FUTURE

OF BATH

Designers must balance technology
and beauty in the bath.
A compelling mix of high design and
high-tech, the “Best Of” winners at this
year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show really
highlight all the latest themes. Intelligent
technology is embodied by the voice-
activated and app-enabled U by Moen Smart
Faucet. Brizo embraced the Japanese wabi-
sabi concept of perfectly imperfect design
in its Kintsu Bath Collection. And the desire
for seamless minimalism is enhanced by
workhorse products like the wall-recessed
linear floor drain by Drains Unlimited (see
our story on curbless showers on page 9).
COVER: ROGER DAVIES
HEADSHOT: GABRIELLE PILOTTI LANGDON. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES
EDITOR’S
LETTER
2
Although Milan’s biannual International
Bathroom Exhibition has been postponed
until June (along with its parent show, Salone
del Mobile), creative collaborations coming
out of Italy are already making elegant waves:
Tailor Made, a line of sinks, vanities, and
shower trays by Ceramiche Piemme and fash-
ion house Valentino; and Discover Bathroom,
a porcelain-slab line by ceramic tile producer
Fondovalle and bathroom furnishings manu-
Clockwise from top: Antonio
facturer Edoné, are two that come to mind. In
Lupi sinks; Belwith Keeler
our Future of Bath Trend Report, learn how chisel-molded Sandrine
hardware; the Water Monop-
the latest tech-forward trends are impacting
oly Martha copper tub;
the most traditionally tech-free room in the Grohe Essence
collection faucet
home.
—Katy Olson
Editor, AD PRO
 THE
L AT E ST
INTELLIGENT
able in circular or square form and 15 metal
finishes, also includes a reservoir designed to
INNOVATIONS accommodate aromatherapy oils.

Five new forward-thinking technical products— Imagine a cleaner bathroom without

the handiwork. Cue American Standard’s
promoting health and hygiene—are Advanced Clean 100 SpaLet Bidet toilet (5),

3
ideal for early-adopter clients. BY MEL STUDACH a hands-free, motion-sensing toilet featur-
ing a dual-angle cleansing bidet in addition to
an integrated heated seat, a warm air dryer, a
deodorizer, and an auto-flush system.

A M P L E N AT U R A L L I G H T I S N O N - N E G O T I A B L E
in creating an airy en suite bathroom. With
sizes up to 48 inches wide and 90 inches tall,
Marvin’s new Awaken Skylight (1) ranks
among the largest skylights on the mar-
ket. Even after the sun goes down, the unit’s
built-in LED system can mimic daylight 1

temperatures to support a radiant soak. In

addition, environmental sensors can detect
rain and air quality concerns, and a hidden
perimeter screen halts outdoor debris. Take
control over the settings via app, voice-con-
trol devices, or wall switch.
Spanish bath room tech nolog y brand
Valiryo plans to reduce towel use with its Body 5
2
Dryer (2), which emits a motion-sensored
antibacterial air stream using the same power
exertion as a hair dryer. Choose from more
than a dozen intensity and air temperature
combinations (ranging from 50 to 104 degrees tops. Bonus: The new technology cuts install
Fahrenheit) for the water-resistant unit, which times by nixing the need for a waterproof
comes in matte white and matte black finishes. coating on surfaces.
Designing a healthy bath often means con- A steam shower consists of three main
sidering what’s unseen. Case in point: mold components: a steam generator, steam con-
buildup, which becomes less of a concern when trol, and a steamhead. Referencing the same
using HardieBacker Cement Board with methodology used in convection cook-
HydroDefense (3), a waterproof cement back- ing, ThermaSol’s new SteamVection (4)
board that prevents moisture from penetrating steamhead generates more evenly dispersed
4
tile and settling on walls, floors, or counter- temperature zones. The steamhead, avail-

3
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 THE
L AT E ST
E A R T H LY D E L I G H T S
Nature’s beauty–from sculptural geodes and chiseled stone to satiny mother of pearl–
is a hallmark of the latest feel-good hardware.
BY MEL STUDACH

4
1

2 3

4 5

1 T-Bar Handle 4 Kintsu Bath

With Plate in Knob Handles
Brass by Buster With Mother-
+ Punch of-Pearl Inlay by
Brizo
2 Sandrine
Collection by 5 Miscelo Bath
Belwith Keeler Faucet by
House of Rohl
3 Isla Thermo-
static Control
Valve Trim with
Metal Geode
Handle by
Waterworks

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

 THE
L AT E ST S
STANDALONE WINNERS
Whether claw-foot or skirted, these
free-standing soaking tubs make
the case for a luxuriously long bath.

