Lots of interesting uses of contracting surfaces and finishes can be seen in these kitchen designs, fresh from Kohler’s online design gallery. Click on the thumbnails to view full size. With one of these looks in mind, it’s easy to put together all of the elements of the kitchen so the end result pops! See many of the faucets in person at Buffalo Plumbing Showroom.
John Oldach, Buffalo Plumbing Showroom’s representative for Elkay sinks, has a favorite phone call that he regularly receives. It starts out,”My Elkay sink is rusting. I need a replacement.” When he responds that stainless steel sinks do not “rust”, the usual rejoinder is,”Well, if you don’t believe me, come out and inspect it. Then give me a new sink.”
The stainless steel that Elkay sinks are made from is known as Type 304, or 18-8. It is distinguished from other types by the percentage of chromium (18%) and nickel (8%) that is added to the other metals and elements that go into the product.
Type 304, or any other type employed in the manufacture of sinks will not stain, but it will corrode when it comes in contact with certain chemicals. Most common is pitting that results from bleach. Occasionally chemicals used on a construction site, like hydrochloric acid or calcium chloride, can ruin stainless steel. One substance that can cause rust-like eruptions if left in contact for an extended period of time is Triclosan. Triclosan is an organic chemical made up of three chlorine molecules that is used in most anti-bacterial soaps, such as Dial. The fact that it can corrode stainless stainless steel may be of concern not just for your sink, considering it is regularly used on your skin!
Actually, something as simple as table salt or garlic salt can also cause corrosion, if left on the surface for a few days. The key to keeping your sink like new is to wash it regularly. Stainless steel resists most adverse chemical reactions because it develops an inert surface layer that protects it from the environment. Regular washings remove contaminants, and allow the natural passive layer to renew itself.
The best news is that once these rust-like eruptions occur, they are easily removed with a maroon Scotch-Brite pad and a cleanser such as Barkeeper’s Friend or Bon Ami, available at most large grocery or home improvement stores. For severe cases, Elkay makes a cleaning kit (#LK34) that can be ordered – the consultants at Buffalo Plumbing Showroom can have it sent directly to your home at your request.
Adding the “wow” factor to a bathroom can start by designing it around these dramatic freestanding bathtubs just released by Kohler. The graceful, sculptural forms are sure to be a focal point in any scheme, making sure that an item that usually takes up a fair amount of space in a small room does so with high style.
Kohler K-1805 Aliento freestanding bath tub
What was once almost a given in any bathroom – a 5 foot tub with a front apron, set into a tiled alcove – can now be reconsidered, for those who prefer to make an individual statement. And what a great showcase for your beautiful, costly, ceramic tile. Instead of hiding it in a small space behind a curtain or door, it will be seen in big, luxurious expanses as a backdrop for your incredible tub.
Kohler K-1801 Askew freestanding bath tub
With so much everyday use, your kitchen and bathrooms need to be outfitted with plumbing products that provide durability, functionality, and of course, beauty. At the Buffalo Plumbing Showroom, you’ll find the latest style and technology innovations offered by the world’s premier plumbing manufacturers. Browse all of the interesting colors, finishes, and design possibilities…but don’t be overwhelmed. One of the experienced consultants will be happy to assist you in making all of the selections that result in the perfect combination of form and function for your needs.
Maybe you’ve been dreaming about a total remodeling of your bathroom and the idea of a spa-like ambiance appeals to you. This trend has really caught on in the industry, and you will find fabulous whirlpools with options for chromotherapy lights and champagne bubbles. For healthy cleansing and muscle relaxation, your shower can be equipped to double as a personal steam bath. Or you can customize your spa shower with body sprays, a rain shower, a hand held shower massage, and stereo speakers…all digitally operated and temperature-controlled. Then complete the serene feeling by enclosing the area with custom frameless glass shower doors. What was once an ordinary, uninviting bathroom is now a special place to rest, renew, & recharge.
Are you looking for inspiration and resources to create your dream kitchen? The choice of cabinets, sinks, and faucets is staggering, yet with professional help you can pinpoint the exact items that express your style and carry out the theme of the room beautifully. The detail of a vintage style oil-rubbed bronze faucet mounted over a massive front apron farmhouse sink will be a pleasure to use every day if you love the charm of a country cottage. For those who appreciate sophisticated, modern kitchen design, the clean lines of a stainless steel gourmet sink mounted under a granite or marble countertop make an understated background for a dramatic, glittering chrome high arc faucet. There is simply no reason to live with a bland view in this room that we all spend so much time in, when there are now so many options for “kicking it up a notch”!
