Duravit New York

Duravit opened Duravit New York, a 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom on Madison Avenue. Designed by architects Schmutz & Partner, the showroom focuses on thematic ideas of water, light, texture and color with a multi-sensorial experience of space. Conventional intersections between wall, floor and ceiling fade away seamlessly. Oval portals cut into the ceiling serve as interior skylights. "D-cubes" - flexible and adaptable "room fragments" - are fitted with their own roofs, floors, and ceilings to create bathroom vignettes.

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC announced the creation of a new corporate identity and logo. As it approaches 80, the company wanted an updated look that would position it as a revolutionary brand. "Since the company 's inception, Gerber has remained true to the plumbing professional by offering innovative and affordable solutions for the kitchen and bath," said Kevin McJoynt, director of marketing for Gerber. A gradual transition to the new corporate identity is underway. 

  Crawford Supply (Morton Grove, IL) hosted a grand opening for its Kohler Premier showroom in Itasca, IL, on Oct. 16. Pictured, Sig Feiger, chairman (right), and his son, Steve Feiger, president, greeted guests including Ila Lewis, who recently retired as chairman of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC.

Banner Plumbing & Heating Supplies (Chicago) has opened its 15,000-sq.-ft. showroom in Buffalo Grove, IL, to the public. The showroom carries 61 decorative lines including TOTO, Hansgrohe, Porcher, Elkay, Franke, Bear Creek Glass, HP Austin, Quiescence, Vanity Flair, Zoli Loft & Bath and Robern. It has numerous working displays and provides product information via touch-screen kiosks.

The North Central Wholesalers Association (NCWA) arranged a visit to Eastway Supply in Columbus, OH, Oct. 23. About 40 wholesalers and manufacturers reps toured the facility, including the wholesaler's showroom.

PremierDPH welcomed five vendors and 10 new members during its fall conference, held Sept. 11-13 in Phoenix, AZ. The new vendors included Flitz International, Fusion Hardware Group, Huntington Brass, Sierra Copper and Villeroy and Boch. The new members are: Caribbean Plumbing Supplies, Warren, St. Thomas, Barbados; Essentials Galleria, Inc., Aztec, NM; Frisbee's Inc., Sioux Falls, SD;  Lee Supply Corp., Indianapolis; Lighting Inc. Hardware & Plumbing, Houston, TX; Moore Supply, Houston, TX; Ocean Bath & Kitchen, Ocean, NJ; Plumbing by Design,  Port St. Lucie, FL; Thompson Price Kitchen Bath & Home, Des Peres, MO; Woodruff Co., Rochester, MN.

Advanced Modern Technologies Corp. (AMTC), a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of automatic washroom fixtures, announced the completion of an equity investment in AMTC from a private investment group. The group includes George Patrick Murphy, who served as president and CEO of Technical Concepts from 1997 to 2005. Murphy now will serve as a strategic and operational advisor to the management of AMTC, as well as a member of the board of directors.

  Cifial USA has moved to a new warehouse and office center in Norcross, GA, increasing its current space by more than 19,000 sq. ft. The new facilities include a 5,000-sq.-ft. office and 36,000-sq.-ft. warehouse space in North Atlanta. Founded in Portugal in 1904,Cifial designs and manufactures faucets, custom shower components, bath accessories, door locks, and door and cabinet hardware for residential and commercial uses.  

The Swan Corp. hired HADCO, Miami, FL, as its sales agency and master Swanstone distributor for the state of Florida.

Blanco appointed Austin Sales Associates LLC, Oklahoma City, as its sales representative for Oklahoma.

 GROHE  named Jeffrey C. Ackerberg president and chief executive officer for GROHE America, a subsidiary of GROHE Water Technology AG & Co.  He succeeds Andrew Stearns, who was recently appointed global chief supply officer for GROHE AG.  Ackerberg has more than 20 years of industry experience including stints with Kohler, Eveready-Energizer, Emerson Electric and Robert Bosch Corp. Most recently he served as president of Global Workspace Tools for ACCO Brands.

