NextGen House Features The Latest For Baths And Kitchen At IBS 

Attendees of the International Builders’ Show®  in Orlando, FL, last month were able to tour a model home, the NextGen Home Experience, showcasing technologies and products (pictured right*).

The 2,700-sq.-ft. “First to the Future” home featured two concept products from Delta Faucet Co. The Illusions concept faucet is designed for a bar/prep area of the kitchen or powder room. When the control joystick is moved forward, a spout automatically rises out of the counter top. When finished, a push on the joystick retracts the spout back into the counter top. 

The Smart concept custom shower from Delta Faucet features electronic control of water temperature and body sprays. Six pre-sets allow the device to remember users’ preferences. A remote control enables the user to warm up the shower before entering it.

Products from Brizo were also on display in the house: Riviera™, Trevi™ Cross, Quiessence® and Vesi™ lavatory faucets and the Floriano® bar/prep faucet.

MTI Whirlpools displayed its Interlude 2 whirlpool bath in the master bath, which includes turbo-massage, chromatherapy and an integrated aromatherapy diffusion system. Also in the master bath was an MTI shower base and glass enclosure with a teak shower tray (pictured above left**).

Other MTI products in the house included the Mirage bath, which can accommodate two bathers but fits into a standard size bath alcove; the Jentle Ped® foot spa (pictured right**); the Jeu d’Eau, a seated shower base that can also function as a footbath, with an inline panel/door enclosure; the compact Atlantica whirlpool bath; the Jentle Jet® laundry sink; and the Jentle Pet® spa designed for washing pets (pictured below, left**).

REHAU supplied the complete PEX plumbing system in the NextGen house, as well as residential fire protection. The company offers a wide range of PEX fittings in sizes from 3/8-inch to 2 inches.

Rinnai displayed a gas-modulating fireplace, which features digital electronic controls including dual timers, a thermostat or manual control option, child lock, pre-heat function and three-speed fan.

AIA Studies Kitchen and Bathroom Trends

As kitchens have evolved into the most popular room in the home, consumers are increasingly looking for high-end appliances, additional pantry space, island work stations, wine storage areas and recycling centers. The number of bathrooms in homes is also increasing with radiant floors, multi-head showers, dual sink vanities and towel warming products emerging as the most popular features. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey focused specifically on kitchen and bath trends in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Popular kitchen products and features
Upper-end appliances: 65.2
Renewable flooring material: 53.3
Island work areas: 43.0
Drinking water filtration systems: 37.0
Duplicate appliances: 34.0

Popular bathroom products and features
Radiant heated floors: 62.4
Multi-head showers: 61.9
Accessibility/universal design: 47.5
Doorless showers: 47.3
Hand showers: 35.5
Towel warming drawers/racks: 22.1
Whirlpool baths: -24.3

The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector.

For the full report, visit: http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0223/0223b_res.cfm.

KWC/HANSA GROUP has named Chris Marshall president and chief executive officer of its North American operations. Prior to this, Marshall held various executive positions in the kitchen and bath industry, including group vice president of Masco Corp. and president of Hansgrohe, Inc. Former CEO and president of KWC AMERICA, Len Casey and Joan Bostic, will continue to assist the company in a consulting capacity.

Julien® Home Refinements® has recruited Heidi Finch (pictured) as national sales manager overseeing Canadian and U.S. markets. Finch has more than 19 years of sales, customer relationship, channel and business management experience.

Moen Inc. recently donated kitchen and bath products valued at over $1.3 million to humanitarian organization World Vision. The products will be distributed through The Storehouse of World Vision, which provides building materials and other goods to churches, community organizations and low-income families throughout the U.S.

Julien ’s BenchToliet™ by Troy Adams Design was featured on the ABC morning talk show “The View” as a hot new bathroom trend for 2007. In the show’s segment on upcoming fads for 2007, lifestyle expert David Hoffman introduced the BenchToilet as a decorative solution to a typically unattractive fixture. Part of the Julien Bathroom Suite by Troy Adams Design™, the BenchToilet incorporates a sliding wood panel concealing the fixture while doubling as a powder room bench.

Association/Buying Group News

IAPMO Research and Testing (R&T) announced that it has become an approved certification body for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program. IAPMO R&T now certifies water closets to the Tank-Type High-Efficiency Toilet Specification as designated by the EPA program. Under the new specification, toilets must comply with a variety of requirements to be recognized as WaterSense-compliant.

Builders Plumbing and Heating Supply , 89 54th St. S.W., Grand Rapids, MI (a subsidiary of the Crawford Supply Group), held its official grand opening Jan. 23. More than 50 plumbing contractors attended the event, and a 50” plasma flat screen TV was won by Cherry Valley Plumbing. The showroom features products from Kohler, Vitra, Acryline, Blanco, Elkay, Delta, Grohe, and Hansgrohe, among others.

“The Home of the Future” study, introduced at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, was conducted in 2006 by NAHB’s Economics Group and is based on polls of architects, designers, marketers and manufacturers regarding what buyers can expect to find in an “average” home and an “upscale” home in 2015.

A typical upscale single-family home in 2015 based on the survey results will be more than 4,000 sq. ft., two stories, with 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 bathrooms, providing instant hot water in the bathrooms/kitchens, and including an outdoor kitchen with grill, sinks, refrigerator and cooking island.

Kitchens and bathrooms will continue to be among the most important factors affecting consumer buying choices and will continue to feature upgraded materials and appliances.

The average home in 2015 will be 2,330 sq. ft., two stories, with 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. The master bathroom will have both a shower stall and tub; the toilet will have a separate enclosure.

InSinkErator® showcased its TranScape™ line of instant hot water dispensers at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando last month. The company developed the line by packaging faucet qualities into two distinctive styles: the View™ and the Wave™. The View has a graceful, rounded design, suitable for kitchens done in a traditional style. The elegant angles and clean lines of the Wave complement a more contemporary kitchen décor. The designs are offered in both hot/cool and hot-only filtered water models, in chrome or satin nickel finishes.

Kohler introduced the Archer suite of bathroom fixtures at the International Builders’ Show. The suite offers an assortment of bathroom fixtures and faucets, including undercounter, self-rimming and pedestal lavatories, a petite vanity, a two-piece Comfort Height™ toilet with Class Five™ technology, baths, whirlpools, BubbleMassage™ baths, a shower receptor and a mirrored cabinet. The company says the overall design aesthetic of the Archer suite is versatile enough to complement a variety of diverse decors and will not go out of style in 10 to 15 years.

Oliveri Sinks has unveiled its new single round bowl with European-style drainboard. The model 521 stand-alone unit takes advantage of the single bowl configuration and combines it with a satin-finish stainless steel drainboard that complements existing appliances. The 521 fits in an 18-inch cabinet. Both the sink and the drainboard are welded into a single unit of solid 18-gauge stainless steel for optimum hygiene and durability.

Briggs Industries Inc. announces a new category of lavatories called the Stylo™ Collection, available in May 2007. The distinctive collection of above-counter vessel lavatories utilizes both classic and modern designs to create dramatic focal points in luxurious bath and powder rooms. The Stylo Collection enhances the vintage washbasin design with 13 contemporary geometric and organic styles. Crafted of vitreous china, the line is available in white and biscuit.