Color Trends for 2010

New color trends presented recently by Sherwin Williams reaquaints designers with the past for inspiration in the near future.

Rooted

Rich, earthy colors associated with African, Aboriginal, and Native American cultures. Inspiration comes from members of Ethiopian tribes who paint their bodies with green and red pigments sourced from volcanic ash, as well as weeds, grasses, and shells. The deep teal and ash gray of African wildlife and landscapes, as well as the bright designs of the locals’ textiles and beads, also serves a launching point for new designs.

Simplified

Lines are well-tailored and clear, translucent materials that reveal shape and structure. This is a nod to the Bauhaus style of architecture, with its absence of ornamentation and its harmony between form and function. A current example of this trend is Guggenheim Museum.

Treasured

Elements are weathered and the design is enhance by organic aging. An example is the Rough Luxe Hotel in the United Kingdom, where the original layers of peeling paint and ancient wallpaper are still visible on the walls. This “less-than-perfect aesthetic” also includes the use of distressed leather, vintage tapestries, found objects, and patina.

Refreshed

Bright, energized floral colors that evoke optimism and exuberance. “Flower power” of 1960s vintage, with a hippie spirit makes a return. Lemonade yellow, crisp green, and vivacious violet are among the colors that play into this theme. These vibrant colors comes partly as a response to the challenging times and a need for something positive to balance out the stress many are currently facing.

September 8, 2009May 24, 2017

Folding Kitchen Faucets

When it comes to new trends in kitchen faucets, manufacturers are introducing new designs that are not only utilitarian-chic and of minimalist design, they also fold.

When space is a premium, the Tac Tac geometric faucet by Ritmonio is an ideal choice. For a wall mount option, the folding Karbon by Kohler is the only option. The folding Snake faucet by Nobili Spa discretely has numerous folding options. The Tower Tech faucet by Cascade is similar to the Snake with fewer folding options but it has more finish choices and is more readily available in North America than it’s Italian counterpart.

August 20, 2009

Next Generation Shower Drain Systems

The shower is no longer conceived of as a wet cell, but has become an inherent part of a whole room approach to bathroom design – showering is thus defined more and more by curb-less designs that do without shower trays. This style of showers require a new generation of floor drains to help maintain the boundary between wet and dry zones in your bathroom.

There are many advantages to using a linear slot drain in your bathroom shower. The most obvious is the sleek continuous look your shower floor will have. Removing the shower curb and letting your floor tile cover the the whole area will make your bathroom appear larger.

Quick Drain USA’s high-quality, stainless steel linear slot drains come in various sizes from 32″ to 60″ making it an easy choice for your next project. These 1 1/2″ wide drains have the lowest profile in the industry and are available with both side and bottom drain outlets. This linear channel drain is also very easy to clean. Everything is removable (including the shower linear drain cover and strainer).

For curved shower applications ACO Haustechnik has linked up with Glamu to create a free-standing shower enclosure. The shower drain system holds the curved glass element firmly in place with only one side fixed to a wall. ACO offers designer grates for their drains with 5 pattern choices that can optionally be lit with colored LEDs.

The Poresta Slot Floor Drain by Illbruck is well suited for the most minimalist bathrooms. The grateless 7mm drain positioned directly against the wall gives the shower the appearance of having no drain. Water disappears into a barely noticeable shadow gap.

August 18, 2009

Flo Sink and Dune Tile by DEX

This double trough sink by Dex Studiosis named the Flo. It is 66″ by 17.5″ deep with a 6.5″ apron. The sink shown is made from DexTerra which is a terrazzo product available in 65 color combinations.

The Flo sink can be customized up to 9 feet in length. A smaller single basin Flo Vanity is also available.

The Dune wall tile was also made by Dex. It is shown in St. Simon’s Tan, one of their 25 standard solid colors. Other tiles designs should be on their website soon.

Dex products are ideal for use in projects obtaining LEED qualification. Recycled content of DEX concrete and terrazzo can be specified from 10% to 70% of total content.