer gets us more excited than Brooklyn born and bred, Watermark Designs. Based in the independent design hub of Brooklyn and made in the USA, Watermark’s designs are a reflection of the creative melting pot from which they hail. As a true-manufacturer, their distinctive product quality is achieved using a combination of hands-on design and development combined with state-of-the-industry equipment. Their stellar collections have been featured in the world’s most exclusive residences and hotels, including Trump Park Avenue, New York, and The Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida. Best of all, many of their products offer water-conserving features.

To impart to those interested what Watermark Designs is all about, the company has put together a short documentary-style video that gives a glimpse into the inner workings of Watermark Designs. Most notably, it reveals the company’s dedication to hand craftsmanship by artisans and its awesome abilities to not only create traditional, transitional and contemporary designs, but also offer complete customization; a client can literally scratch something on piece of paper, then work with in house designers and engineers to make it a reality in very short matter of time.

PURE Inspired Design

We are never surprised that people have strong feelings about design. What does surprise us is when someone takes their love of design and changes careers completely to follow that passion. We recently spoke with Samantha Cobos of PURE Inspired; a line of eco-conscious fabrics and furnishings that she began in 2001.

We love that you just seemed to jump into eco-friendly fabrics and furnishings. How long were you designing before you decided to really take that plunge?

SC: Well, first of all I gave up my eight year career as a computer programmer to become an interior designer. I opened my own business in 2001 right after completing my design degree. I was successful, but the economy went south starting around 2008 and I had a lot of time on my hands. I started studying eco-friendly design as well as sketching patterns. What I discovered was a true passion for patterns and colors, as well as the need for eco-friendly design options! You might be surprised to know that I’m self-taught – I don’t take classes, I just try to figure things out on my own and I never give up

Samantha Cobos of PURE Inspired Design

How did you become interested in eco-friendly design?

SC: I realized one day that my personal goals to be ‘green’ at home were not translating into my interior design business. Once I realized this I studied and read all I could on eco-friendly design choices. I also studied for the LEED AP test and passed!

You design eco-friendly furniture and fabrics. How would you describe your design style? Where are your products manufactured and how challenging is it to maintain control over the manufacturing process as it relates to sustainable manufacturing.

SC: I would describe my design style as fresh, fun, and easy. I don’t like stuffy interiors – I LOVE lived in spaces with splashes of color, lots of texture, and eye-catching patterns. I’m happy to say that all my furniture and fabrics are made in these! My furniture is manufactured in Minnesota, which is where I live. My organic fabric is grown, woven, and printed in the USA. I feel it is very important to keep things local whenever possible – it is less expensive to manufacture in China, but I wanted to keep everything close. The quality is better and the carbon footprint is smaller. Also keeping things close gives me more control – everything I manufacture is on demand so there is no inventory, which allows me to make changes and improvements easily.

Sofa by PURE Inspired Design

You launched your line at the International Builder’s show – how nervous were you that your products would be reaching the right audience? Subsequent to that show – which trade shows do you exhibit at now – which ones do you consider your ‘must exhibit’ shows? And which trade shows do you attend to find out about the newest technologies and products?

SC: The interior designer for the green reVision home sponsored by Green Build Magazine, which was open during the International Builder’s Show, contacted me to see if I would be interested in participating in the home. I decided to dive right in and have products made for the show – the show really gave me the push and confidence that I needed. The audience for the show was not my ideal audience, they were mostly builder, but the experience was worth it! It was a lot of fun to be involved with the team and see my furniture, fabrics, and rug in a green home!

I have not been doing many trade shows since the IBS in 2010. I need to research the best shows for eco-friendly design products. In April I did the Greenprint show in St. Paul – it was a new show and I hope to be involved next year as well. With furniture it is very expensive to travel to other cities. I may do a textile show in the future, but I’m undecided.

Who or what has influenced you as a designer? Are there other ‘eco-conscious’ designers whose work you admire?

SC: When I started researching eco-friendly interior design I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for and I found it frustrating. This is one of the reasons that I started creating my own patterns with custom colors. This gave me the flexibility to create whatever I was needing instead of just looking for it. I’m influenced more by colors and shapes – I never know where or when I will find a new inspiration – it just happens. I’m sure there are many wonderful eco-conscious designers out there, but my designs are inspired from everything I see whether it is interior design, fashion, gardening, architecture, pottery… then my own imagination creates something truly my own.

