Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2018 - 56

Products with Staying Power

Standing the
Test of Time

FAR LEFT This kitchen features
Blanco's Silgranit Sink in
anthracite and Jay Rambo
Co.'s custom cabinets.
LEFT This curbless shower

area incorporates Delta
Co. plumbing fixtures and
a Schluter Kerdi-Line linear
drain. Photos by David Cobb
Photography

Industry professionals
share their go-to selections
f o r t o d a y 's k i t c h e n a n d
bath projects
IN THE KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY, style

preferences are constantly changing and technology is always evolving. Manufacturers must stay in
pace with their products, but sometimes too much
change is not always a good thing. We spoke with
several prominent design professionals to learn
about what some of their favorite materials and
brands are for their projects.
"I like to think 'staying power'is the opposite of a
fad; it's the little black dress that can be worn to the
office and convert to dining with your sweetheart
on Valentine's Day," said Alisa Hoffman, principal
designer at Design Set Match and National Association of the Remodeling Industry's San Francisco
Bay Area Chapter vice president. "It works with
our personal style as we age with quality materials
that are flexible enough to support the changes we
make in our artwork, paint colors and furnishings."
Through our discussions, we found that the following qualities define a product or material with
staying power:
"It must be dependable, high quality and serve a true purpose.
"The brand should be forward thinking with high standards.
"It's not just "on trend;" it is something that will last several
years, is readily available and is versatile in style.

"It should be tried and tested with time, endure years of daily
use and become more beautiful the older it gets.

"Products should feature reasonable price points since today's
consumer is spending smarter.

"A product must appeal to the tradesperson tasked with
installing it, as well as the end user who lives with it.

"A selection should not conflict with the home's original style,

Brenda Helms
Edmond Kitchen & Bath - Edmond, Okla.

One of my favorite go-to sinks is Blanco's Silgranit composite sink. It hides
water spots in its medium-toned matte finish and doesn't scratch or scuff with
its tough-wearing material made of 85 percent granite, which is something
neither stainless or porcelain can claim.
We primarily specify Jay Rambo Co. custom cabinetry for its quality,
customization options and lifetime guarantees. It is a well-run company
with reliable results attuned to its customers and the market. In our area,
the majority of new homes feature site-built and site-finished cabinets. In
almost every instance, the finish is an inferior product to factory finishes and
shows damage and wear within five years. A durable finish from a reputable
company like Jay Rambo will stand the test of time.
Delta Co.'s universal valves give both remodels and new builds longevity
and proven expectations. Schluter Linear Drains are a frequent product in our
bathroom projects as well because they allow for curbless shower designs where
the same size tile can be used on the shower floor as on the bathroom floor.
Allie Mann
Case Design/Remodeling - Multiple Locations

In the last few years, the Whitehaven apron-front kitchen sink by Kohler has
been a product with staying power with is classic style. It is available in different
sizes and colors and can work in different kitchen settings as well as in mudrooms.The Moxie Showerhead - also from Kohler - came out several years ago
and is still very popular. With Bluetooth technology, you can bring your tunes
in the shower with you, and it also doubles as a speaker you can take just about
anywhere. It's a great housewarming or wedding gift and is very affordable.

and it should not be overdone.

"Something designed to fill a void or solve a problem in our
current market has staying power.

QUICK LIST OF
DESIGNERS'
FAVORITES
"Wood-look
porcelain tile
"Natural materials
"Quartz countertops
"White-painted kitchens
"Apron-front sinks
"Hardwood flooring
"Wi-Fi-enabled
appliances & fixtures
"LED undercabinet
lighting
"Stainless steel
appliances
"Polished chrome &
brushed nickel finishes
"White bathroom
fixtures
"Induction cooktops
"Smart home systems
"Quiet disposals
"Customizable storage
"Glass-front cabinets

FAR LEFT One of Mann's
favorite pieces of hardware
is the faux leather pull from
Atlas Homeware's Zanzibar
Collection. The chrome pulls
are available in five sizes and in
a variety of colors.
LEFT The highlight of this

kitchen is KOHLER's Whitehaven apron-front sink. Photo
by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Kitchen & Bath Business / FEB.-MARCH 2018 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2018

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