i+D - November/December 2018 - 62

Living by
Design
Bathrooms

Concrete Luxury
Once viewed primarily as the go-to ingredient
for an industrial residential look, concrete
has undergone a transformation. Thanks to those
who dare to dream, as well as new technologies,
concrete is now all that it wasn't even a mere
10 years ago.
"We make every pour in small batches by hand,"
says Kate Balsis, co-partner of California-based
Concrete Collaborative with sisters Hailey Weller
and Sally Smithwick; Hailey's husband, Ryan; and
her own husband, Chad. "It's this process that
drives the high-end look and feel, and authenticity."
"Turning concrete into something so fashionforward has been a goal from the beginning,"
explains Balsis. "Currently, clients are loving graphic
and modern patterns like our strands collection
by Sarah Sherman Samuel. Crisp, less classical, more
architectural. For the popular contemporary spa
feeling, the venice terrazzo collection is delivering
the desired luxurious look."
Of equal importance, she says, the company "stays
abreast of ADA regulations, new slip-resistance
testing, and local codes. All factor into what we sell
and how we sell it commercially. Functionality has
to be in the forefront, integrated into the product
while maintaining design integrity."
"We slip-test everything for flooring, interior and
exterior, wet areas, etc. And, we have various
textures to meet different ADA requirements. We
even developed an extra-rough custom finish for
our pavers used at such retirement communities as
Fountainview in Playa Vista, California.

Showroom
Special Advertising Section

KingsHaven
Empowering you to create the look and
lifestyle your clients will love. KingsHaven
revitalizes lighting and décor as customized
art and as a reflection of exceptional style for
residential, hospitality, and commercial settings.
KingsHaven's products are created with
exceptional craftsmanship by talented, worldwide
artisans. Hand-forged iron and wood-crafted
lighting ranges from historic reproductions of fine
European antiques to more modern traditional
and transitional designs. Many elegant, in-stock
selections are available for expedited shipping.
KingsHaven provides bespoke finishes and fully
custom options. Product tear sheets, pricing
quotes, dimensions, and photos available.
www.KingsHaven.com / 844-546-4799 /
Info@KingsHavendd.com
For more information about advertising in i+D, contact: Tom Davies, i+D Advertising Director
Phone: (319) 861-5173 * Toll-Free: (800) 553-8878 * Email: Tom.Davies@Stamats.com

Another trailblazer of the concrete world is
Staj Olson, founder of Igneous Bath in Montana.
He debuted in 2016 with the Airah and Banskah
thin-walled, heated-concrete soaking tubs. Taking
technology in the bath to new heights, the tubs
feature Wi-Fi-Nest-compatible thermostats, as well
as a full-color, touchscreen interface that can be
controlled from near or far and retain the desired
water temperature.
The tubs' silhouettes are sleek and contemporary,
yet "warm." Quite magically, each tub becomes a
"temporary art display," with tiny patterns of
micro cracks and slight changes in the cement's
color becoming visible when filled. It all vanishes
when the tub is drained.
Olson uses finishes that are durable and repairable.
He replaces the noise of jets and recirculation
pumps with silent, penetrating heat. The proprietary
cement used is very dense, making the tubs
extremely resonate. This is ideal for the optional
sound upgrade that turns the tubs into a Bluetooth
speaker that receives a signal from a smartphone
or other device. The selected media can fill the
entire bathroom or be audible only inside the tub
or under the water.
Personally sculpting each mold, Olson offers
everything customized. "These tubs are a personal
investment," he says. "I want to give each individual
exactly what they desire."

Concrete Collaborative crafts
a variety of unique and
sustainable concrete products
for innovative uses in interiors
and exteriors.
(Image: Concrete Collaborative)

http://www.KingsHaven.com

i+D - November/December 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i+D - November/December 2018