Posts filed under ‘Featured’
Let’s Go Organic…in the Kitchen
It’s Green Monday once again!
We will never get tired of spreading awareness about our environment as well as providing our readers with the latest trends in green design.
Do you know what 2013 will bring to the world of kitchen design? Organic. That’s right, warm, earthy gourmet spaces. Mixing wood, slate, stone, and other rustic materials with industrial pieces.
Terry Mulligan of Yahoo gives us the latest trend in kitchen design:
Earthy Colors
Greens, blues, grays, browns, yellows, reds — these colors will be making a grand appearance in kitchens across the country. Whether on painted, weathered cabinets or handmade, upcycled tile, earthen colors will warm up our cooking spaces like never before. All shades are fair game, unless they glow neon. Stick to what you find in nature, and you’ll be right in style.
Organic Wood Cabinets
Instead of traditionally styled, stained, and glazed cabinets with fancy millwork, look for a more understated display of rustic wood on cabinet surfaces. Spalted maple or natural birch drawer fronts will be mixed with clean, industrial-styled cabinet doors and brushed stainless steel. And this year, austere shaker cabinets will be reinvented in many ways. It will be a welcome, yet unusual departure from the kitchens of the last 10 years.
Wood, Stone, or Tile Counters
Granite may not be the material of choice for countertops anymore. Wood and stone like slate should dominate — then add tile tops and backsplashes with a handmade look and feel. It’s all about color and textures that make you feel at home and comfortable this year.
Materials in Their Natural Form
Anywhere you can use materials in their natural form, it’s time to do so. Exposed beams on walls and ceilings will add a rural touch in some kitchens. Wood counters will sport natural, unfinished edges in their shift to a more organic style.
Rustic Floors
Rustic floors will be the rage. Reclaimed wood or polished concrete with amazing stain work will pull the other organic elements of the room together. Slate floors will also be in demand over highly polished marble or tile. Yet even in their natural form, these floors will still be a work of art. Artisans will be lending their expertise to make them part of a unique and extraordinary kitchen design statement.
At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from counters, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment.
Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!
PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.
2013 Eco-Friendly Bathroom Trends
In the recent years, green designs have become more popular, not only for buildings, but also for clothes, accessories, houses and even specific areas in people’s homes. Bathrooms, being one of the logical areas of the house to save energy, in this case water, has become one of the more popular places to go green.
Green design has also evolved in the recent years. While before putting a dual-flush toilet was enough to make your bathroom eco-friendly, now you can make every inch of your bathroom energy-efficient and not harm the environment at the same time. They need not be boring too. At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from tubs, showers, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment. 
offers contemporary and traditional kitchen and bath designs from the finest brands worldwide. Leading the decorative marketplace since 1978, we provide bathroom & kitchen fixtures, designer hardware, tile & stone products that reflect elegance, luxury, quality & functionality. To know more about these products and brands or advice on how to GO GREEN, call 1-866-758-6284.
The start of 2013 marks another year of green design trends for the bathroom.
- Organic – The past years’ trends concentrated more on functionality. This year, design is going back to the organic sensibilities, using nature-inspired shapes and more renewable or recyclable materials.
- Color – Use of eco-friendly splashes of paint or renewable resourced tiles and accessories will be the trend. All these in bright colors.
- Spa-like – Now more homes will feel more like spas than the usual family bath.
Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!
PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.
Happy Weekend!
We at Plumbtile are thankful to our friends and all our loyal customers online. We have extended our Photo Contest promo to give everyone the chance to participate and win. The promo is now extended up to April 15, 2013.
If you haven’t heard about the contest yet, you will be pleased to hear that we are giving out $1000 worth of kitchen and bathroom products!
The rules are very simple. You just have to go to our Facebook fan page and upload a remodeling photo (past or present), and you will get the chance to win.
Tell all you friends! Share this article and spread the word!
Again, thank you from all of us at Plumbtile!
New Year, New Remodeling Projects!
Looking to remodel your bathroom this year?
If so, here are 5 simple tips to help you to have a successful remodeling project.
- Remodel the bathroom, not the plumbing – Work with the design of your current bathroom. Moving the plumbing gets into hours of labor and high costs. It can also cause damage and leaks.
- Keep the window open – Good ventilation during demolition is very important. Wear a mask, keep the window open and even put a fan in the window blowing the dusty air to the outside if possible.
- Same Color Fixtures – Keep the sink, tub and toilet all the same color. The uniformed look will help you to decorate around it. Also keep the handles, towel rack and faucets all the same finish.
- Painting – Use High Gloss or Semi Gloss, acrylic, water based paint. Do not use Flat or Satin finish. Only use Oil Base if you are familiar with applying it because it can be difficult to work with.
- Education – Find a good, licensed contractor. Look at their work, ask for references, etc. If you are going to do the work yourself then take the time to read a book or watch a video. That little bit of education can go a long way in saving you time and money.
Plumbtile is RELAUNCHING the Photo Contest.
WIN $1000.00 worth of products!
