7 Gifts To Celebrate Everyday

photo courtesy Bain Ultra

Big Gift Idea #1

Trying to come up with an out-of-the-box holiday gift idea for that special someone? Significant others can be the most difficult to buy for, especially when there is a house-to-do-list vying for attention both during and after the holidays. Why not consider crossing two items off your lists by giving a gift card that allows the receiver permission to enjoy the gift of luxury every day. A soaking tub with aroma therapy like the one above from Bain Ultra, is one way to extend the giving season throughout the years to come.

photo courtesy Steamist

Big Gift Idea #2

Creating a spa-like experience at home is one way to give the gift of wellness. Incorporating a steam shower into a personal residence can be done at the design stages of a project as well as retro-fitted into an existing shower. The health benefits of steam therapy include muscle relaxation, improved blood circulation, release of toxins, allergy and asthma relief, and even more restful sleep. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!

photo courtesy Kallista

Big Gift Idea #3

While some may not consider a kitchen sink as a particularly sexy gift, one look at this stunner from the Mick De Giulio collection for Kallista and anyone who appreciates home cooked meals may think otherwise. Equipped with an integrated cutting board, colander holder, knife sharpener and large trough like bowl, this stainless steel beauty will take center stage in any working kitchen and is sure to steal the heart of the one who prepares nourishing meals for the family on a daily basis.

photo courtesy Brizo

photo courtesy Kallista

Big Gift Idea #4

Bling can come in all forms, even paired with polished chrome. Adding a bit of sparkle to the bath in the form of Swarovski crystal finials on faucets and towel holders, or rock crystal wall sconces, is an attainable luxury that elevates everyday rituals. When installed in a first floor powder room, this brilliant element of surprise will be a gift for guests as well. 

photo courtesy Native Trails

Big Gift Idea #5

If you have a reduce-reuse-repurposer on your shopping list, then we have just the gift! This unique bar or vanity sink is fashioned from reclaimed oak wine barrels, creating a rustic work of art that functions beautifully. Come to think of it, if your loved one loves wine (red or white) this will also make an extra special gift!

photo courtesy Blanco

photo courtesy Blanco

Big Gift Idea #6

For the environmentalist/gardener in your life, this gift will provide an effortless way to save kitchen scraps for composting that can later be used to enhance the soil in their perennial beds, creating future lush and bountiful harvests. How very sweet!

photo courtesy Grohe

Big Gift Idea #7

A simple swap out of an existing shower head to one that includes a hand held option, is a gift worth getting excited about. New models even offer water saving features with the use of air-induction technology that creates bigger drops of water while using a lower flow rate. Pretty cool, huh? 

What to Give, What to Get

From now through December 31, 2013, when you buy one gift card at Designer Bath, you will receive a second gift card valued at 10% of the first. Gift it to someone else, or save it to pick out something special for yourself. One size fits all. For details, click here.

Happy holidays and best wishes with your gift lists! Just a reminder, we will be collecting unwrapped toys for boys and girls at our Beverly location to benefit Toys for Tots now through December 14th. Stop in anytime to drop off something special, big or small, because in the end we all know it’s the thought that counts!

12 photos showing California style

Perrin and Rowe tub filler flanked with a pair of Afina mirrors (both available at Designer Bath) seen at the Walker Zanger tile showroom in Los Angeles (WZ tile is available at Tile by Design in Danvers)

While we may be separated by about 3,000 miles and a significant difference in wardrobe styling, interior design choices on the West Coast appear to be very similar to what is available throughout East Coast showrooms. New Englanders may lean toward more traditional looks to fit within the framework of our older homes, and our vibe may not be as minimalist in nature, but it is nice to see that we still have access to the same types of high-style bath products that our sun-kissed neighbors get to enjoy.

Below are more snapshots of favorite brands from our Beverly showroom that I spotted while on a recent trip to visit West Coast design destinations, including the inaugural WestEdge Design Fair in Santa Monica that artfully showcased the latest in contemporary, progressive design. 

Laguna copper lav sink from Native Trails with Water Decor faucet

(both available at Designer Bath)

Walker Zanger on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles

Visiting a tile showroom is a great way to experience complete vignettes that really highlight a products beauty. How amazing is the chevron textured tile behind the equally textured copper sink from Native Trails? Also loving the black lav faucet ... great combination!

a newly introduced contemporary faucet from Rohl

Seen at WestEdge Design Fair

I saw a real mix of contemporary and traditional styles at the WestEdge Design Fair. Rohl had a number of vignettes set up that included some new products paired with some of their best sellers. Perrin and Rowe, part of the Rohl brand, is very New England looking. In fact, we have the console sink below in our showroom.