Whirlpool Corp. announced that Andrea Hutchins, AIA, and Dan Page-Wood, Associate AIA, both members of its Architecture & Design Marketing Group, have earned Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer credentials from the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Duravit appointed Todd Bruner as East Central regional sales manager, Ron Retaleato as New England regional sales manager and Louie Steed as Southwest regional sales manager. Bruner's territory includes Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and western Pennsylvania. Retaleato covers Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and upstate and western New York. Steed will oversee sales in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. 

WAC Lighting has changed its logo and tagline to "Responsible Lighting" to reflect its efforts to support green energy-saving strategies, social progress and community involvement. WAC Lighting manufactures track, recessed, undercabinet, decorative and monorail lighting.

 The Marble Institute of America reported the following results from a recent survey: When asked which countertop surface they would most want in their dream kitchen 55% of respondents said granite countertops. Harris Interactive conducted a survey of 2,021 U.S. adults aged 18 and older in October on behalf of the Marble Institute of America. The second most popular response, from 12%, was synthetic stone.   

When asked how much they agree with the statement "granite countertops increase the resale value of a home," 90% of survey participants either strongly or somewhat agreed.

In addition, 84% of respondents said they either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, "Granite countertops are among the most safe, beautiful and durable kitchen counter surfaces on the market today." There was minimal variance in responses from different regions of the country. Answers were similar among different age and socio-economic groups.

California Faucets' new Art Deco collection of faucets capitalize on lean silhouettes, geometrical shapes and a few flirtatious curves. The retro-inspired faucet designs celebrate a time of American prosperity and optimism. They'll bring the glamorous mood of the 1920s and '30s jazz lounges into the bath. 

ALNOART PRO by ALNO offers a handleless kitchen with real wood aluminum molded frames and high-gloss lacquered glass doors.The LIBERO Collection is comprised of unit systems which bring more light, space and gloss. These illuminated units can be positioned at the end of a run of units or can create a bridge to the living area.

J. Aaron introduced a collection of handcrafted cast concrete stone countertops that add an organic minimalism to kitchen design. The new stainless concrete is a high-tech mixture of additives along with very specific finishing techniques. The company says it is stain- and acid-proof  without using topical sealers. Pictured is a 2-inch thick stainless concrete countertop in a trowel finish.

Bath & Kitchen Pro, a publication created for bath-and-kitchen installers, distributors with showrooms and designers, takes a closer look at universal design trends in the Spring 2008 issue.

Contact Publisher Bob Miodonski at 630-694-4007 and miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or visit www.bathandkitchenpro.com for more details.

 Visit AECStore.com to view plumbing resources to help your business SUCCEED!

 20th Century Bathroom Design by Kohler

Take a chronological tour of bath and powder rooms and see how they evolved from converted closets to luxury centers for leisure and relaxation. 20th Century Bathroom Design by Kohler is an invaluable reference to the best in bathroom design during the twentieth century.

More than 400 images are presented, drawn from advertising and designer rooms created for Kohler Co. of Kohler, WI. Included are images from the groundbreaking advertising campaign, "The Bold Look of Kohler," as well as the artwork resulting from a century of arts patronage.

That art has extended to Kohler's products as well, including painted designs for toilets and sinks, matching tiles, and master-crafted wooden bathroom vanities. Hundreds of the early products are pictured and identified to help homeowners and collectors identify their antique plumbing.

Photos and artwork also provide a tour of bathroom design through time, portraying state-of-the-art rooms that pre-date World War II, and picturing post-war styles that scream '50s, '60s, and '70s. Plus, there's an entire gallery of contemporary bathroom design with nearly 150 photos.  Retail Price: $29.95 PURCHASE .

View our NEW Bath & Kitchen Section. Call 248-244-1275 with any questions.