Armchair by PURE Inspired Design

Ok – let’s go from the living room to the bathroom and talk a bit about the Caroma Challenge. You’ve reviewed Caroma’s water-saving Flow Showerhead on your blog. What struck you about that showerhead in comparison to other water saving products?

SC: I love the shape of the showerhead – it is sleek and different. The best thing about the showerhead is that it worked so well! Great shower experience and great water pressure! Plus it saves water – what could be better.

Caroma FLOW Showerhead

Do you think consumers know enough about how ‘easy’ it really can be to save water while still having a great shower experience? Would that be your biggest take-away from that challenge?

SC: I think I learned that it is so easy! People may think that it requires a plumber, but it was a 2 minute installation. So I think if consumers knew how easy it was to switch out their old shower head for a water-saving model they would do it.

How much of all of the information about sustainability in design is really trickling down (no pun intended) to the consumer now? What else can manufacturers or showrooms or designers do?

SC: I think education is the key. Once a consumer knows something about saving energy, water, the planet… they can’t just forget it and will try to make the best choices. Also consumers will share what they know with others. I’m always sharing interesting facts with people about the environment and good choices, and I have to believe that I’m making a difference!

Samantha Cobos, Allied ASID, LEED AP
PURE Inspired Design
Blog: PURE Inspired Design BLOG

The crack editorial team at Styleture has a penchant for gravitating towards stories revolving around bar, pub and tavern style. You may have enjoyed our recent post – Books & Bars: L.A.’s Thirst for Literature. Don’t worry, we’re in control of our imbibing and there’s not a DUI among us. So we’re going to continue with this crowd-pleasing trend…

Rusty and leaky faucets, toilets that don’t flush and lighting so dark you’re not sure what you just stepped in may be acceptable, and even stylistically required, in a dirty dive bar whose most lavish feature is a broken pinball machine or PBR on tap. To Mr. T’s Bowl (Los Angeles), the Subway Inn (New York), and all the other dive bar classics across the nation, we salute your repellent, yet strangely inviting aesthetic.

But to any bar owners hoping to woo a mid to upscale clientele, who have not put forth any effort into creating a brilliant bath environment that is pleasant in sight, sound and smell – not to mention functionality – please beware. You’re losing style points fast in the mind of patrons, most of whom are Yelpers, and will not hesitate to ruthlessly – and often poetically – destroy your establishment under their pen name. Bottom line, the bathroom in your bar may be one of your establishment’s most important features and finding the best products to make it a comfortable, and even sexy environment, is imperative.

Here are our picks of some of the hottest products for the hip and modern bar bath on the market:

Brooklyn Faucet by Watermark Designs

The Brooklyn Faucet by Watermark proves the theory that when in doubt about design, go industrial. This beauty not only displays great functionality and a cool aesthetic, but also boasts a truly historic design that celebrates the working class roots of one of the most authentic and respected neighborhoods in the United States. The faucet levers for hot and cold, designed to resemble mid-century gate valves, highlight this distinguished set.

Sydney Smart Toilet by Caroma

The Sydney Smart 305 1-Piece Water Closet by Caroma features industry leading Smart Technology. With two buttons for flushing – one for solid, the other for liquid – the Sydney Smart 305 is not only large, comfortable and modern in design, but it’s also one of the lowest consumption High Efficiency Toilets on the market. With this piece, fussy patrons (are there any other kind?) might complain about your selection of tequila, but never your toilet.

Naugatuck Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting

The Naugatuck Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting creates the ultimate in sexy, downlight ambiance for the bar bath environment. Featuring an eye-catching metal shade and a solid brass body, it also creates an attractive visual for the room. Shining just enough warm light for a patron to check their do in the mirror, without completely killing their buzz, the Naugatuck is a winner on all counts.

Patrons are particular about their bars and the bathroom environments they offer. All it takes is one bad bathroom experience for them to write an otherwise worthwhile establishment off forever. Products like the ones above not only elevate the design and functionality of a bar bath to new levels, but they also promote customer retention.

Sustainable Solutions (SSi) designs eco-friendly products to conserve water and encourage eco-responsible living. Their Penguin faucet – which bears a distinct resemblance to the body of a penguin – is low flow and dispenses water at a rate of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute). The Penguin faucet does its part to preserve our planet’s most essential resource, while not sacrificing design or quality.

According to SSi, if a faucet maker doesn’t understand the importance of water conservation, who will?

Penguin Faucet by Sustainable Solutions (SSi)