We won Best of Boston Home 2014!

Boston Home Magazine // January 2014

cover photo by Eric Roth

Boston Home Magazine // January 2014

Best of Boston 2014 Award Winner

mudroom design by Carpenter and MacNeille featuring plumbing fixtures

from Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply

photo by Michael J. Lee

We are thrilled to announce that we were awarded Best of Boston Home in the January 2014 issue of Boston Home Magazine! This year, the winners were awarded collaboratively, since behind every beautiful room there is always a solid group of individuals who together can bring a design concept to completion. We applaud all the members of the team that brought in a home run with this New England style mudroom designed by Carpenter and Macneille featuring a farmhouse sink and faucet from our showroom. Cheers!  

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!

In Our Neighbor’s Kitchens

The largest kitchen on the recent Wenham Museum Heart of the Home
Kitchen Tour was actually designed and renovated back in the 1990s. Its
classic details makes it look just as good today as it did twenty years ago.

Polished chrome bridge mount faucet at the kitchen island

Earlier this month we spent a day enjoying the Wenham Museum 6th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour. Eight distinct properties, ranging from newly renovated, to an old world style estate, to an historic 1742 charmer, were opened up to hundreds of visitors who were invited to tour the heart of the home, the kitchen. Many Salem Plumbing Supply fixtures were discovered on our day long journey that provided us with a glimpse of what’s trending in our neighbor’s kitchens.

Apron front farmhouse sinks ...

White ceramic apron front farmhouse sinks were popular on the tour this year. They are very “New England style,” and provide plenty of room to wash oversized pots and pans. A sink grid on the bottom prevents potential surface scratching while reducing the overall depth of the sink for additional dishwashing comfort. Sink grids are available either in stainless steel or vinyl covered options.

Bar and prep sinks ...

Bar sinks or prep sinks were also in many of the kitchens. Installing a second sink in a kitchen island for use when the main one is occupied is always helpful. Including one in a remote corner, such as in a separate butler’s pantry, is a great way to add additional function to a storage area. 

Wall mounted pot fillers ...

One of the benefits of a wall or deck mounted pot-filler is the ability to fill a large pot with water where it actually is going to be used. Locating a pot-filler by the stovetop eliminates 50% of most heavy lifting, since that same pot will still have to be brought to the sink for draining. Being able to save a few steps during the cooking process is a time saver, while also serving individuals with reduced hand strength.

Faucets with pull down spray ...

Single hole faucets with built-in pull down sprays create a clean and minimalist look at the kitchen sink while offering single lever ease of use plus increased mobility when washing pots and pans. They may be positioned at the center or to the side of the bowl. 

Professional style faucet ...

In this Elizabeth Swartz designed kitchen, a professional style single hole faucet with flexible spray hose combines with a swivel spout that has a 360 degree radius. It is a unique and stately addition to this custom kitchen.

Kitchen tour snapshots ...

water feature outside one of the properties on the tour

We really enjoyed peeking inside all of the homes on the tour, and sincerely appreciate the builders and designers who include us in their fabulous projects (candids of some of them are below). If you have a kitchen that you designed in the Wenham area, consider being a part of next year’s Wenham Museum Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour.

homeowner Sharon Meyers with designer Elizabeth Swartz

Dave West of Meadowview Construction

At LMK Interiors studio kitchen:
Rosanne Palazola, Lisa Kawski, Yvonne Blacker

Kristina Crestin of Kristina Crestin Design

See more of this completely remodeled home that Kristina designed on her Wenham kitchen tour blog post.

Gifts that Sparkle and Shine

When finishing up your holiday shopping this season, think outside the box. At Designer Bath we have a great selection of luxurious gift items in our Beverly showroom that are perfect for that special someone. 

WISH LIST: PRECIOUS METALS

How about a copper farmhouse sink from Stone Forest? We currently have this model on sale in our showroom.

THAT IS SOME ROCK

This vessel sink from Stone Forest is sure to get oohs and ahhs.

photo courtesy: Stone Forest

FOR THE GARDEN ENTHUSIAST

Also from Stone Forest, the Salus Potting Sink in honed black granite works hard while looking good. It may be installed inside or out. 

WORKS OF ART

These elaborately adorned sink bowls from Linkasink have lots of personality and are easy to gift wrap. Shown here: Handmade Porcelain Ming Dynasty Bowl and Sea Shell Sink. 

JEWELRY FOR THE HOME

Sparkly new cabinet pulls from Sietto can transform ordinary cabinets to extraordinary. They are handmade and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Also on display in our showroom, crystal knobbed faucets from Altmans will add a designer touch to any powder room.

Victoria Lavatory Set from Altmans

PRETTY THOUGHTFUL

Electric towel warmers provide luxurious comfort with minimal effort (just plug it in) while wall mounted versions will add long lasting form, function and beauty to the bath. 

 photo courtesy: Vogue UK

photo courtesy: KWC

COOL YET PRACTICAL

Recently featured in the Boston Globe Magazine holiday gift guide, the midnight black “Eve” faucet from KWC is pretty, sleek and functional. With the touch of one finger, the nozzle emits a bright circle of light, adding joy to the kitchen each and every day. 

photo courtesy: Electric Mirror

FOR THE SPORTS FAN

A mirror with a built in television screen is the ultimate gift for that guy – or girl – on your list who doesn’t want to miss any of the action.

photo courtesy: American Standard

FOR LITTLE ONES

Bath time becomes fun for little ones and more comfortable for adult care takers with a Fun Bath tub conversion kit from American Standard. Fun Bath is easy to install and is available in Pretty Princess Castle, Fierce Fire Truck, and customizable panels with decal kits that include Little Mermaid, Sponge Bob, Cars and other children’s favorites. Check out this video link to see how it works.

photo courtesy: MTI

GIFTS FOR “BEST FRIENDS”

The furry little ones in your life deserve gifts that pamper, too! The Jentle Pet Spa from MTI is sure to please both pet and master.   

photo courtesy: Wet Style

THE ULTIMATE SURPRISE

If you really want to go all out with a “wow” holiday gift, why not give a gift certificate in the denomination of your choice to Designer Bath good for “The Spa Bathroom of Your Dreams.” 

THE GIFT OF RELAXATION

Essential Care Bath Products from Bain Ultra make great “thank you” gifts for teachers and service providers. Pick up a few for yourself if you are in need of a little pre-holiday decompressing!

And if you have a professional contractor that you would like to thank this holiday season, consider a gift certificate to Salem Plumbing Supply which is located on the right hand side of our showroom and also in Gloucester on Maplewood Avenue. At our trade counter you can find a wide variety of plumbing supplies, tools and even some last minute stocking stuffers ...

A petite – but powerful – flashlight 

15-in-1 screwdriver from Megapro

WorkGrade Suede Gloves from HandMaster

GOOD GIVING

We are currently collecting gift items for the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation at Designer Bath. If you are in the area, we welcome you to bring in a new, unwrapped toy to donate to this worthy cause this holiday season.

Good luck with your holiday shopping! Please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-649-BATH if you need any more ideas for gifts that sparkle. Our showroom associates are here to help and they always have great ideas year round.