ebuild Blog

Posts Tagged ‘bath products’

Energy-Efficient Products Bring Value to the Kitchen and Bath

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Energy-efficient products topped a list of trends for cost-efficient remodels in a  recent survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Thirty percent of the 822 NKBA members surveyed listed products such as LED lighting and Energy Star appliances as the top design solutions for cost-conscious consumers, followed by alternative countertops and Shaker-style products. The open-ended survey also identified products that aid in water conservation and recycling.

For more information on the survey, and to read about additional trends, see the original press release here. – Victoria Markovitz

Lasco Bathware and Aquatic Whirlpools Announce Merger

Monday, January 25th, 2010
The Ava Bath is the newest product from the recently-formed company, Aquatic.

The Ava Bath is the newest product from the recently formed company, Aquatic.

Bath and shower product company Lasco Bathware has merged with hydrotherapy firm Aquatic Whirlpools to form Aquatic, the new company announced. Aquatic will be headquartered in the former Lasco company’s location in Anaheim, Calif. A combination of expertise from both companies positions Aquatic for solid business in the everyday bathing, accessible bathing, and luxury hydrotherapy markets.

“At Aquatic, we recognize and are inspired by the power of our products to relax, refresh, reinvigorate, and renew,” said Aquatic president Gary Anderson in a press release. “That inspiration is built into everything we do, from the way we design, engineer, and manufacture our products, to how we work with our distribution partners, to the customer experience at every touch point while planning and shopping, and ultimately benefiting from our tubs and showers.

With 65 years of combined experience, Aquatic blends Lasco’s product breadth and operations strategies with Aquatic Whirlpools’ sleek designs and creative bathware designs, the company’s said. The new company will be a one-stop shop for bath and shower products, according to Dave McFarland, director of marketing and new product development.

“We’re positioning Aquatic as a true, national bathware specialist, as opposed to the many whole-house generalists you see in the market,” McFarland said during the International Builders’ Show (IBS). “With expertise across everyday, accessible, and luxury bathing, we’re in a unique category as a specialist in bath fixtures.”

The company says all three product areas will benefit individually from the former Lasco company’s national distribution capabilities; however, new opportunities are created when crossover between product categories is considered.

Visit www.aquaticbath.com for more information about the new company.  –Lauren Hunter

This article originally appeared on Remodeling magazine online.

2010 Kitchen and Bath Trends

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Building pros and designers can expect to see a growing demand for undercounter refrigerator drawers and undercounter wine refrigerators in 2010, according to a new survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Other kitchen trends highlighted in the results are more familiar, including continued popularity of tile and natural stone flooring and of cherry cabinets.

In the bathroom, traditional styling will trump contemporary, respondents say, and nickel finishes will continue to dominate faucet preferences.

To see the complete list of kitchen and bath trends, click here.–Victoria Markovitz

New From Moen: Digital Controls, Compact Cartridge

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Two representatives from Moen stopped by yesterday to show us their new products.

My two favorites were a new digital tub/shower controller and a redesigned cartridge.

The ioDigital system can control a vertical spa (shown), a shower only, or a roman tub, with a separate controller for each application.  Features include custom presets, LED indicators for settings such as temperature, and a pause feature to stop the flow of water. The tub version can even remember how high to fill the bath,  so a homeowner  doesn’t need to keep an eye on the water level.

This ioDigital controller manages vertical spas.

Designed for single-handle faucets, the 1255 Duralast cartridge ensures smooth operation over the life of the product, the maker says. The cartridge is also smaller, so it will give Moen more design flexibility–especially for introducing tinier, sleeker products in the future.–Victoria Markovitz
 The 1255 Duralast cartridge will allow Moen to design smaller single-handle faucets.