4 Tips for a Better Showroom

Ken Rohl, Mindy Sevinor-Feinberg, Brad Clore, and Kaye Powell
at the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association conference

photo courtesy: DPHA

1. SEEK INSPIRATION

“At Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply, one of our primary goals each year is to attend the major kitchen and bath association shows. Recently we attended the DPHA (Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association) conference in Chandler, Arizona. These annual meetings create an opportunity to touch and feel the newest and unequaled products from leading manufacturers.”

– Ralph Sevinor, Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply

Below are some of the newly introduced products on display at the DPHA showcase. You just may see some of them in our own showroom in the near future ...

 ROHL Shaws Waterside Fireclay Sink with bowed front: an
elegant alternative to the timeless farmhouse apron front sink

Victoria +Albert Drayton: a traditional tub with a modern vibe

Victoria + Albert Staffordshire Collection:

Victorian style vessels with coordinating faucet levers

Modern legs on a vanity console designed for small spaces

2. SHARE INFORMATION 

Being a member of the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association has been very valuable for us as a family-owned business in the decorative plumbing category. The mission of the DPHA is to help its members create the best showroom experience for all, paired with the most innovative products on the market. Their goal is to educate their professional members while offering “guidelines for consumers to make better and well-informed purchasing decisions.”

Panel discussion with Mindy Sevinor-Feinberg at the

Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association conference

During the DPHA conference, Mindy spoke on a panel that discussed “Best Showroom Practices.” As a young mom and homeowner, she has become quite a fan of Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram. She has also discovered that these platforms help her in the showroom as well. 

“Houzz, Pinterest and Instagram are great tools that help to shorten the sales cycle and enable us to service clients at a higher level. Immediately the client is able to paint us a picture of exactly what they are trying to achieve. Pictures are worth a thousand words!”

– Mindy Sevinor-Feinberg, showroom consultant at Designer Bath

At a recent Houzz presentation held at the Boston Design Center:

Kristina Crestin with her mom, Mindy Sevinor-Feinberg, Jason Sevinor

photo credit: Jessica Delaney

follow us on Houzz

Check out our idea books on Houzz where we feature local designers work along with many quality brands from our showroom. If you have done a project with us and have photos on Houzz, let us know so that we can add you to our idea books.

follow us on Pinterest

It is hard not to love Pinterest for instant inspiration and idea gathering! Our boards are a mix of our favorite brands and some fun looks at bath and kitchen design.

follow us on Instagram

We have just started to use Instagram as @DesignerBath. We would love to see your favorite products from our showroom. Post a picture next time you visit us!

3. OFFER SOMETHING NEW

“The DPHA conference was a time to explore opportunities for our business. I walked away energized about all the future possibilities. As a result of the conference, we’ll be adding a brand new faucet line to our offerings and expanding on several of our existing lines. I’m confident each will be a huge hit with our customers. Our industry is moving faster than ever. It’s critical decorative showrooms keep up with trends and all the innovation this great industry has to offer. DPHA helps us do that so we can offer our customers the very best.”      

– Jason Sevinor, President Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply

Jason and Ralph Sevinor of Designer Bath

4. ASK QUESTIONS

Are there any decorative plumbing products that you would like to see in our showroom? Please comment and let us know!

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

Back to school for designers ...

“Continuing education strengthens the interior design profession by improving individual attitudes, competencies, knowledge and skills in specific subject areas essential to interior design. Learning experiences focus on the individual and involve activities that encompass thinking, doing and reflection.”

- Interior Design Continuing Education Council

Students are heading back to the classroom this month and that includes interior design professionals. Each year, designers must earn CEUs (Continuing Education Units) in order to comply with ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) membership requirements. As an ASID Industry Partner, we are proud to be able to present learning opportunities to local design professionals. We have come up with a schedule of informative “Lunch + Learn” sessions that take place in our showroom, and have also teamed up with ASID New England to offer presentations off site that both educate and inspire.

Here are a few classes scheduled for this fall ...

Thursday, Sept. 19,  4:00pm – 5:30pm

215 Andover Street, Peabody

Client Magnetism or “Authentic Charisma” has a lot to do with profits and the sustainability of your business. Charisma, one of the strongest forces in human nature, contributes to all things we choose. Guest speaker Angela Merola has worked with thousands of individuals to jump start their charisma. She has created an easy 3-step process to find and strengthen your exclusive “authentic charisma” to attract the clients you really want. Walk away with new tools, enhanced charisma and a new perspective on how to translate that into all forms of communication. Angela will be giving away one hour of free coaching to three members of the audience, so don’t miss out on what is sure to be an engaging – and rewarding – afternoon.  .2 CEU credits

This course will be followed by the ASID NE Excellence in Design Awards featuring a slide show of submitted design work by ASID NE members along with an awards presentation by Design New England editor Gail Ravgiala. To register to attend both, click here.