If your project calls for more basic plumbing items, the Buffalo Plumbing Showroom has those available, too. They supply plumbing tradesmen and homeowners with all of the essentials, as well as specialized systems, such as radiant floor heating, tankless water heaters, and water purification.
Access the showroom’s website at buffaloplumbingshowroom.com for links to the most respected names in decorative plumbing products. To get a closer look, stop in Mondays through Fridays 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturdays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Whether you’re in an old Victorian or a swanky downtown co-op, they will help you pull together the perfect look.
600 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14206
716-826-1400
As we grow older, our living requirements change, but many prefer not to make the move to a different home. Aging in place involves modifying your existing home to accommodate your needs as you grow older. What changes can be made to provide safety, security, and independence for the future? Today’s graying homeowners don’t want ugly grab bars and toilet seat extenders. Here are some ways to be proactive on safety in one of the most accident-intensive rooms of the house – the bathroom – without the merest suggestion of the sterile nursing home atmosphere.
Because falling is an extremely serious problem, grab bars should be placed anywhere in the bathroom where footing could be compromised: inside and outside the shower entrance, near the toilet, and within reaching distance of the tub. The key to making grab bars look attractive in your setting is to select decorative ones that coordinate with vanity, tub, and shower faucets. Kohler and Moen offer styles and finishes that will look great with any of their faucets.
Another relatively simple fix as strength and dexterity decrease is to add faucets with lever handles and anti-scald valves. Sleek and smooth-operating one-handle faucets by Grohe are an outstanding example of high style combined with quality and function. They can be turned on and off with one finger! Even easier, Moen Showhouse and Kohler make touchless lav faucets that operate with motion sensors.
To eliminate the difficulty of using a traditional toilet that is low to the floor, change to a comfort-height model. The extra few inches give a welcome boost and can extend independence without having to add a special seat. No one will notice the difference when they see how perfectly the toilet ties in with the other tasteful elements that surround it.
The time may come when converting the bathtub to a shower makes sense. Durable and attractive retrofit shower bases by Swanstone fit into the typical 60” footprint of a bathtub and are available with the drain positioned either right or left for simplified installation. A shower seat and a hand shower mounted on a slide bar add luxury today and accessibility tomorrow.
At any stage of life, start making the needed changes to age in place, and still have a bathroom that suggests youth and style.
The decline in home values over the last five years has fueled homeowners’ decisions to lean more toward functionality than extravagance, investing more in features, systems, and products that promote greater energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, and accessibility. With so many negative factors impacting the budget and constraining your options for a bathroom design project, how can you achieve results that will still be impressive and create a satisfying space?
Fortunately, bath showrooms are full of new products that help solve this dilemma, and the consultants can help you stay in a modest price range where possible, while showing you the instances where investing less could be a false economy. The trend toward modern and minimalist design aesthetics is also a saving grace. A sensational effect can be created with much less expense, if the basic rules of decorating are applied skillfully.
USE CLEAN LINES
As you peruse the vast selection of fixtures and faucets available, take into account that lines play a significant role in modern bath design. The shape of the countertop, mirror, lavatory, and shower will best express a contemporary feel if they are clean and uncomplicated. A majority of straight and horizontal lines will give a bold, clean look; then a few rounded shapes can be brought in for balance, i.e. combining a dramatic square vessel sink with a gleaming hi-arc faucet.
PUT COLOR TO WORK
Paint is the cheapest decorating tool, and you can do it yourself. The modern schemes, especially for a smaller room, are usually best kept free of patterns. Sometimes all that’s needed is a splash of color on one accent wall, combined with plenty of white or neutral pieces, such as the tub and toilet. Add a play on textures, such as companion wall and floor tiles in glass, pebbles, or natural stone to achieve a subtle complexity.
HARMONY VERSUS VARIETY
Keep assessing the effect each item is having as you add it to the room. Is it blending in with the surroundings, or is it standing out as a statement on it’s own? The key to a pleasing space is not having too much of either type of element.
Keep the bathroom uncluttered, so the clean lines are maintained and the design looks inviting. Your well-presented expression of style will speak louder than the amount of money you have spent!
Suzanne Pulk
Sales and Design Consultant