5
BY MEL STUDACH
2

1 Yara Freestand- 4 Chelsea Tub by

ing Tub by Hastings Tile &
Americh Bath

5 2 Wandle Skirted 5 Monceau Tub

Tub by Martin in Moongold
Brudnizki for Checkerboard
Drummonds Gilding by THG
Paris
3 Argile Free-
standing Tub by
4 Workshop/APD
for Kallista

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

 1

THE
L AT E ST
2
TA P P I N G I N
F R O M T H E WA B I - S A B I A E S T H E T I C O F B R I Z O ’ S N E W K I N T S U B AT H C O L L E C T I O N
t o Z u c c h e t t i ’s c u r v i l i n e a r B e l l a g i o , b r o u g h t t o l i f e b y E u r o p e a n
desig ner duo Mat teo Thu n a nd A nton io Rod r ig uez, t he latest faucet s

6
e m b r a c e a w id e r a nge of a r t i s t ic, a n d of t e n i n t e r n a t io n a l, i n f lu e n c e s.

4 6
1 Brizo Kintsu Angled Widespread
Faucet With Knob Handles,
Teak Inlay in Polished Chrome
(Fall 2020)

2 Kohler Parallel Collection Tall

Single-Handle Bathroom Faucet in
Polished Chrome (Spring/
Summer 2020)

3 Delta Trillian Single Handle

Mid-Height Bathroom Faucet in
Polished Nickel (Summer 2020)

4 The Water Monopoly Ben Wall

Mounted 3-Hole Basin Mixer
in Aged Brass

5 American Standard Studio S

7
Widespread Bathroom Faucet

Zucchetti Waterwords
6 Collection, Bellagio
Three-hole Basin Mixer

5
Grohe Essence Collection
7 Widespread Bathroom Faucet
in Brushed Nickel Collection

6. DELFINO SISTO LEGNANI. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

 STUDIO VISIT
Behind the design of
Antonio Lupi’s captivating hand-

7
poured resin tubs and sinks
FOR THE TU S CA NY- B A S ED LUXE B ATHROOM
brand Antonio Lupi, technology is just as
important as technique. The family-owned
firm has three trademarked materials, and
it uses the newest—Cristalmood—a tinted,
glossy-finish resin comprised of polyes-
ter resin and pigment, to craft tubs, sinks,
and other bathroom furniture via a unique
hand-pouring method. Andrea Lupi, CEO,
shares a glimpse inside the studio and the
painstaking process.

The Background
“We wanted to make a new material as resis-
tant as stone, but clear as crystal,” Lupi
says. “Antonio Lupi started working with
solid surfaces in 2001, presenting our first
sink made of Corian, called Slot. Then we
worked with other resins.” In 2007, the brand
explored Ceramilux, a material made of
calcium carbonate, aluminium trihydrate,
and polyester resin, and in 2008 it designed
with Cristalplant, another versatile solid
surface. “In 2015 we launched Flumood, an
innovative material [that is] ecological, com-
pact, nonporous, uniform, and nontoxic,

IMAGES COURTESY OF ANTONIO LUPI

 STUDIO VISIT
Clockwise: Artisans at various
stages of work on Cristalmood tubs;
a sink from the Opale collection.

8
with a surface that is easy to clean with
common cleaning products,” Lupi says.
“The research for a new resin started in
2016, and it took more than two years of
research and development to create Cris-
talmood. We launched it at Salone del
Mobile in 2018.” At first, the only color
Antonio Lupi offered was Fumé, a smoky
gray, but now it has nine other “smart, new
colors,” including lime, amber and wine.

The Process
“The processing stages of Cristalmood
are quite long—two to three days. Cris-
talmood is manually poured into molds.
Then the object is extracted and finished
strictly by hand-sanding it to remove all
imperfections, both inside and out. The
manual intervention and craftsmanship
are essential, in fact; the [products] just
extracted from silicone molds appear
rough. We sand and polish manually in
order to remove the imperfections and
[brighten] the object.”

The Results
“Each product is unique and unrepeat-
able. Two sinks won’t ever be identical,
for there are slight differences in color,
size, and thickness.”

The Demand
“The Albume, Opale, and Vitreo wash-
basins and the Reflex bathtub have been
especially successful,” shares Lupi.

