The House Of Bledsoe

Beautiful finishes, exquisite detailing and exceptional functionality are all integral to the design of luxury products. The high standards for these products are not only constantly met but exceeded by the companies that produce them.

Choosing the best products introduced into the luxury market is no easy task, but the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association assigned a team of industry experts to do just that for its 2021 Product of the Year Awards. The program recognizes uniqueness, design, functionality, innovation and technological superiority and taps the winners in a range of categories. This year’s independent panel of judges included: Mary Jo Peterson, principal, Mary Jo Peterson Design in Brookfield, CT; Eliot Sefrin, founding director and publisher emeritus of Kitchen & Bath Design News; Alissa Ponchione, executive editor at Hospitality Design magazine; Molly Switzer, creator, Molly N. Switzer Designs in Portland, OR, and Alena Capra, owner, Alena Capra Designs in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Award winners were presented in seven separate categories: Plumbing Fixture, Water Delivery, Furniture, Accessory, Door Hardware, Cabinet Hardware and Technology. The Products of the Year were announced at DPHA’s annual conference and product showcase held this past fall.

Water Delivery

Winner

Brizo: Frank Lloyd Wright Single-Function Raincan Showerhead

Drawing on the famed architect’s philosophy of organic architecture, Brizo’s Frank Lloyd Wright Single-Function Raincan Showerhead features the distinctive rush of the Canopy Spray, which activates a built-in LED light powered by a hydroge- nator for a dramatic effect. The Spray releases thousands of fine droplets, creating a down- pour that leaves a light tingling sensation. The showerhead can also be surface mounted to the ceiling or pendant mounted on a shower arm. A number of metal finish options highlight the natural beauty of the available wood.

Honorable Mention

California Faucet: Corsano Culinary with Squeeze Handle

Designed to give cooking enthusiasts a professional look, the Corsano Culinary Faucet with Squeeze Handle includes an easy-to-squeeze lever that activates a powerful spray. Available from California Faucets, the kitchen faucet is offered in 25-plus artisan finishes, plus the ability to finish the coiled spring to match the rest of the faucet. The uniquely engineered insulated sprayhead ensures that it’s never too hot to the touch, even with scalding water. Easy-to-clean spray jets withstand mineral build-up, notes the firm.

ccessory

Winner

Sterlingham: Marble Heated Towel Rail

The Sterlingham Co.’s Marble Heated Towel Rail pairs marble with the brand’s signature brassware in a rail designed to gently warm towels. Part of the Cascades Collection, the single rails – which measure nearly 24″ long – may be hung alone or stacked and arranged in nearly any formation. The marble accents are patterned and versatile, and available in five distinctive marbles: Nero Marquina, Bardiglio Nuvolato, Bianco Carrara Venatino, Calacatta Gold Calo-Bett and Giallo Sienna, along with 16 metal finishes.

Honorable Mention

Infinity Drain: Next Day Custom Linear Program

Infinity Drain’s Next Day Custom program eliminates costly and lengthy installation delays by offering custom-sized drains for the shower within a day. Next Day Custom Linear Drains are available in lengths up to 72″ and are offered in two finishes, three grate styles and for all installation waterproofing methods. Custom orders received by 10 a.m. ET ship the following day.

Plumbing Fixture

Winner

MTI Bath: Bowie Freestanding Tub

Featuring pleated exterior detailing, MTI Bath’s Bowie Freestanding Tub adds unexpected texture to the bath. Developed in collaboration with the design firm Source, Bowie is handcrafted from MTI’s SculptureStone material, which is primarily an organic mixture of ground natural minerals and resins that presents the look and feel of molded stone. Bowie provides space for two bathers, is offered as a soaker or air bath and is available in white or biscuit with eight different exterior colors in matte or highly polished gloss finishes.

Honorable Mention

Native Trails: Amara Fireclay Sinks

Handcrafted by Italian artisans, Amara fireclay sinks from Native Trails feature a rectangular profile glazed in 24k gold, platinum and silver in honor of the company’s silver anniversary. The sink is created from rich clay soils sourced from the Umbrian region of central Italy that are molded using ancient ceramic techniques dating back to the Bronze age. The sinks can be installed as drop-in or undermount, and deliver a stain-resistant, non-toxic coating that resists tarnishing and fingerprints.

Furniture

Winner

Stone Forest: Elemental Crossbar

Designed for the bath, Stone Forest’s Elemental Crossbar uses a locking collar system that affords the flexibility to customize each setup to suit individual needs and preferences. The knurled locking collar supports modular components at desired heights on the brass pipe legs for seemingly endless options. Elemental Crossbar allows users to combine integral stone sinks, wood drawers and steel, wood or stone shelving in various combinations. It is available in all finishes, including a new walnut finish option for drawers and shelves.