Join us for our “Lunch + Learn” sessions

Check out our Design Seminar page on this blog for information on the following CEU presentations:

Tuesday, Oct. 29th  11:00am – 1:00pm

Designer Bath showroom, Beverly

Why Therapeutic Modalities should

be Integral to Bathroom Design

presented by Bain Ultra

Wednesday, Nov. 6th  11:00am – 1:00pm

Designer Bath showroom, Beverly

Incorporating Universal Design into
the Bathroom presented by ROHL

We have other educational events in the works, for both homeowners and design professionals, so check back often.

Excellence in design is a direct result of informed and thoughtful decisions. We hope that our seminar series becomes a valuable resource in your design tool kit.

What’s On Tap at Designer Bath

On January 22nd, we opened up our Beverly showroom after-hours to host our first “What’s On Tap” Showroom Sampler event. The format for the evening consisted of six different stations manned with representatives from a number of the quality brands that we offer. Each rep came prepared to share new prototypes and product information with an audience consisting of design/build professionals.

Air injection technology delivers invigorating high-performance showers.

Faucets are the true jewelry of the bath with many unique styles to choose from.

A sense of humour comes in handy when selling toilets that come with directions.

A tour of our contractor training room complete with live boilers and radiant heat.

Guests were divided into small groups and spent 10 minutes at each station. The coordinator for the night’s event, Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply sales consultant Beezee Honan, designed the evening as both an educational and networking opportunity, “Many people came up to me to let me know that they thought they knew a lot about our product lines, but they learned something new at every station. That was great to hear, because everyone is busy and if they come to one of our events, we want it to be worth their time.”

Robin Davis, Mindy Sevinor-Feinberg, Beezee Honan

Beer on tap served by Henry’s Market

John Kelsey, Karen Swanson, David West

Todd Moreschi, Amanda Greaves, Michael Musinski, Kristina and Kirby Crestin

Pat Yagjian, Barbara Bradlee, Ginny von Rueden

Burger Bar // Henry’s Catering

Dave and Katherine Hawkins

“Doing the rotation worked out great ... the reps did a good job and we learned a lot about the products, more so than if we just wandered around on our own. The food and drink were nice, too. The events at Designer Bath are really top notch all the way around.” – designer, Katherine Hawkins

Product demonstrations were presented by:

Mark Sorenson for 
Century Bathworks, Fairmont, Native Trails,
Rohl, Strasser, Victoria + Albert

Jeff Sargent for Hansgrohe

Ron Retaleato for Duravit

Scott Chiras for Blanco, MTI, Robern

Luis Ramirez for Altmans

Jason Sevinor with raffle prize winner Molly Booth



  

Along with getting an exclusive preview of new prototypes and learning about the latest technologies in the decorative plumbing industry, guests also had the opportunity to take home some great raffle prizes (faucets, fixtures, and shower heads) donated by our participating manufacturers. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales were donated to Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity. Read about our recent partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Home Builders Blitz 2012 here.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming showroom events, email Yvonne Blacker at yblacker@designerbath.com

Visit our facebook page for more What’s On Tap event photos. 

PHOTO CREDITS

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14  Andrew Swaine

6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 15  Yvonne Blacker

Enter to win a Home Makeover!

If you could makeover one room in your home FOR FREE, which one would you choose? Would you pick out fresh new furniture with a cool Dhurrie carpet for your living room, a unique and sparkly chandelier for your dining area, or new tiles and modern fixtures to update your bath or kitchen? What if you couldn’t decide which room to fix up first? Register to be a part of our Passport to Design sweepstakes and you could win a $20,000 Home Makeover grand prize package to get you started in every room of your home!

Visit www.bostonmagazine.com/passport for complete sweepstakes details then visit the participating showrooms from now through March 2013 to gather design inspiration for your dream makeover!

Want even more inspiration? Each showroom will be hosting a seminar on home design that will share on-trend information that will help you make design and renovation choices with confidence. Our seminar is first on the list and is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7th from 6pm to 8pm. 

{Studs to Stunning: Remodeling Tips from the Pros}

Join us for a panel discussion featuring remodeling experts on how to create the designer bath of your dreams. Whether your desired goal is a sparkling jewel of a powder room or a spa-worthy master bath, you will learn behind the scenes tips on how to get it done on time, on budget, and with the least amount of hassle.

Guest panelists include Sally Wilson of Wilson Kelsey Design, Gary Moffie of The Remodeling Company, Mark Rohl of ROHL, and moderator Mary Beth Haggerty, ASID President and principal designer with The Drawing Room Interior Design.

Reserve your seat now! Email marketing@designerbath.com

{Passport to Design Kickoff Party}

Thursday night from 6 to 8pm on October 25th is the kickoff party for the Passport to Design program at the Boston location of Landry and Arcari. Register now then join us for food, drink, design inspiration, and to pick up your own Passport that includes information on the upcoming design seminars. Representatives from Designer Bath, Circle Furniture, Landry and Arcari, Lucia Lighting and Tile by Design will all be there. Come pick up your Passport to Design!