Designer Bath’s Summer by the Sea

Secret Cove: Old York’s 24th Annual Decorator Show House
photo credit: George Barker

As the Marketing Director for Designer Bath, I try to come up with engaging ways to highlight the fabulous products that we offer through our Beverly showroom. We have had a lot of fun in the past being a part of interior design shows (Wenham Museum’s North Shore Design Show in 2011 and 2012 and the Junior League of Boston Show House last fall), so this summer we headed north and spent five weeks in Kittery Point, Maine to take part in the 24th Annual Old York Decorator Show House.  “Secret Cove” seemed like the ideal summer getaway to set up bath vignettes that could tell a more complete design story than a print ad or facebook post. 

Trio Design: Katherine Hawkins, Yvonne Blacker, Rosanne Palazola

I joined forces with two of my designer friends, Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola, to form Trio Design so that we could tackle a number of spaces as a team. Katherine designed a glamorous teen girl’s bedroom with a mermaid theme (Syrena’s Room) and I designed the en suite bath to complement her space. Rosanne designed the “Poolside Portal” a mudroom made modern, stocked with all that one would need to enjoy the home’s stunning salt water pool, and I designed the adjacent “Petite Powder Room.” Collaborating with other designers on a show house project was both fun and inspiring! Below are photos from the two baths ... 

{ Syrena’s Bath Before }

{ Syrena’s Bath After }

photo credit: Eric Roth

The challenge for this bath was to change out the existing formica counter and relatively small sink with a larger scale vessel that would still fit within the footprint of the original cabinet base, which happened to be sandwiched between a window and shower wall. Since Katherine has always been a fan of the Moon sink with accompanying glass counter from Vanico-Maronyx that is on display in our showroom, I placed a special order for a custom sized version for Syrena’s Bath.

The pearl shaped sink paired with a shapely faucet from the Brizo RSVP collection (adorned with Swarovski crystal finial) seemed very appropriate for a teen girl who loves the natural beauty of the ocean, along with all that sparkles! The Brizo RSVP collection was featured throughout the bath to complete the look, from mirror to robe hook to towel bar to tissue holder, even the tank lever was swapped out (it makes a huge difference!) Borrowed from our showroom, a three-sconce light fixture from Hudson Valley’s Basking Ridge collection illuminated the newly painted room (Farrow + Ball Manor House Gray on the walls, Borrowed Light on the ceiling, and Pitch Blue on the vanity and linen closet shelves). The look of the smooth glass counter top was extended with a glass tile backsplash (thank you Weaver Brothers of Lynnfield).

A delicate sea fan fabric flat fold roman shade at the window, plus a shimmery silver mermaid tail-like shower curtain trimmed in seaweed green (both via Acorn Interior Design Center) were additional custom touches that spoke to both the young girl and the growing teen of Syrena’s Room.

Brizo’s RSVP 18 inch towel bar with Swarovski crystal finials

Silver gray Zenith towels from The Turkish Towel Company 

“Summer’s End” giclee on canvas by Tracy Finn

Brizo RSVP tank lever and toilet tissue holder

white Zenith face cloths from The Turkish Towel Company

bath accessories from Blue Peacock Home

floral arrangement by Laura Thomson Design

Designer Bath spa robe hangs on Brizo RSVP robe hook

– photo credit Rosanne Palazola – 

linen closet accessorized with bath decor from Blue Peacock Home

Zenith towels and makeup wash cloths from The Turkish Towel Company

– photo credit Eric Roth –

{ Petite Powder Room Before }

The smallest room in the York Show House was the first floor powder room. The original space was functional if not fashionable. My plan was to transform this tall-thin room into a glamorous show-stopper. My muse was the Jason Wu for Brizo collection. After attending the Jason Wu Fall 2013 fashion show in New York last February, I was inspired to create a room that paid homage to his design aesthetic.

Once again, just the counter was replaced (this time with honed absolute black granite from Glenville Surfaces) and a small round sink (hammered copper in brushed nickel from Native Trails) was installed. The Jason Wu matte black SmartTouch technology faucet made a sleek designer statement. The temporary floor covering, a silver snakeskin leather, was my version of a runway-ready high heel, fabulous to look at, but more for show than practicality.

featured from the Jason Wu for Brizo collection:

faucet, soap dish, cabinet knobs, tank lever and trash barrel

Peshtemal towel from The Turkish Towel Company

paint: Dimity and Strong White from Farrow + Ball

wallpaper: Versailles from Farrow + Ball

accessories from Blue Peacock Home

The inspiration behind the room: Jason Wu Fall 2013 collection

– photo courtesy JasonWuStudio.com –

Native Trails hammered recycled copper sink

in brushed nickel with tear-drop drain

bold black stripes paired with lace patterned fabric makes a strong

but feminine impression in the Jason Wu Fall 2013 collection

– photo courtesy JasonWuStudio.com –

my signed print from Jason Wu and Brizo was
framed by Rosanne Palazola for the show

wall shelf and soap pump from the Jason Wu for Brizo collection

silver wrapped soap and owl jewel box via Blue Peacock Home

Integrity lighted mirror by Electric Mirror

– photo credit Eric Roth –

PROBLEM + SOLUTION: Without enough wall space to light a vanity mirror on either side with wall mount sconces (most flattering for the face) a self-lit mirror from Electric Mirror solved the final design challenge for the Petite Powder Room. Many visitors to the show inquired about this unique piece. We have a number of Electric Mirror products on display in our showroom. Stop by and see them! 