Honorable Mention

AD Waters/Simas: Agile Vanity

Handcrafted in Italy, the Agile wall-hung console vanity from Simas exhibits clean lines and squared-off edges that evoke both simplicity and purity. Available in the U.S. from AD Waters, the piece includes a washbasin fashioned from Italian porcelain, showcasing craftsmanship and cultural authenticity. Agile is available in eight colors.

Door Hardware

Winner

Accurate Lock & Hardware: SmartEntry, Self-Latching Mortise Lock

The SL-SM9159E brings the convenience of smartphone locking control to space-saving sliding and pocket doors. The lock, from Accurate Lock & Hardware, combines mechanical expertise with cutting-edge technology. Paired with the SL9100 Self-Latching Mortise Lock, it is available with a variety of trim options including Sectional Trim (lever and rose), ADA Trim (lever and escutcheon) or Flush Pull Trim for Pocket Doors.

Honorable Mention

OMNIA Industries: L.D12943 Smart Lock

OMNIA Industries has partnered with Level to deliver smart deadbolt locksets, including the L.D12943 Smart Lock. The hardware designs are crafted in the Italian tradition and powered by the Level Bolt invisible smart lock. Level Bolt is powered by one CR2 lithium battery and works with the Level app to provide safe and secure keyless entry. Users can automatically lock and unlock a door, see who’s come and gone, access from anywhere, use with other devices, control with voice, create home automations and more.

Technology

Winner

Airmada: Shower Drying System

The patented Airmada Shower Drying System prevents mold, mildew, slippery floors and after-shower humidity, reduces watermarks, and the need to use harsh cleaning chemicals, notes the company. With the push of a button, air flows into the space from Air-Jet nozzles installed into the walls and ceiling. Installed at rough in, nozzles are placed throughout the shower space, typically in the ceiling, on the wall above any benches and low on walls to dry across the floor. An array of finishes to match tile, and complement other features, is offered.

Honorable Mention

ThermaSol: HydroVive

ThermaSol’s HydroVive is designed to bring the multi-sensory powers of light, sound and water under the user’s control when paired with ThermaSol’s Smart Shower Valve and ThermaTouch interface. Key features include a ceiling-mounted light, sound and rainhead environment system in one module; a rainhead shower that delivers a gentle falling water sensation with 300 neoprene jets; sound settings that include volume, treble, mid-range and bass; stereo RCA input; 200 full-color spectrum luminous LED, and built-in Bluetooth.

Cabinet Hardware

Winner

Waterstone Faucets: Industrial Appliance Pulls

Inspired by the company’s Industrial Contemporary bath collection, the Industrial Appliance Pulls and cabinet hardware from Waterstone Faucets feature diamond knurling detailing. Fashioned from U.S. solid brass bar stock, the hardware features more of an oval shape for a comfortable feel in the hand. There is no knurling on the underside, which adds to the smooth aesthetic. Split finish designs are available.

Honorable Mention

Turnstyle Designs: Hickory

Inspired by North American hunting knives, the Hickory lever, pull handle and cabinet knob are hand-cast in Turnstyle Designs’ Amalfine material, which preserves the fine details of the timber and wood grain design. Available in 48 combinations of Amalfine and solid brass, the pieces are set on a solid brass plate or strip and have a circular button. The circular buttons are a take on a nail, creating a contrast between the smooth brass finish and the textured Amalfine surface.

The post Elegant Essentials appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thehouseofbledsoe.com/?p=543

Dallas, TX Daltile recently held the official grand opening event for its newest showroom, located in the South Lamar area of Austin, TX.  The brand’s newest 4,000+-sq.-ft. showroom delivers easy access to the hottest tile products for Austin’s interior designers and architects, notes the firm.

“The design scene in Austin is really electric right now, with a lot of new build residential and commercial construction happening as well as a constant stream of remodels,” said Katy Ebbert, manager of Daltile’s new Austin showroom and licensed interior designer with 20+ years’ experience in commercial and residential interior design. “Austin itself is so exciting and that energy flows right into our city’s design scene. Austin is a melting pot of people and artistic ideas. There is a constant exchange with everyone bringing fun, unique ideas to the table when it comes to design.”

“The Austin design vibe is definitely unique,” said Brian Smith, senior marketing manager, Dal-Tile Corporation. “It’s kind of a funky, hippy, organic vibe. We nod to Austin’s personality with special features designed into our Austin studio location. As you enter our studio, you are greeted by a big tie-dyed tile wall, complete with the phrase, ‘Keep Design Weird’ in neon lights above the mosaic. Part of our studio is dedicated to outdoor design, where we prominently feature a favorite phrase of a well-known Austinite, ‘Alright, Alright, Alright.’ We have also transformed the front brick wall of our building outside into an impressive mural, designed and hand-painted by professional artist Daas. Daas took his original inspiration for the mural from Texas wildflowers and expressed this idea in a modern take that includes geometric tile shapes and perfectly reflects Austin’s unique flavor.”

