Bathtubs Of Our Dreams

Newcastle Herald

Thursday November 27, 2008

Elizabeth Razzi The Washington Post. Additional copy Chris Watson.

Times are tough for home renovations,

but Elizabeth Razzi discovers there is still

plenty of new stuff to check out.

Demand for home remodelling has weakened

along with the rest of the housing business,

but it doesnt cost a cent to dream about

the new kitchen or bath youll get around to doing,

someday.

In the US the National Association of Home

Builders Remodellers Council recently held its

annual to-the-trade show in Baltimore. It was a fairly

somber affair, with multiple sessions on how remodellers

can tighten up business practices and make it

through the downturn. Nevertheless, there was plenty

of new stuff to check out, especially for kitchens and

bathrooms, the most popular renovations, and those

items are now flowing through to Australia.

Ive grown a bit jaded by showers and bathtubs that

have more bubbles and lights than a drive-through

carwash, but I found a new pairing for the bath as

spa: music and vibration. Kohlers new deep-soaking

tub has underwater speakers and coloured lights,

but it doesnt disturb your bliss with whirlpool jets,

bubbles or effervescence. The acrylic walls of the new

Fountainhead VibrAcoustic tub vibrate gently with

the music while you soak in calm water imbued with

coloured light. If you tire of ethereal spa music, you

can use the tubs WiFi feature to tap into your computers

internet radio or your iTunes playlist. The tub

also has sensors that shut off the water once the tub

is full. It starts at about $US10,000. (I never thought I

would be writing about a WiFi bathtub.)

A similar bathtub system has also just been brought

to market by MTI Whirlpools.

The Kohler VibrAcoustic is not available in Australia

yet, but it can be imported from the US, and the

Australian branch of the company says it does have

baths with similarities, but without the music. The

Purist effervescence bath has champagne bubbles

and mood lighting, while Solaro whirlpools can come

with a neck cascade and waterfall as well as mood

lighting. The Purist bath retails at $7821 in Australia

and Solaro rectangular and corner styles for $8294

and the oval for $8819.

For the kitchen, I found a new countertop alternative

for the thrifty remodeller: upgraded laminate

that better imitates the look of natural stone. It has a

richer, deeper look and an uneven surface that makes

it look less humble than ordinary laminate.

Wilsonart Internationals High Definition laminate

is priced about 20 per cent above the traditional stuff,

in Australia selling for $66.61 per metre squared. The

company says it has about three times the wear resistance

of other laminates.

Formica makes a similar product, called a Radiance

finish.

One of the givens of remodelling is that it puts

your old kitchen out of commission. Someday, you

might find a contractor offering to set you up with

a temp kitchen made by Dwyer. It looks like a toddlers

kitchen, in stainless steel. It has a microwave, a

small sink and a dishwasher big enough for about two

place settings, plus drawers and cabinets. You or your

contractor hook it up to hoses for clean and waste

water (which dumps into a drain somewhere in your

home) and a 15-amp electrical supply.

At $US6495, its pricey for a homeowner to buy for

temporary duty, and Dwyer is marketing it to remodellers

who can wheel it from job to job to keep clients

happy.

The Temp Kitchen is available for export to

Australia, with a Dwyer spokesman saying We do not

currently have a distributor in your country, but we

would certainly welcome one.

The show also offered good intelligence on design

trends.

Jim Krengel, a designer who spends most of his

time writing books and training others on kitchen

and bath design, had a sensible warning. Dont try

to beat the trends, he says. They change too fast.

That said, heres Krengels take on those fast-moving

trends.

Range hoods are becoming the focal point of

>> 9 >>

kitchens. He likes contemporary metal hoods as

well as elaborate mantel hoods that resemble a

fireplace.

For countertops, glass is popular, especially as an

accent. It can be tiresome if used throughout the

kitchen, he says.

Krengel is ambivalent about the near-ubiquitous

granite countertops, noting how the hard surface

is tough on glassware and that it tends to produce

echoes. Concrete has similar drawbacks, but its

popular because designers can use it in all sorts of

colours and shapes.

Quartz-composite countertops are among his

favourites because of their easy care and big

colour selection. Wood is also popular, even

though it damages easily and needs to be oiled

regularly.

Wood is everywhere, it seems. It has become

standard for floors in upscale kitchens. Wood

floors are forever floors, Krengel says.

Wood cabinets with a furniture look are still in,

but the trend is toward less embellishment. Dont

get fancy with mouldings in the toe-kick area

where cabinet meets floor, he warns. Elaborate

woodwork can create pockets that trap toes,

causing people to trip.

The fashion is trending darker for cabinet finishes,

with maple still going strong and cherry

more popular than ever. Krengel says using a

second colour of wood as an accent is hot.

Wood finishes that are painted and glazed,

which are among the most expensive choices,

remain popular, but he questions the investment:

When that goes out of style, thats going to go

out of style with a bang, he says. I hope its a

long time from now; theyre gorgeous.

Cabinets that are wider than they are tall are

becoming popular. These horizontally oriented

boxes can be stacked as a room divider or

mounted on the wall, with a surface on top for

display.

Fireplaces are increasingly popular in kitchens,

but Krengel warns that they should have raised

hearths so your investment is not hidden by

islands or counters.

Some older trends still have room to run.

Chrome faucets are making a comeback, he says,

because its the least-expensive, longest-lasting,

easiest-for-design choice. (If you have ever tried to

match nickel finishes from different brands, you

will agree heartily on the last point.)

Stainless steel appliances are still safe to buy,

despite years of rumbling that theyre about to

become the new avocado. Stainless steel is not

going away, he says.

White cabinets still work with current trends, but

he likes them best in a slightly off-white shade,

which mixes well with other materials. And beadboard

is still popular for walls and islands.

 The Washington Post. Additional copy Chris Watson.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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