traditional (very New England in style) Perrin and Rowe bath

a neat single unit thermostatic shower, hand spray and tub filler

the Turn lav faucet

Rohl photo

The modern Turn faucet from Rohl’s Jorger collection was inspired by the Infinity Tower in Dubai. The helix shape was very eye-catching and it’s available in a variety of finishes including a warm yellow gold called “Sunshine.”

a new stainless copper single bowl kitchen sink from Rohl

We don’t have this sink in our showroom yet, it’s that new! The finish was brilliant:

• the look of copper with the durability of stainless steel

• zero-edge side walls with “TangentEdge” = easy to clean  

• fully insulated with “quiet coat” sound deadening technology

 

water filtration systems from Everpure on display at WestEdge Design Fair

Fresh filtered water delivered with ease makes Everpure one of my top-picks. We have a working system installed at our showroom coffee bar sink. I visit it throughout the day to fill my drinking glass with crystal clear, cold water (no water bottle waste!) A small filtration unit is placed in the cabinet below the sink. Ask to see it next time you stop by!

New and noteworthy from Blanco ...

Blanco finishes are inherently anti-bacterial with a Hygienic+Plus shield

Blanco Alta Compact kitchen extendable pull-out spray facuet in white

Modex sink in new cinder Silgranite finish from Blanco

“Modex features a unique 3 inch profile that sits above the counter and offers a generous amount of task space thanks to the dual draining design and large integrated cutting board.”  –Blanco

Modern geometrics mark the latest kitchen collections from Blanco. Their signature Silgranite finish is now available in Cinder, which looks like a warm cross between a slate and a soapstone. Blanco was one of the generous sponsors of my California field trip. We got to see their products while visiting the new Poggenpohl showroom in LA. Read more about Blanco and the other WestEdge-Modenus-BlogTour sponsors in future LA design updates on Design Vignettes. 

watch the Blanco Oktoberfest video here

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!

Guest Post: Linda Holt Interiors

Linda Holt is an interior designer
with a photographer’s eye for details,
scale, and color.  She posts often on
current design trends and what
makes a room have soul.

This month’s guest blogger Linda Holt shares what’s bright and beautiful in the Designer Bath showroom ...

Statement Pieces at Designer Bath

Over the past several years there has been a seismic shift in how homeowners want their home decorated. Most likely influenced by design blogs, decorating TV and popular online sites such as Pinterest and Houzz, homeowners are no longer interested in living in homes that look like someone else’s style or even worse, furniture store catalogs.

The majority of homeowners today want their home to reflect their unique personality and be authentic to how they and their family live. Hand made, custom made and unique items are all trending and it seems that the number one buzz phrase used by designers is that “they strive to have their designs reflect the personality of the homeowner.”

On a recent visit to Designer Bath I decided to dig deep and investigate what was available beyond the many beautiful, timeless and classic sinks, vanities and tubs. I wanted to see what was possible as far as statement pieces and unique items that would suit those clients who wanted that certain unique something that would express their personality. I must say I was not disappointed. Here is just a small sampling of some of my unique and fabulous finds.

Vanities are a great way to add personality to the bath. This glass topped one caught my eye and as you can see in the photo the glass comes in several different color options.

Designer Bath has several vanity options for color lovers including this line of vanity bases from Duravit that come in a range of different wood stains and colors.

Look at all these great color choices!

For homeowners looking to express their love of bright color just imagine how fun this vanity would be in that bright lime green that is displayed on the color ring.

Sinks are another great way to express your individuality and Designer Bath has something for every taste. One of my favorites is this beautiful hammered copper vessel sink from Native Trails. The organic yet industrial look would suit country style, industrial style, or even a rough-luxe look.

I also spotted these beautiful glass vessel sinks which are available in several different colors and would make such a great statement in a powder room.

Any one of these three gorgeous sinks from Stone Forest would make me happy. The only dilemma? Choosing my favorite!

A sink that would really make a statement is this tall onyx pedestal basin also from Stone Forest. Just imagine how beautiful this would look in a mountain vacation home.

Soaking tubs are very popular today and I spotted several that would appeal to someone looking to express their personality.

Classic black and white is always timeless and I just adore this black tub from Zucchetti with the matching black tub filler.

This white claw foot soaker with silver feet will appeal to those who love retro and want a vintage feel in their bath, as well as add a little sparkle and bling.

Lastly, my biggest find of the day was not even on display. While on my hunt for the really unique and that one of kind item you could be sure your neighbor won’t have, I discovered animal skin wrapped tubs. Talk about a statement piece in the bath! You can choose from a relatively conservative red leather wrapped tub ...

or go for a bigger statement with a crocodile wrapped leather tub ...

or my favorite ... a zebra tub! Perfect for that safari themed bathroom you’ve always dreamed of ...

So as you can see, Designer Bath really does have something for every personality and taste. Which one is your favorite?

For more from Linda, visit her website and blog.