“We have designed our new Austin showroom to focus on our high-end products and showcase these tiles in a unique way,” said Paij Thorn-Brooks, v.p. of marketing, Dal-Tile Corporation. “In addition to an easy-to-peruse showroom filled with product samples, our Austin studio features a generous number of vignettes throughout the showroom as well as story boards, flat lays, and generous slices of product. Accessing take-with product samples is very easy for the interior designers, architects and homeowners who are visiting our studio.”

“Daltile has also designed this studio to be an extension of our customers’ business,” advised Thorn-Brooks. “We encourage our local designer and architect customers to bring their own clients into our showroom. Not only do we put all of the hottest tile looks right at the professionals’ fingertips, making it easy to help their clients select just the right tile, but the stylish atmosphere of our studio, complete with work tables and conference rooms, provides such an inspirational ambience for a meeting. Although this particular studio focuses on showcasing Daltile’s high-end products, our entire product line is accessible to choose from during a visit to the Austin studio.”

 

The post Daltile Celebrates Austin Showroom Opening appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thehouseofbledsoe.com/?p=537

BLANTON, PA – Rasmussen/Su Architects of Philadelphia, PA has been awarded the grand prize in BlueStar’s annual design competition. This contest recognizes designers, architects, builders and remodelers from across the country and shows how performance, color and customization come together to create a bespoke, highly functional and luxurious kitchen space, notes the firm.

“The BlueStar design competition celebrates talented kitchen designers who are pushing the boundaries of color and creativity to help their clients realize their dream kitchens,” said Eliza Sheffield, president, BlueStar. “With our distinctive combination of restaurant-grade performance and unrivaled customization options, including 1000+ colors and finishes, BlueStar offers trade professionals truly unique options for clients looking to create statement kitchens.”

Grand prize winner Rasmussen/Su is an award-winning architecture firm specializing in custom residential design. Working together since 1995, firm principals Kevin C. Rasmussen AIA LEED AP and Vivian M. Su LEED AP bring diverse backgrounds and a collaborative spirit to the design process. The award-winning eat-in transitional galley kitchen features light wide-plank oak floors and dark blue Shaker cabinets and a 60-inch BlueStar RNB range with a Manhattan kitchen hood.

“We often are working on old townhomes in Philadelphia and it’s always a dimensional challenge to maximize functionality, light and space, and make it feel connected to the rest of the house. This kitchen is only a little over 14’ in width, but by expanding the views and consolidating closed storage we made it feel like an expansive kitchen, with the gorgeous 60″ BlueStar range as the centerpiece,” said designer Vivian Su.

The Grand Prize winner receives BlueStar appliances for his/her home kitchen and the title BlueStar Kitchen Designer of the Year.

Five finalists also were honored for their designs and use of BlueStar appliances:

Angela Free and Lillian Byers, Angela Free Design, San Francisco, CA, www.angelafreedesign.comSteve Cooper, Cooper Pacific Kitchens, West Hollywood, CA www.cooperpacific.comHillary Gilkey, HGC Development Group, Tampa, FL www.hgcdesignbuild.comCarolyn Michaelson, Carolyn Michaelson, RA LEED AP, Covington, KY www.cmichaelsonra.comKaren Swanson, New England Design Works, Gloucester, Mass, www.ne-dw.com

The judging panel included Regan Baker, Regan Baker Design, San Francisco, CA; Caroline Smith, Caroline V. Smith Interiors, Memphis, TN, the 2019 Design Competition winner; and Lynn Kloythanomsup, Landed Interiors & Homes, Berkeley, CA and last year’s Grand Prize winner.

The 2022 competition is open for entries from now through July 20, 2022. The kitchen design entry can be any style kitchen. A minimum of one BlueStar cooking appliance as the primary cooking appliance is required. Ranges, rangetops, refrigerators, gas and electric ovens and cooktops meet this requirement. Official rules and entry criteria can be found https://bit.ly/2LDUeCy. For general product information, visit BlueStarcooking.com.

The post BlueStar Names 2021 Contest Winner appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

CHARLOTTE, NC — SEN Design Group, the Charlotte, NC-based kitchen and bath industry buying group and business education resource, has revamped its membership structure to increase access to business education opportunities for industry professionals, the organization announced.

“Under our previous structure, the majority of our educational opportunities were add-on expenses for our members, but we wanted to make sure our members had access to as much educational content as they wanted without added expense, so we have updated our membership structure to provide this much-needed resource at a minimal monthly investment,” said Catherine Daugherty, director of membership at SEN Design Group.