I wasn’t the only one showcasing a Designer Bath makeover at the York Show House this summer. Pat Finn of Finn-Martens Design turned a blah Master Bath into a serene spa-like oasis.

Master Bath before with “just for show” red soaking tub (not plumbed!)

{ Master Bath After }

photo credit: Eric Roth

Towel warmer via Designer Bath

Native Trails Vessel Sink

{ Master Bath Vanity Before }

PROBLEM: the sink bowl was positioned on the wrong side of the vanity, under the corner of the window leaving no room for a mirror directly above.

Maestro Sonata vessel sink from Native Trails

SOLUTION: Pat also chose a Native Trails hammered copper sink in brushed nickel, this time a vessel version paired with a tall lav faucet from American Standard. She placed both on the right-hand side of the vanity allowing the mirror to be positioned above the sink instead of off to the side. A neutral – but warm and beautiful – stone counter from Cumar Marble and Granite combined with an amazing metallic leopard print wallpaper (Ocelot from Farrow + Ball) and architectural shutters from New England Shutter Mills made this large master bath finally stand out and get noticed. 

With Pat Finn of Finn-Martens Design

To see more of Pat Finn’s “Master Bedroom Suite and Porch” visit her website gallery pages.

To see my Trio Design partners colorful and creative York Show House spaces, visit our show house blog page.

For more info on Secret Cove: The 24th Annual York Decorator Show House, visit the Museums of Old York website.

And mark your calendar for the first two weeks in December when Designer Bath will be featured in the Danvers Historical Society Designers Holiday Show House at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers. We just couldn’t resist another show!

Getting Glamorous with Jason Wu

Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue, looks on (front row, black shades)

as the Jason Wu Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Collection walks a Park Avenue runway

during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York on February 8, 2013.

Brizo fixtures on display in the Designer Bath showroom include a

collection dressed in a matte black finish designed by Jason Wu.

Premium faucet brand Brizo has been the official fashion week sponsor of designer Jason Wu since 2006. Their partnership extends to a bath collection that Wu designed for Brizo in his favored matte black finish. What brought a young faucet company (owned by the Delta label) and a now famous dress designer (Wu has designed the last two inaugural gowns for First Lady Michelle Obama) together? Recently I had the opportunity to find out.

Design bloggers on the runway of the Jason Wu fashion show, February 2013

I was invited along with a select group of design bloggers from across the country (a couple of which traveled from as far as Dubai) as the guest of Brizo to learn more about the inspiration behind their brand AND to attend the Jason Wu Fall 2013 fashion show in New York. We even got the chance to meet Wu at an after-party celebrating the launch of his latest Ready-to-Wear collection. It was quite the fairytale experience!

Besides all the sparkle, glitz and glam of the NY fashion scene, what I came away with from our time spent with the Brizo team is how much they love what they do. They truly are passionate about providing innovative products that offer high performance while functioning as works of art for the home. 

First, a little bit about the brand ...

The Brizo brand was introduced in 2004 on the pages of the September issue of Vogue magazine. From the very start, the goal was to present a line of faucets with a true sense of style that appealed to both interior designers and homeowners.

– photo courtesy of Brizo –

A year later, up and coming fashion designer Jason Wu was introduced to Brizo to create a number of dresses for a series of ad campaigns, and in 2006 Brizo sponsored Wu’s first fashion show at Bryant Park. A collaborative relationship was born. 

2007 print campaign by ad agency Young & Laramore featuring ballerinas

photographed underwater wearing Jason Wu designed gowns.

photo credit: Howard Schatz

Sketch of faucet designed by Judd Lord, Director of Industrial Design at Brizo

End result: the Belo faucet by Brizo with available deck-mount bud vase

– photo courtesy of Brizo –

It wasn’t long before Wu was asked to design a collection exclusively for Brizo. After seeing a prototype for a new faucet, Wu came up with the concept of a matte black finish applied to a sleek, minimalist design that was in keeping with his finely tailored fashions. Next, Jason showed the Brizo team images of interiors that he found inspiring and relevant to his design aesthetic. From those photos, baroque flowers were pulled out as a design element for the collection, featured as back plates and even defining the shape of the waste basket. Smoky glass shelves, like the ones in Wu’s fashion studio, were also incorporated into the Brizo collection. His signature owl emblem is even stamped on the top of the lav faucet handle (come see it up close and in person at our showroom!) Of course, he was also on the production set once again with a model being photographed wearing a dress of his making, this time for the 2012 ad campaign introducing Jason Wu for Brizo. 

