Fiora Shower Pans

European minimalist shower trays that mimic stone are now available in the US.

The pans are manufactured by Fiora Bath Collections, located in La Rioja, Spain, renowned for the design and manufacture of furniture, mirrors and accessories for the bathroom. Coastal Shower Doors will be introducing the pans at KBIS Jan. 20-22 in Las Vegas.

Flora has patented a new concept in shower flooring based on the use of an artificial stone called SILEXPOL. This new material has anti-slip and bacteriostatic properties, qualities that have proven to be highly desirable to the European audience.

“We expect Americans to not only love the design, but also appreciate the nanotechnology that goes into making the trays water repellent and the maintenance easy and safe,” Patrick Cobb, national accounts for Coastal Shower Doors

While I’m not sure if the full line up will be available, the pans are offered in two patterns (regular and brick) with fourteen colors in each.

One of the new features of the Fiora SILEX shower tray is its adaptability and flexibility to fit into any decor theme, whether in residential or commercial applications. Moreover, two of the trays within the SILEX collection, Extra Flat made-to-measure and Framed made-to-measure, can be adapted to spaces that are not rectilinear or have obstructions such as columns.

If you are not building a new home, careful planning will be required to lower the floor in the shower area if you desire the flush fit. If you are currently living in a condo, you may need to become besties with the neighbors below you to rework the drain and the trap.

December 28, 2014

2015: The Year Ahead in Bathroom Design

This year brought us the use of matte black fixtures in the bathroom with the declined use of oil-rubbed bronze. Matte gold finish gained ground in fixtures, lighting and accessories – especially in higher end homes.

In 2014 contemporary bathroom design requests surpassed traditional. For 2015 I expect clean, contemporary design will still be most popular with curbless showers and suspended vanities incorporated into designs for continuous sleek tile floors.

LED lighting will not only be used in lighting fixtures on the ceilings and walls but also underneath suspended vanities and recessed to accentuate free-standing tubs.

My prediction for the most significant shift in 2015 will be in the request for semi-recessed tubs.

Homeowners want bathrooms that are easier to clean and the corners and crevices behind free-standing tubs can be difficult to reach. Installing a tub in a semi-recessed design allows the bathroom to look more spacious and modern while eliminating the need to clean behind the tub.

In addition to providing easily accessible storage for bath salts and other bathing items, the partial platform allows for additional plumbing options for the tub filler placement.

The semi-recessed tub installation requires skilled installers that can carefully craft a deck that follows the contour of the tub.

As the 2015 progresses, more manufacturers will make installation easier by offering half-skirts to consumers. Cladding the surrounding decking will become faster and easier.

The semi-recessed tub can also be installed at variable heights providing customization for homeowners and plumbing solutions for drain configuration in bathroom remodeling.

Leave a comment if you think this trend will take off or if you think it’s too custom to get a foot-hold and will flop. Here’s to a prosperous and creative 2015!

December 3, 2014

Bowl Bathroom Collection

French design firm Arik Levy Studio has created the Bowl bathroom collection for Spanish bathroom brand Inbani. The collection which launched at this year’s Salon de Mobile in Milan mixes cage-like structures with ceramic and marble placing emphasis on the juxtaposition between positive and negative space.

“These are products born, imagined, conceived, engineered, crafted and made for you to feel good.”

Arik Levy conceived the Bowl Collection as a “piece of jewelry that pursues the preciousness of every little detail that makes each object ”

The Bowl Collection is a progressive design intended to break away from mainstream products in gives designers new approach in “thinking and visual design.”

The thin metal elements of the Bowl collection are available in White, Copper and Colored lacquers.

I prefer the look of the copper wire for the Bowl collection. The white looks a little cheap to me. The first image shows what appears to be a toilet but there is not one in the catalog at this time. I may be too practical in my thinking but I can imagine that if the pedestal sink does not have constant TLC, it would start to look grimy in no time. What do you think?

September 17, 2014

Energy Star and Water Sense Sales Tax Holiday

There’s a sales tax holiday this weekend for Energy Efficient Appliances and Water Sense Products September 19 – 21, 2014 starting at 12:01 a.m.

Floridians will pay no sales tax on purchases of up to $1,500 of ENERGY STAR appliances and WaterSense products. However, a person is limited to a single purchase of each specific type of Energy Star or WaterSense product that has a sales price of $500 or more. There are no quantity limits for qualifying items with a sales price less than $500.

Qualifying ENERGY STAR products:
Air purifiers
Ceiling fans
Clothes washers
Dehumidifiers
Dishwashers
Freezers
Light bulbs
Refrigerators
Room air conditioners
Swimming pool pumps
Water heaters

Qualifying WaterSense products:
Bathroom sink faucets
Faucet accessories
High-efficiency toilets and urinals
Showerheads
Weather- and sensor-based irrigation controllers

Dryers are not listed because they do not meet Energy Star qualifications. Installations Charges may be tax exempt too. It get’s a little tricky but if you purchase a qualifying product that does not become part of the home and remains tangible personal property when installed, the item plus the labor are exempt if their total is less than $1,500.

Example: An Energy Star window air conditioner unit for $350 plus $100 install. The $450 total purchase qualifies.

Example: A WaterSense toilet is sold by a contractor for $465 with installation for $125. The $590 total does not qualify.

If you want to buy a Service Warranty on your new Dishwasher, it too may be exempt. If the retail sale of an item is exempt from tax, the charge for a service warranty sold with the item is also exempt when the total is less than $1,500.

Understanding Coupons and Rebates. The price of a qualifying item is not limited to the amount paid by a customer.

Example: The Energy Star refrigerator you want is $1,795. The retailer is offering 10% off. Your purchase of $1,615.50 qualifies for the first $1,500 to be exempt. You pay sales tax on the remaining $115.50

Example: You purchase an Energy Star freezer for $1,549. The manufacturer is offering an instant $50 rebate at the time of purchase. Although you pay $1,499, the price remains the same for the retailer. They will receive $1,499 from you and $50 from the manufacturer. The first $1,500 is exempt and you pay sales tax on the remaining $49.

If the retailer – not the manufacture;, were offering the rebate in the example above, the $1,499 purchase would have been tax exempt.

If you like to shop on the internet the good news is that if your order is accepted within the holiday period for immediate delivery, it qualifies for exemption – even if it ships after the tax holiday ends.

Shipping and handling charges are part of your purchase total and follow the same exemption rules. If you purchase multiple items on a single receipt, the shipping and handling charges must be fairly assigned to each item to determine if an item is exempt during the holiday.

Category: Plumbing