Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2016 - 15

"Homeowners want technology that offers
clean, unobtrusive design lines that make their
daily lives easier, not more complicated," said
Martha Orellana, vice president of sales and
marketing for MrSteam, who added that AirTempo, a wireless steam shower control that can
be installed on any surface, will debut at KBIS
2017. "Customers are also looking for products
that reduce clutter in the bathroom while also
improving efficiency and overall ease of use."

Trends
TOP LEFT For a safe and gentle
nightlight, DELTA introduces
the Sanborne Toilet Seat with
Nightlight, which runs on four
AA batteries and works on a
self-activated timer. The glow
works whether the seat is up
or down.
TOP RIGHT The Aqua-Sense

showerhead from GRAFF
boasts a unique square shape
that provides a spout for a waterfall flow, creating a natural and relaxing shower experience. With
various handle options, shower
components and the ability to
add lighting, Aqua-Sense can be
easily personalized.

LUXURY VERSUS PRACTICALITY

Arguably the integration of luxury in the bathroom is no recent occurrence, but in the past decade manufacturers have made it more accessible
to consumers of all budgets.
"Our customers are most concerned about
having a relaxing, spa-like experience in their
bathrooms: functionality combined with a clean,
sleek look," said designer Caitlyn Cartlidge of
Great Falls, Va.-based NF Interiors. "I'd say it
errs on the side of luxury, but I wouldn't say that
luxury and practicality are necessarily separate
in this context."
When it comes to the bathroom, practical
and healthful features like touchless faucets
or self-cleansing toilets are considered luxury
features. For the toilet - usually considered the
most practical but overlooked aspect of the
bathroom - the most luxurious experience is
also the most functional one.

LEFT SONOMA FORGE sen-

sor faucet technology, or Sans
Hands, has no visible sensors
and does not rely on infrared
technology. The Wherever
Collection, shown here, is
available in rustic copper,
rustic nickel, satin nickel or
oil-rubbed bronze.

BOTTOM LEFT To meet the
standards set of a CALGreencompliant product, StyleTherm
from CALIFORNIA FAUCETS
employs a two-outlet diverter
valve with volume control features. This thermostatic valve
technology allows users to toggle
between single shower applications and engage up to two
shower applications individually.

"Technology has impacted nearly every
product in the home from thermostats to refrigerators to televisions, and toilets are no exception," said Stevens. "Our research shows the
vast majority of American homeowners want
their bathrooms to be more luxurious, and they
are thinking about that with every product they
put into them. Still many say theirs fall short
[with the toilet], even among people who just
completed a remodel or update. Part of the
issue is they simply aren't aware of all of the
offerings available today on a toilet."
Toilets today run the gamut in offerings for
the practical client, from a touchless flush to
a deodorizing toilet seat, as well as automated
lids. Lights under the lid make nightly trips
safer, and a bidet function enhances cleanliness
for those with physical limitations.
"Our U.S. marketplace has a larger aging
demographic," said Bill Strang, president of
operations for TOTO, who added that simple
details like situating lavatory controls in an
easy-to-access place can make all the difference
for the elderly. "We need to make sure we can
help make the experience easier for everyone."

Ease of use is also important for consumers
like the millennials. It's the pamper factor of
the heated seat or the warm air dryer that will
be the draw for these clients. According to the
2015 State of the Smart Home Report from
Icontrol Network, 79 percent of millennials are
especially drawn to high-tech gadgets in any
room. Their values also lie in eco-efficiency and
time saving, and the cool, high-tech gadgets
are just a fun plus.
SAVING WATER AND ELECTRICITY

The toilet has helped pioneer water conservation in
the home with low-flow capabilities, which began
with the EPA's WaterSense program and its requirement that household toilets use no more than
1.6 gallons per flush (gpf ). A variety of different
methods contribute to this innovation: Pressureassisted flush toilets use the force of extra air, while
even a little horsepower pump can provide the
needed power. Either way, the EPA estimates that
since the WaterSense program's inception in 2006,
consumers have saved more than 287 billion gallons
of water and more than $4.7 billion in water and
energy bills by switching to more efficient toilets.

Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2016

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