SEN Design Group will now offer three tiers of membership with differing benefits based on the member’s specific needs:

Associate Membership includes basic access to industry-specific business and sales education opportunities; this level is targeted for industry firms and independent designers who may not want to participate in a buying group or attend semi-annual conferences.

Signature U Membership includes increased access to industry-specific business and sales education opportunities, as well as access to SEN Design Group’s purchasing power and networking community.

Executive U Membership ($399 per month) includes everything in the Signature U Membership with additional benefits for industry leaders, such as dealer roundtables, a business development manual, personal profiling assessments for better hiring and communication, maximum quarterly rebates and more.

Additional details are available at www.sendesigngroup.com.

The post SEN Design Expands Educational Access appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thehouseofbledsoe.com/?p=531

IRVINE, CA — Thermador, the Irvine, CA-based luxury home appliance brand, has announced the inaugural student recipients of the company’s “Diversity in Design Pipeline” initiative, launched this year to empower a new generation of talent from underrepresented communities.

The Thermador Diversity in Design Pipeline Initiative, created in partnership with the Interior Design Society, was designed to support students in their senior year at an accredited interior design program to aid the transition into a successful, burgeoning career. The program was informed by a survey commissioned by Thermador that found mentorship and financial support to be the greatest obstacles for students of under-represented backgrounds to become professional designers.

The winning students include Aleah Mazyck of UNC Greensboro, Kayla Martin of California State University, Raquel Rodrigues of Texas Tech University, Jonathan Martin of the University of Northern Iowa and Chrystal McLeod of Georgia Southern University.

“Thermador is honored at the opportunity to work with these talented students as part of our brand’s commitment to opening more pathways for underrepresented communities in interior design,” said Beatriz Sandoval, head of brand marketing for Thermador.

The mentorship program pairs students and mentors who will meet monthly to discuss the essential and tangible skills needed to be successful in the world of design. Students also receive $10,000 toward tuition and a student membership with IDS, Thermador said.

The post Thermador Cites Student Design Winners appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Salisbury, NC — When Sara Lee started her design business in Salisbury, North Carolina, she knew just what to name it – SISU Home Designs. “SISU is personal to me,” says Lee. “It is a word used by my grandmother and mother of Finnish and Norwegian heritage. In one word, it embodies determination, potential, grit, freedom, courage, preparedness, strength, community and heart.” She adds, “In the business of design, there is inherent potential for what is possible.”

This inherent potential of design has, according to Lee, always been part of what drives her. “I always enjoyed setting up rooms and drawing house plans, even as a child,” she says. “Design school was a natural decision, and I specifically fell in love with kitchen and bath design. There is so much technicality, plus creativity. It’s problem-solving, communicating and wonderfully challenging.”

Branding a journey

Like most in the industry, Lee worked her way up from the bottom. “My first opportunity was with a large cabinet manufacturer, and I worked in marketing and sales, drawing plans for nationwide Lowe’s store displays and ‘The New American Home’ projects.” After a subsequent stint with a small dealer in order to gain more sales experience, she moved to Washington, DC to get a feel for the luxury market at a high-end showroom.

“A move to North Carolina in 2013 gave me new opportunities to serve a uniquely southern clientele,” she continues. “I thrived and felt a new confidence for what I could do for people and their spaces.”

When it came time to hang out her own shingle, Lee was careful to take her personal journey in the industry into account, working with an expert to create a cohesive narrative across all her digital channels.

“The branding [for SISU] was created by a lovely woman in London – we had much communication about who I am and what SISU represents,” she says. “The brand experience engages the senses and imagination through a visual narrative that is timeless, elegant and full of intentional detail – a visual identity that speaks with poetry and textural appeal to communicate inherent possibility and expertise.”

She adds, “Consistency is important. The brand carries over into social media and, I believe, sets a standard of credibility.” The Instagram presence of SISU in particular features a balance of crisp, beautifully staged project imagery, personal touches and anecdotes and graphics featuring the company’s sprouting plant-inspired logo.

New growth

Like the little sprout featured in SISU’s logo, Lee cultivates her client relationships carefully. “I get to know my clients through many meetings, calls and even texts,” she notes. “I have the privilege of going into people’s homes, and that requires trust, and I honor that. Our welcome packet actually goes over the entire process from beginning consultation to photoshoot day! It gives my clients a nice road map of what will happen over the course of the next few months.”

Looking ahead to the new year, Lee anticipates growth for her business. “Plans for 2022: I would love to hire some help and continue moving toward having a fantastic showroom.”

The post Designer Crafts Thoughtful Brand appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.thehouseofbledsoe.com/?p=516