IMAGES COURTESY OF ANTONIO LUPI


The key to a curb-free shower? The right drain
BY ERINN LOUCKS
S
KIP A S TEP: TAKING
the design-disrupting—
and, for certain clients,
potentially hazardous—
curb out of the shower
is a le ad i ng re q u e s t
in bathroom renovations. A 2019
National A ssociation of Home
Builders study found that 82 percent
of those surveyed installed curbless
showers, a significant uptick from
54 percent in 2004. With a level
floor, the foundation is set for a
seamless, moder n desig n—plus,
aging-in-place clients have one less
tripping danger to impact the design
of their home. The issue, then, is
where the water goes. Drains, both
hidden and decorative, become the
most important design element at
play. Shower drains fall into two
groups: linear and point. The more
traditional point drain is usually
centered, with the surrounding floor
sloped around it. Because of the
circular slope required for the drain
to function, smaller tiles—typically
not much larger than four by four
inches—are necessary. While point
d rai n s c a n b e u ncent ere d, t he
majority are installed center stage
in the shower and make a point of
being noticed. Launched by Beverly
Hills designer Christopher Grubb,
t he newly released St rat h more
FROM LEFT: TREVOR TONDRO. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES
From top: QuickDrain USA
WallDrain; Infinity Drain slot
linear drain; California
Faucets Strathmore drain
STYLE
AND SAFETY
in the St yleDrain line f rom
California Faucets does just this.
Decorative center drain options
a r r ive i n a ra nge of ha rdwa re -
complementing finishes.
9
Usually set next to an exterior
wall, linear drains are narrow and
long and have only one floor slope
instead of the four necessary for
a point drain to circulate water
downwards. Since the floor is sloped
evenly in this case, any size of tile,
i ncludi ng popula r la rger sizes,
works. There are increasing degrees
of invisibility for linear drains. For
an ornamental touch, linear drains
with decorative grate designs and
finishes drain the water via a visible
pattern. The frame of tileable drains
can be adjusted to fit tile or stone so
it lies flush with the shower flooring.
Water then trickles down around
the edges of the drain. There are
options like the 3/8-inch gap of
the slot linear drain from Infinity
Drain, with an opening so narrow
that it is hard to even perceive. And
QuickDrain USA’s WallDrain is
installed inside the wall itself for
zero disruptions within the shower
floor. Both point drains and linear
drains should drain with equal
efficiency, and the end goal is the
same: a bathroom floor lacking in
barriers—both visual and physical.
 PLUGGING
New products
transform the most

IN
10
private room into
the most connected
BY ERINN LOUCKS

FOR TECH LOVERS AND LUDDITES ALIKE, THE MOST

private room in the house is being trans-
formed by a trend that’s not so private:
smart-home products. Blame it on mod-
ern living. Clients are more aware of the
effect stress has on their physical and men-
tal state—their Apple watches may have
told them so—and are looking for ways to
cope. Technology may afford solutions in
the home’s innermost sanctuary. “We have
several clients that are very savvy and com-
fortable with new technology; some of them
even expect it,” explains designer Ariana
Lovato, owner and principal of Honeycomb
Home Design in Pismo Beach, Califor-
nia. Client concerns—like multitasking or
de-stressing—take precedence over simply
speccing the market’s latest and greatest.
“I ask questions during the initial consul-
tation to determine the needs of the client,
and then I will spec based on those needs,”
Lovato says of her approach to tech.

Michelle Nussbaumer’s family getaway in

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

But even technophiles may need some
persuasion to see how a product like a smart
shower system, a breakout category at this
year’s KBIS, can enhance their experience
way to achieve balance.” AD100 designer
Alexa Hampton, who has integrated features
like radiant-heat floors and high-tech Toto
toilets into bath projects, advocates using
PLUGGING
GAME CHANGERS
AD PRO ROUNDS UP SOME OF THE LATEST
TECH INNOVATIONS.
From Duravit, the SensoWash i integrated show-
er-toilet comes with a heated seat, individual

IN
in a room long set up to be a haven from out- mirrored jib cabinets, articulating magni- adjustments for water, an air dryer, and an automatic
side distractions. “People are more open to fying mirrors, LED strip lights in cabinets, opening/closing lid in the Plus version. For additional

