Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/423872
W Vanity Fair Personalizing your space with kitchen and bathroom sinks by Stacey McLachlan With modern styles and plentiful ways to make daily tasks simpler, the latest sinks for the kitchen and bathroom are making a splash. Sinks are the focal point of a kitchen or a bathroom. Luckily there are more options on the market than ever to perfectly suit your lifestyle. For residential projects, Kohler's revolutionary stainless steel treatment for kitchen sinks, Preserve, creates a scratch barrier to protect stainless steel while maintaining a pristine finish. The new Sweep spray faucet function sprays a wide, powerful blade of water to keep kitchen cleanup quick and easy, while in the bathroom, the demand for personalization prompted Kohler's Artifacts faucet collection, which is inspired by turn-of-the-century esthetics. "People are really trying to connect with all ele- ments of their home and create unique one-of-a-kind spaces, and there's something to be said for products that evoke emotion, and the undeniable thrill that comes with discovering a piece that resonates with your design esthetic," explains Donna Church, mar- keting and communications at Kohler Canada Co. But picking the right sink isn't just about looks. "Functionality is also a key factor to consider," Church points out. "This goes back to personalizing your space and reflecting on your lifestyle. You may love the look of a double basin sink, but by recognizing you're an avid cook using large pots and pans, a large, deep single basin like the Strive undermount might suit your lifestyle better." The company's apron-front sinks continue to be a popular option, precisely because they offer the best of both traditional and modern design. The style sug- gests a farmhouse esthetic – recognized for durability and practicality – but the modern technology makes the model suitable for contemporary kitchens. Though new products are constantly coming through the Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre show- room, showroom manager Christina Kempinski notes that the popularity of different materials differ by style. "New products vary from copper to decorative glass to cement composition vessels," she explains. "It all depends on the look." There are some constants in the industry, however; hands-free technology is a hot feature for faucets and muted colours are on-trend for everything from spa- like styles to more traditional looks. Another high-tech option for the kitchen are pause- button faucets that offer sustainability alongside con- venience. "The pause button allows you to stop the flow while you're filling or reaching, and this feature is a definite water saver," says Kempinski. Vessel-type sinks are seeing a continuing popu- larity in powder rooms, which makes perfect sense for a low-traffic space, though it isn't always ideal for a more frequently used area, suggests Kempinski. "If we're talking about bathroom sinks, usually the powder room will be the best place for a decorative sink, as this is the room used by guests, or as a quick stop, where a more practical sink would be recom- mended in the rooms used the most." American Standard's latest additions to the Loft line are both square, above-counter bathroom basins that make the most of this vessel sink trend. "Cur- rently, design is very focused on modern and contem- porary looks," says Simone Abele, VP of marketing at Clockwise from top: Professional Series from Franke Kindred Canada; stainless steel Quatrus R15 from Blanco Canada; Undertone Preserve kitchen sink and Sensate kitchen faucet from Kohler Ltd.; and the Cupro vanity and hospitality sink in copper from Franke Kindred Canada. december 2014 /33 Sinks