Here are the rules:
- Take a photo of your recent project and submit it to us.
- Then get all your friends to “Like” your remodeling photo.
- The photo with the most likes will win $1,000 worth of bath and kitchen products.
For more information visit Plumbtile’s Facebook page.
Porcelanosa’s 1st Architecture and Interior Design Awards 2013
Porcelanosa, one of our main tile vendors, is known for holding their Architecture & Interior Design Awards every year; which now has a new award program to it. This program is held in the United States and it is a design contest for design and architecture professionals. This contest will be judged by notable professionals in the industry. Finalists, who are picked by the judges, will then fly to Spain where the rest of the awards competition will be held; approximately 15 teams will be chosen to go. In Spain, the finalists will get to finish competing with the other projects that were picked from all over the world. Get ready to be excited! The finalists will get to go visit and tour the Porcelanosa factory themselves as well as tour places in Spain at no expense to them!
In Spain, at the Architecture & Interior Design Awards, there will be two types of awards given out and a contestant can have up to three projects in any of the two categories they choose or both. The first category is Forward-Looking Projects. This section is for contestants to create and design an area that follows set guidelines. These guidelines include using Porcelanosa products, building the inside of a restaurant, and including certain features in the restaurant. Contestants in this group can use their imagination and design whatever they want as long as they follow the basic guidelines. The second type of award is the Completed Projects award. Unlike the Forward-Looking Projects, the Completed Projects can be any type of design as long as the project was completed between January 2011 and February 2013 and used Porcelanosa products.
All projects will be judged using specific criteria that includes but is not limited to functionality, product use and creativity. The prize includes getting recognized nationally and internationally through different publications. This is a great way for designers to show off their talent and definitely get recognized for it. For more information about this wonderful new award program, click here.
Porcelanosa is known for their quality and beautiful products. The company has many years of experience and is a top notch kitchen, tile, and bath manufacturer. Distributors of Porcelanosa, such as Plumbtile, make it easy for you to decorate your home and make it look good using top products on the market today. Plumbtile offers many choices of wall and floor tiles by Porcelanosa to help you design your new space.
Visit the vast selection of Porcelanosa products at Plumbtile, go to www.plumbtile.com/plumbing-tile/Porcelanosa.html.
Innovative Kitchen Products
It is necessary for manufacturers to keep on their toes when it comes to new faucet design, as it is becoming more popular for technology to enter into the mix. KWC’s answer to the new high-tech trend is the ONO touch light pro, which offers the ability to control volume and temperature settings remotely. This wireless electronic faucet operation has a conveniently portable touch-operated control. The control can be placed virtually anywhere, as long as it is within 26 feet of the operating faucet. A magnet securely fastens the control in place and can be easily removed for relocation. There are three preset temperature settings that are programmable by the user. Each setting offers a 100 percent flow rate and the device even has a color coded light ring that corresponds with the temperature that has been selected.
You can also find other similar products made by Grohe on the Plumbtile website. If you are unable to find a specific product, please contact Plumbtile’s customer service department and they will be happy to assist you.
Out with the Old Sink, In with a New BLANCO SILGRANIT II Sink
Kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms that more easily become outdated during a home’s lifetime. Designer Gloria Graham of Kitchens for Living (www.kitchensforliving.net) took on a tough project of transforming an older style kitchen for a homeowner Florida.
The need for change was obvious from the peeling cabinet paint to the lack of counter space and storage. Though in need some upgrades, the kitchen still had good bones and is located at the center of the house, making it the heart of the home. The most important factor was to keep the homeowner’s footprint, while incorporating strategic improvements that would go a long way. The homeowner also had some products on her wish list there were able to be incorporated.
Gloria’s design inspiration stemmed from the desire to creatively utilize existing kitchen space. She chose to bring in a British Colonial feel by incorporating the “X” motif and rattan inserts in certain pieces the cabinetry. Due to limited natural light in the kitchen, it was best to steer clear of the more traditional deeper colors as the room would have become much too dark. In order to meet the homeowner’s need for more counter space and storage, the center island size had to be expanded. There is now counter space available in almost a full 360 degree area throughout the kitchen. Completing the package are a few small sneaky details that make this kitchen unique and fresh. These details include discreet cabinets that house the coffee maker and toaster oven as well as microwave drawer, keeping these appliances hidden when not in use.
The updated cabinets have a maple stain and darker glaze on them and rattan panels were included in order to create a balanced flow with the other dining room furniture. The cabinets were designed by Gloria, herself, and custom built by Brendan Donovan Furniture & Cabinet Co. (www.Brendandonovancabinets.com). Appliances in this kitchen include Thermador (gas range top), Subzero, Wolf and Bosch.
The homeowner’s favorite new feature was a durable white BLANCO SILGRANIT II Precis Super Single Sink. This classic style sink works nicely with the surrounding upgrades and its convenient size allowed for the surrounding space to be fully utilized.
With Gloria’s help the homeowner was very pleased with the end result. Her love of her new BLANCO Sink and the kitchen as a whole is extremely evident. This is the perfect example of how to increase storage space and functionality of a kitchen, while also brightening up the space and giving it a traditional airy feel.