– photo courtesy of Brizo –

– photo courtesy of Brizo –

Brizo has a wide variety of fashion-forward models to choose from, each with an equally compelling story and distinct design point of view. For example, the Venuto below, designed by Judd Lord, was inspired by Japanese hair ornaments seen on a visit to a Sake bar while on a trip to Milan. Note the fine detail of the slanted tip on the simple and elegant faucet lever.   

Venuto kitchen faucet and inspiration board by Brizo

A working Brizo Solna model, designed by Seth Fritz,
is on display at the Designer Bath showroom.

Besides looking good, Brizo faucets are water-sense certified and also sport SmartTouch and SmartTouch Plus Technology. With hands-free, touch sensitive, and proximity sensing abilities, Brizo faucets offer a level of convenience and control that improve human-to-fixture interactions on a daily basis. Temperature control technology is also embedded in these models, further providing an efficient end-user experience.

In everyday terms, using faucets that magically turn on and off with a slight tap anywhere on the faucet or with a wave of the hand is sheer genius and super fun!

To learn more about these advanced technologies, click here.

Snapshots from my Brizo sponsored trip to New York ...

Bloggers meet and greet at the Eventi hotel: Todd Venditouli, Adele Young,

Judd Lord of Brizo, Marilyn Russell, Barbara Elza Hirsch and myself.

Product Marketing Director Kristen Baum discussing the

Brizo brand with our group of design bloggers.

photo credit: Jayme Thornton

Touring the LEED certified Hearst Towers and Elle Decor Magazine:

myself, Katrina Stumbo, Nick Prihoda of Young & Laramore, Ellen Cheever

Making our dinner at Sur La Table. My team included Senior Brand Manager
for Brizo Laura Brooks, Cristi Holcombe, Donna Hall and Laura Bielecki

A favorite look of mine from the Jason Wu Fall 2013 Collection

Posing with a line up of Jason Wu designs at the after party.

Jason Wu for Brizo spotted in the powder room.

Jason Wu being interviewed by stylist-extraordinaire and good friend “Cannon”
(Cannon first introduced Jason to Brizo) during the runway show after-party.

Some of the fabulous team responsible for organizing our whirlwind NY trip: 

Laura Brooks, Katie Feltz, Paula Warner, and Sarah Sinetean

To see more photos from the Jason Wu fashion show and the blogger events that I attended courtesy of Brizo, watch for related posts on Design Vignettes.

And please consider yourself invited to stop by our Beverly showroom at anytime to check out the line-up of Brizo fashions that you can take home for yourself!  

5 Gifts that Can’t be Wrapped

Comfort and Joy. We sing about it, we wish it for others, but how can we deliver on it? While there may not be a one size fits all solution, here are five special ways to surprise someone with a gift that keeps giving well beyond the holiday season. 

photo courtesy: Runtal

1. A Luxurious Get-a-Way: Gift Card to Designer Bath

Days begin and end in the bath. A space that is comfortable, well lit, and truly reflective of an individual’s personal design aesthetic (not the previous homeowner’s, for example) is a luxury that can be enjoyed on a day-to-day basis. A gift card from Designer Bath good towards shiny new fixtures, luxurious towel warmers, radiant heat installed under new tile ... this would be the ultimate gift for a new home owner or that special someone who has been dreaming of a bath upgrade. 

photo courtesy: Steamist
watch the video here

2. A Youthful Glow: Steam Bath from Steamist

Steam therapy hydrates dry skin, enhances collagen production, and helps to release the tensions of the day by relaxing sore, tired muscles. Creating a spa-like environment at home is one way to share the healthful benefits of steam year-round without the need to schedule appointments. 

photo courtesy: MTI

3. Virtual Levitation: A Good Long Soak  

A soaking tub is a lot more than just a pretty fixture (although some of them can certainly be considered sculptural works of art). Submerging the body in warm water induces relaxation while relieving stress on joints. Heat therapy quiets the mind and allows the body’s natural pain relievers to work more quickly and effectively. Radiant heat technology in the bath structure provides a warm surface for neck, back, and shoulders, allowing the user to escape reality in warm, enveloping comfort.   

image courtesy: Brizo
watch the video here

4. Designer Model: Smart-Touch Plus Faucet by Brizo

The little black dress of elegant faucets, this sleek number featuring hands-free technology is part of an exclusive bath collection by international fashion designer Jason Wu for Brizo. Bonus gift: coordinating matte black accessories are available. The perfect fit for the fashionista on your list. 

image courtesy: Bain Ultra

5. Colorful Therapy Sessions: Vedana from Bain Ultra

The ultimate personal time out, the Vedana Therapeutic Care Unit offers four transporting experiences that foster overall well-being.  Light, color, scent, heat and sound are combined to create a guided sensory experience that can clear the mind, energize, and induce feelings of joy. 

Designer Bath will be open on Saturday, December 22nd from 9am to 4pm. Check out our special on sale now link for “take home today” gift giving. We will be closed on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Happy holidays!