Home All-Stars: Bathing Beauties

Linda C. Lentz

01/01/2006

Agape Spoon Tub
Designed by italian architect Giampaolo Benedini for Agape in 1998, this modern revival of a classic freestanding tub (minus such spa trappings as a whirlpool or air jets) has rapidly become a familiar fixture in minimalist bathing environs. Measuring a generous 711Ú2-by-383Ú4-by-173Ú8 inches, Spoon–named for its fluid elliptical shape–is more than designer eye candy. Its comforting ergonomic design cradles the body in perfectly distributed water. The satiny white Exmar quartz/resin composite that Spoon has been crafted from maintains the water temperature, guaranteeing a consistently steamy soak.

Agape, +39.0376.250311, www.agapedesign.it

Ann Sacks & Bisazza Glass Mosaic Tile
These two companies have catapulted glass mosaic tile into the modern design vernacular. Bisazza, credited with industrializing this classic Venetian art since 1956, now imbues it with a fresh perspective and numerous refine­ments. Ann Sacks, a true pioneer in the tile industry, embraced similar handcrafted wares with the 1996 introduction of Dolce, the work of a Portland artisan. In a recent collaboration, Ann Sacks encouraged Bisazza to revisit one of its early efforts: The resulting Loom by Bisazza for Ann Sacks shimmers with a complex texture that marries the strengths of both companies. (Click images to enlarge)

Ann Sacks, 800.278.8453, www.annsacks.com
Bisazza, 305.597.4099, www.bisazza.com

Dornbracht Tara Faucet
Since its debut in the early 1990s, Tara–a name that is derived from the tare, or net weight, of an empty container–has risen to cult status within the realm of contemporary plumbing wares. A favorite among architects and interior designers, this elegant line of faucets created by Sieger Design patriarch Dieter Sieger is prized for its lack of pretense and its understated luxury, qualities exemplified by the chrome goosenecked tap–with its jewel-like finish, well-balanced cross-handles and beautifully proportioned spout. Not surprisingly, director Andreas Dornbracht considers Tara to be a high-water mark for the company, and in a recent tribute to its success, declared that there will never be another like it. (Click image to enlarge)

Dornbracht, 800.774.1181, www.dornbracht.com

Pharo Helis Shower Panel
This sculptural fixture is the latest in the ever-evolving Pharo line of upscale preassembled shower panels–a concept first developed by Hansgrohe in 1994 that has since been adopted as an industry standard. The glasslike panel is made of a space-age resin mix that is lightweight, shatterproof and acid-resistant. It is available in three organic hues: translucent white, a velvety green or beige. For maximum water play, you will find an ad­justable showerhead with a quartet of spray modes, including one simulating a waterfall; soft halogen lighting; five variable body sprays; a powerful hand shower; and a state-of-the-art thermostatic valve and diverter. (Click image to enlarge)

Hansgrohe, 800.488.8119, www.hansgrohe-usa.com

Kohler sok Overflowing Bath
Winner of the prestigious Gold Industrial De­sign Excellence Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America in 2002, this revolutionary double-walled bath spearheaded a movement toward kinder, gentler spa-inspired products for the home. With a renewed focus on relaxation rather than stimulation, sok allows bathers to submerge neck-deep in a pool of heated, gently massaging water that flows softly over the rim of the inner tub into a recirculating channel. To enhance the experience, a sequence of eight predetermined LED hues rotates every few seconds, or at the touch of a button, a single color can be selected instead. (Click image to enlarge)

Kohler, 800.456.4537, www.kohler.com

Duravit Starck 1 Washbasin
Launched in 1994 as part of the company’s first collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck, this neotraditional washstand-cum-water bowl was allegedly the first of its ilk and heralded a trend that continues to thrive in deluxe homes and establishments worldwide. Indeed, this highly stylized lav was installed at the design-savvy Delano Hotel in Miami Beach and can still be test-driven there (along with a room). A basic in well-appointed baths for more than 10 years, the pristine white glazed china basin is available in a selection of sizes and round shapes, with or without the wooden wash table or chrome console. (Click image to enlarge)

Duravit, 888.387.2848, www.duravit.com

Toto Neorest Toilet
The neorest is peerless in its sleek, tankless styling and user-friendly features, exemplifying engineering feats of the highest order. De rigueur for avant-garde baths, this fixture boasts several firsts, including a rim-scouring Cyclone flush engine that self-cleans as it silently empties the bowl. Even “smarter,” its lid opens automatically when approached, then lowers as it automatically flushes. For the men of the house, a touch of the Neorest’s super-slim wireless remote will graciously raise the seat and instantly engage the water-saving flush mode. And, of course, the company’s bidetlike Washlet system is built in. (Click image to enlarge)

Toto, 770.282.8686, www.totousa.comSamuel Heath Skirted Rose Showerhead
With its roots dating to 1820, this Birmingham, England, manufacturer of solid brass bathroom accessories, taps, showers and hardware offers the Skirted Rose showerhead, copied ad nauseum since its debut. Models with 19th- and early-20th-century appeal are updated for the 21st century with an internal baffle that ensures a consistent, straight stream of water from the faceplate. Exposed and concealed, single- and dual-control thermostatic valve systems provide the look of the old without compromising the advantages of the new in a range of expertly applied plates. Sizes range up to 12 inches in diameter. (Click image to enlarge)

Samuel Heath & Sons, 212.599.5177, www.samuel-heath.com

Vola Wall-Mount Faucet
Danish architect Arne Jacobsen designed this timeless fitting in 1968, and it has been in production for more than three decades. It is celebrated in the international design collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Cologne, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Staatliches Museum in Munich. Yet, while Jacobsen’s aesthetic has never been compromised, the company continues to evolve the product–part of an extensive modular system–to ensure its technology is state of the art. Today, this modern icon is available in the original polished chrome, as well as in brushed chrome, a new solid stainless steel, natural brass or a choice of 17 colors. (Click image to enlarge)

Hastings IL Bagno Collection, 800.351.0038, www.hastingstilebath.com

Vitraform Glass Sink
Often imitated but never duplicated, this 3Ú8-inch-thick laminated glass basin from Denver’s Vitraform took the international design community by storm when it first appeared in 1990. It is still considered to be the finest in its class, whether in the original freestanding form–to be wall-hung or perched on a counter–or as under-counter, drop-in or CounterSink (counter and sink in one) models. It is available in 12 colors, polished or frosted finishes, and round or oval shapes. (Click image to enlarge)

Vitraform, 800.338.5725, www.vitraform.com