Have a Happy Holidays from Plumbtile.com!
Your Bath Away From Home
Hotel bathrooms can easily impress or disappoint. Their details range from the basic toilet-sink-shower combination to spa-like amenities you might view at a tropical resort. Today’s society tends to live by the ‘bigger equals better’ motto and that applies to hotel bathrooms, as well.
There are endless ways hotel bathroom design has transformed over time. Before thought of convenient ‘in and out’ spaces have become more personal. Many designers have decided to make the bathroom part of the bedroom by avoiding the separation between the two. Glass bathroom walls and shower enclosures create a sleek and open airy feel.
Why not experience the feel of ultimate luxury while staying away from home? Many hotel rooms have moved in this upscale direction for that particular reason. Most homes do not have open bathrooms, so having that different setup when staying at a hotel makes your visit that much more out of the ordinary.
Bathroom Size Compared to Bedroom Size
Think of hotels you stayed at 10 years ago versus one you stayed at within the past year. Do you notice a difference? In past years bathrooms were designed to only take up about 15% of the hotel room. Today hotel bathrooms occupy at least 20% or more of the total guest room size.
The News on Fixtures
You will find more updated guest rooms that are not shy about highlighting the once private bathroom facilities. Sinks are now often plainly viewable for convenience and could even be part of the decorative scheme of the entire room. Showers with glass walls are becoming more popular and you may even notice the lack of a regular bath tub. It is still somewhat popular to conceal the toilet in many hotel room designs. Doing so creates a more private feel for a guest that might be staying in one room with another person.
A New Luxury
New automatic flushing toilets are all the rage in Japan. It is not often on the wish list in our society, however it is possible this could become a necessity in the near future.
Check out this video from a YouTube user:
Helping the Environment One Flush at a Time
Go Green! Some hotels are concerned about reducing water usage and they try to do so by incorporating low-flow fixtures, such as shower heads. But something screams luxury to a guest when they are being blasted with a high volume of water in the shower. Therefore such environment friendly fixtures might not always be favored.
For information on making your own bathroom more like one in a luxurious hotel suite, visit Plumbtile. And make sure to also visit http://a.pgtb.me/4pnqmH to enter our Facebook contest!
Clean Water Act: Life’s Most Precious Resource
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting the most crucial resource we know.
On October 18, 1972, the Clean Water Act was made a law and since has prevented many toxins from entering our waterways. Due to more overall consciousness, waterways are no longer desolate or barren. And there are now double the amount of places available that meet standards for swimming and fishing. Modern technology has paved the way for many new innovations to be introduced when it comes to utilizing, protecting and stretching our water supply.
A large portion of our country’s waterways do not meet water quality standards. In fact, our Nation received a D- letter grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which is the lowest grade ever given to a public infrastructure. It is almost certain that we will never be done improving our water infrastructure. It is inevitable that water resources will be further strained as population grows over the next generation. Many people believe there are aquifers full of unlimited clean water in every location, but this just isn’t so.
Pollution is also a threat to our water systems from ocean to ocean and every stream or lake in between. Global warming is being blamed for water shortage due to drought, drastic weather changes and changes within water’s chemistry. There are now more pollutants coming forth that we have not even known about and therefore haven’t fathomed testing for. Scientists must backtrack quite a bit to account for pollutants that have been overlooked.
Every community, company, agency and individual can help this continual process to progress by simply being aware of the growing problem and choosing to be part of the solution by working together. Remember that each person is an integral part in protecting and conserving our water system so that generations of future communities will flourish.
Let’s take care of our most precious resource- water. Plumbtile offers filtration-ready taps and faucets. Visit our online store and see the various products we offer.
Monday Design Tip: Steal Their Design!
As Picasso might have once said – ‘Good artists copy, great artists steal‘
Photo courtesy of:
Wendell T. Webber
http://www.thisoldhouse.com
Definitely you too can “steal” ideas, and you can steal them from everywhere. Originality is subjective and the abundance of inspiration, whether print or media, is there for you to enjoy and make us of. The end result may not be an actual copy unless you have the resources to copy an actual bathroom design straight out of a magazine pallete perfect and inch by inch, there will be slight variations whether you will like it or not. A simple change in the lighting, such as how sunlight enters the room through the window, will not make your design an exact copy of your inspiration. It is stealing, from designs that were meant to be stolen.
The staff came across an article from This Old House about a couple who was inspired by their 1820s cottage. As DIY enthusiasts they pulled off a fantastic remodel worthy of stealing. Read below and steal their awesome bathroom design. This is not just a design tip, it’s a must that you steal their ideas.
*Speaking of bathroom remodels, we are running a Facebook contest for all of you – click here. Tell all your friends and family about it. The rules are simple, if you remodeled your bathroom or kitchen recently take some photos and submit them on our contest page. The remodel photo with the most Likes… WINS! And the winner wil receive $1000 worth of bath and kitchen products from PlumbTile.com. (more…)
