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Cadet Pro touchless flush toilet. Blanco Unit featuring the Silgranit sink. Catris Flexo Filter faucet. Edalyn Kitchen Faucet from the Kohler x Studio McGee Collection. M A R C H 2 0 2 4 | 37 Plumbing Products P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y A M ER I C A N S TA N DA R D; B L A N CO C A N A DA ; KO H L ER The products from BainUltra fulfill another ongoing trend: bathtubs that are technologically advanced and also works of art, made of high-qual- ity materials and handcrafted. BainUltra's latest offerings reflect the ongoing desire to impart a gen- uine sense of luxury in bathrooms. It is also adept at launching unique products, case in point: BeOne, the first of its kind Japanese-style bathtub featuring air jets coupled with its circular design to create a powerful massage unlike any other offered by tradi- tional air systems. BainUltra's Libra Aurora and Libra Oval tubs are examples of how the company integrates advanced technology to enhance the bathroom experience. These free-standing tubs come with the MiaPlus ThermoMasseur and give users the possibility to add the BU-Touch virtual control smart phone app to navigate through all the settings of the air jet bath, while taking a bath from anywhere in the house. The BU-Touch application mimics the same func- tional and operational features as the control that comes with the air jet bath. Ryan DeBoer, leader, trade showroom sales – west for LIXIL Canada, agrees that plumbing fixtures such as faucets and other fixed decorative items have a powerful ability to make an entire bathroom or kitchen seem refreshed. "And that's why a lot of home renovations are still happening even though inflation has shrunk disposable incomes: home- owners and interior designers don't need to invest tons of money on comprehensive upgrades," he says. Lixil, which was launched in 2011 and expanded internationally by acquiring Grohe, American Standard, and other trusted brands, is the ideal venue for kitchen and bathroom fixtures that are both striking and high quality. "Even the lat- est Retro-Fit shower kits from American Standard and Grohe impart a touch of class, plus they're easy to install, no alterations to existing plumbing required," DeBoer says. DeBoer goes on to cite another trend that is being addressed by American Standard: the lingering post-COVID need for cleanliness. "For some years the brand has made its EverClean surfaces – an anti- microbial additive that inhibits the growth of stain and odour-causing bacteria, mould, and mildew – standard on our products such as toilets sinks and faucets, and we're marketing this more than ever," he says. "EverClean also means less time cleaning, which is a big plus for end users." Smart technology is an American Standard focus. The Aspirations bathroom collection features an eight-inch widespread pull-down swivel spout with dual spray, and according to DeBoer a sensor version is now available "whereby all you do is wave your hand under the faucet for water activation – no touching required. We've had touchless faucets for kitchens for some time now, but this is new to res- idential bathroom settings." Further, American Standard offers a touchless flush toilet with a remote sensor as options on their top performing models; the Cadet Pro and Studio Toilets. KITCHENS Blanco Canada's sinks, faucets, and accessories were developed to accommodate any creative new build or remodelling project, and two new Silgranit colours reflect the National Kitchen and Bath Association's findings that earthy tones will continue to be pre- dominant in kitchens in the years ahead. Blanco Silgranit sinks feature bold styles as part of a Blanco Unit, a customizable combination of a Blanco sink, faucet, accessories and organization systems into one streamlined solution (designers and homeowners can reference unit inspiration concepts to tailor their kitchen sink space to their specific household needs and interior style). The two new Silgranit colours, Volcano Gray and Soft White, join the nature-inspired Silgranit colour palette; the former is a mid-tone grey inspired by volcanic ash and natural clay with hints of brown for warmth, ideal for complementing darker industrial and transitional kitchen design styles. Soft White is a dove grey with nuances of beige that adapts to both warm and cool tones and works well with organic, contemporary, and Scandinavian design styles. Blanco also recently distinguished itself by intro- ducing the new Catris Flexo Filter faucet. Designed to optimize workflow at the Blanco Unit, this two- in-one faucet features both filtered and non-filtered water delivery on demand and seamlessly connects to all common water filtration systems. It also has an insulated pull-down dual spray with a magnetic docking arm that delivers filtered water through a discrete waterspout. A single lever for tap water is located on the right side of the faucet and a dial on the left accesses cold filtered water. In general, collaborations with outside parties have been a time-honoured way to foster design innovation, and the latest example of this is pro- vided by Kohler. Donna Church, manager – marketing and com- munications at Kohler Canada, says that while Kohler owns many brands, "it's rare when we partner, but we made an exception with interior designer and influencer Shea McGee, and the rela- tionship proved to be productive." Studio McGee and Kohler combined styles and craftsmanship to design a timelessly versatile kitchen and bath collection, with McGee report- edly pulling nuanced details like font choices, faucet lever engravings, and ribbed textures from Kohler's 150-year-old archives and bridging them with her modern sensibilities. The Kohler x Studio McGee Collection is currently available at Kohler Signature Stores and will be extended to all distrib- utor showrooms later in 2024. The Kohler x Studio McGee Collection includes six distinct product lines: Edalyn Kitchen Faucets; Castia Bathroom Faucets; Malin Vanities (featuring square legs and clean lines, Shaker style); Seagrove Vanities (mid-century modern style); Embra Lighting; and Kernen Lighting. Studio McGee also worked with Kohler brand Ann Sacks to create The Ann Sacks x Studio McGee Collection, which features two finely executed por- celain designs – the result again of McGee going "deep into the Kohler archives to find some of the historical details and styling that make a fixture timeless," she says. "From there, I gave them mod- ern updates for a mix that's uniquely Studio McGee." The Ann Sacks x Studio McGee Collection can be specified for wall or flooring installations and include two different porcelain tiles (Canyon Lake and Novah), and a stone mosaic (Willow Heights). A

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