East End Nest: Bathroom Designs Bring Spa-like Features Home

Some of the most extensive makeovers in today’s home—where the majority of home renovation money is spent—are based in the kitchen and bathroom. Kitchens have been our collective favorite room for quite some time, but the bathroom is getting a lot of attention this year. Residential bathroom designs are now focusing on more avant-garde styles offering many cutting edge features. It’s refreshing to note that these new options were once only available for commercial applications. The bathroom industry is exploding with technology and innovative designs, from customizable light-up showerheads to indoor-outdoor shower and bath solutions. Our home bathrooms are beginning to feel more like luxury spa experiences than ordinary residential bathrooms.

I saw incredibly fresh designs a few weeks back at Eurocucina, the popular modern kitchen and bath show in Milan. This contemporary trade show draws vendors from all over the world who offer up the industry’s newest ideas and products for the kitchen and bath. Some on-point, recurring trends included natural wood grain bathtubs and sinks, futuristic highly polished bowl-top sinks, sleek countertop materials and shelving design, changing light showerheads and water conservation systems. Italian company Gessi showcased some of the most modernistic bathroom designs I have ever seen with their “green” water conservation system. Their products are now for sale throughout the United States. After taking in the many wonders of Eurocucina, I returned home, inspired to bring a modern touch to my next bathroom project.

I also saw a bevy of beautiful bathroom fitting collections, with styles ranging from ultra-contemporary to over-the-top luxurious, traditional styles, and with features I had previously seen only in five-star hotels and spas. My favorite bathroom pulls and fittings were the many offered up by French company and luxury bath atelier THG-Paris. These are wonderfully crafted bathroom fittings for basins, bathtubs and various accessories in many designs, shapes and materials.

The most intriguing designs I saw were from THG-Paris’ Collection O, which is a partnership of THG-Paris and Christofle, a leader in French silver and decorative arts. Collection O is inspired by the Vertigo collection designed originally by Andrée Putman for Christofle in 2002, which may seem familiar to many, as it was successfully adapted for tableware, home and jewelry collections. Used in many luxury hotel applications, but now available for the home, these fittings are exquisite. Since 1830, Christofle has been creating elegant designs in jewelry, tableware and home accents. This collaboration pairs THG’s commitment to quality French design with Putman’s vision to create a stunning assortment. Newly revamped, THG-Paris’ O Collection translates the iconic ring shape to create a gorgeous sculptural design in a timeless and sensual curved shape. The rings are neither round nor oblong, but twist at the bottom, reflecting the movement of water. This aesthetic works seamlessly in both contemporary and traditional interiors, and is offered in many finishes as well.

I was happy to see that our very own Blackman kitchen and bath showroom in Southampton is offering many of these products in-store, including THG’s bathroom fittings. In fact, Blackman features a lovely display of these products on the showroom floor. It’s interesting to note that the designs exhibited just a few weeks back in Italy have already made their debut right here in the Hamptons, and are available just in time to spiff up our bathrooms for our summer guests.

Check out the newly renovated Blackman showroom at 444 Country Road in Southampton. For more information, call 631-283-2176 or visit blackman.com.