11
ease of use, SensoWash i connects via Bluetooth to an
the idea of smart products once they’ve tried extra-deep shower niches, and thermostats
app and a remote.
it,” says AD100 designer Michelle Nussbau- inside medicine cabinets as “some tricks to
With a design inspired by peb-
mer, owner of Dallas showroom Ceylon et [let product] remain hidden, but useful.” bles, the Neorest NX1 Intelligent
The Capstone
Cie. “It’s important for them to see it, and Indeed, manufacturers are catering to Connected Home Toilet from Toto has a sensor
have a little bit of a training session.” the budding technophile with intuitive, Smart Mirror operation with auto open/close and
boasts voice and auto flush; aerated cleansing water,
Technology works best in the bath if it’s built-in solutions as well as upgrades to the
touchscreen capa- a warm air dryer, a heater seat, and
not the focus, as Lovato points out: “Incor- traditional. Case in point: Kohler’s newly an in-bowl catalytic deodorizer.
bilities, allowing the
porating natural materials, textures, and updated Moxie showerhead, which launches user to ask Google
variances of color, and allowing the entire this summer, incorporates Amazon’s virtual questions, watch
space to stand out, rather than highlight- assistant Alexa. As with a standard Alexa, a videos, download
apps, and check
ing the display panel or the thermostat, is a homeowner can request music, inquire about
social media.
stocks, or order more conditioner. But Moxie
is designed to be waterproof and formatted
U by Moen
Kohler’s sleek Moxie showerhead is to overcome the white noise of running water Smart Shower
Alexa-enabled. in the shower. It’s also an entry-point product is a Wi-Fi-based
for the tech-hesitant, since many are already shower con-
trolled by either
familiar with Alexa’s capabilities.
voice activation, a
While tech shouldn’t be the focus, it also smartphone app,
can’t be an afterthought. Overcome installa- or an in-shower
The Jason
tion challenges, Lovato advises, by printing controller. Com-
Wu for Brizo
patible with
out all specs in advance for contractors and Collection
Amazon Alexa,
other tradespeople. “I share with them any balances both
Google Assistant,
Scandinavian
installation videos that may help,” she adds. and Apple Home-
and Baroque
“Communication between the trades and Kit, the shower
infuences and
boasts the ability
suppliers is very important.” is available with
to create up to
The best products don’t necessarily look optional Smart-
12 personalized
TouchPlus,
high-tech. Instead, they seamlessly incor- The ThermaSol presets.
which allows
porate innovations to help create a modern Smart Shower
hands-free and
draws the powers
sanctuary that aims to reduce stress, not touch-sensitive
of water, sound,
promote it. For example, one of Nussbau- operation.
steam and light
mer’s go-tos is a vanity mirror embedded under the user’s
with a connected screen: “It allows you to use complete control
with a sleek, mod-
social media, download apps, and check the ular design.
weather,” she says. “What else could a girl
want while she’s putting on her lipstick?”

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

 W H AT T O S P E C N OW
A side-by-side comparison of our favorite showerheads
BY MEL STUDACH

Montreux Showerpipe Invari H2Okinetic

with thermostat and Ghost Rainfinity 3-Jet 080ST Showerhead Multi-Function Showerhead
overhead shower by AXOR by Antonio Lupi by Hansgrohe by Vola by Brizo

The single-jet Rain Spray
system releases air-en-
The unit’s AirPower process
riched water droplets.
Spray compounds water with air
The Ghost Combi unit also
Mode to create plumper, pearl-like
features a more assertive
droplets.
Central Nail jet and a water-
fall-like Cascade jet.
12
Known for its near-silent water-
Brizo’s proprietary H2Oki-
fall, the system’s PowderRain jet
The single spray setting netic Technology directs
distributes microfine droplets for
crisscrosses the spouts to water through a sculpting
a soft and airy soak. Additional jet
create a pyramid-shaped channel to create a dense,
options, RainStream and Intense
outpouring of intense water concentrated spray. Full
PowderRain, produce a more
droplets. spray and massaging spray
powerful, linear H2O output and a
options are also available.
vigorous downpour, respectively.

Made from a composite of

Finish Chrome, brushed nickel, aluminum hydroxide and Traditional chrome, natural Polished chrome, nickel, steel,
Matte white and chrome
Options polished nickel synthetic resins; painted to brass, stainless steel, and others gold, and more
match any ceiling color

Size 9 ⅝ inches Approx. 8 x 10 inches Approx. 10 inches 19½ x 1 ¾ inches 7 ⅝ inches

Max Flow Rate

Varies, dependent on pressure or
(gallons 2.0 GPM 5.3 GPM 1.8 GPM 1.75 GPM
use of water flow restrictor
per minute)

Holds the Environmental Protec- Does not meet the EPA’s

Environmental Holds the EPA standard for Holds the EPA standard for being
tion Agency (EPA) standard for Information not available WaterSense standard of 2.0
Impact being WaterSense compliant WaterSense compliant
being WaterSense compliant GPM or less

Specially designed without a In addition to the metal finishes,

An anti-scald safety stop keeps Easily attachable to the show-
Like magic, the showerhead shower arm, the showerhead the showerhead can be
AD PRO’s the water temperature from erhead, the adjustable slide
disappears from view when not with wall connector model fea- personalized with a number
Favorite reaching beyond 100 degrees bar shower arm can be raised
in use thanks to its installation tures an adjustable nexus that of colored finishes, including
Feature Fahrenheit. or lowered up to 12 inches to
directly into the ceiling. can tilt at an angle from 10 to 30 orange, yellow, light blue,
accommodate any height.
degrees. pink, red, and pink.

The surface cleans easily with a The cylinder fixture and spout Brizo suggests users wipe
Flexible silicone nozzles Dirt and limescale deposits wipe
warm water and vinegar surface cleans simply with away any deposits from the
Cleaning 101 hinder dirt and limescale- swiftly off the nozzles’ silicone
solution. Avoid chlorine to natural bath cleaners, such as soft rubber spray holes with
deposit buildup. material with a damp cloth.
prevent corrosion. warm water and vinegar. the touch of a finger.

VOLA IMAGE COURTESY OF HASTINGS TILE & BATH. ALL OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES