Can You Really Have It Your Way?

Those well known words.... “Have it your way.”  “Why settle for less?” You’ve heard these phrases time and time again in print, on the radio and Sunday afternoon television between football plays.  Sometimes, followed by a fast talking narrator listing all the disclaimer details.

Palmer Industries, www.sinklegs.com , known for manufacturing beautiful sink legs for the bath, loves custom requests.  They have accommodated requests for curved bars that follow the profile lines of the vanity top and now offer that option.  With the advent of Aging in Place and Universal Design, requests for ADA compliant sink leg systems are on the rise.  They have created retail store shelving and bath accessories such as toilet paper holders shown below.

Boutique hotels and restaurants use their systems.  Palmer has more engineers on their staff than most companies five times their size.  Of course, if all your customer needs is a beautifully made sink leg system for their bath or powder room, Palmer is more than ready.  Let your imagination run rampant and contact Palmer to make it reality.

MGS - Stainless, Sleek and Sustainable

MGS is well known for their beautiful, sleek solid stainless steel kitchen faucets.  What you may not know is that the factory, located just outside of Milan, Italy, also creates some of the most gorgeous bath faucets, tub fillers and showers from stainless steel.  The contemporary minimal designs are sought out by architects and designers worldwide.

My friends will tell you that I hate buyer’s remorse.  I want to know the true value of what I’m paying for.  I also don’t mind paying a little more money for a lot more value.  I don’t want to have to pay for a replacement down the road because I was too short sighted.  So many companies say they offer stainless steel kitchen and/or bath products.  However, their plated plastic handles, pull out spray heads or even stainless covered brass do not really count as a stainless steel faucet.  Does it?

With the campaign against brass faucets containing lead, (CA-AB1953), MGS solid stainless steel faucets were already compliant before the state bill was even discussed.  What about sustainability?  Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. MGS products contain between 10% to 30% recycled stainless steel.  Want a beautiful contemporary stainless steel faucet, shower or tub filler?  Then MGS is definitely your choice.

Design for the Future… not just today!

Let’s face it, none of us want to entertain the idea of being moved into a single story retirement community years from now. It’s an undeniable fact that as we age, our bodies lose some of its strength and agility. Simple actions like stepping over a curb to enter a shower can turn into a devastating accident where we fall and break an arm, hip or worse. Many architects & designers are more focused than ever on “Aging in Place” solutions. They are creating environments that enable people to continue to live in their home as they age.

However, there is another problem, ME!  Ummm… let me rephrase, people like myself. I’m 51, in pretty good physical shape, run 15 to 20 miles per week, eat somewhat healthy food. By the way, my wife disagrees with the last statement. She feels pizza & beer do not qualify as a well balanced meal. Bottom line… though I know the reality, I deny that I’m getting older. Therefore, I would fight any suggestion of an institutional looking grab bar in my shower or bathroom area.  We “baby boomers” do not want anyone suggesting we are getting older and may want to think about an ugly grab bar in the shower to help us maintain our balance when entering or exiting. If you provide attractive, non-institutional solutions to us that make sense, then we are much more willing to listen and buy into your design concepts for us.

Quick Drain, Palmer & Great Grabz provide some of the solutions you and your clients are looking for. “The Power Three” of ADA compliant bath products meeting the needs of Aging in Place issues.  These three are definitely worth considering, dare I say, must be considered when you are working with your clients to develop an attractive Aging in Place environment.

More than a drain… a solution!

Quick Drain linear shower drains are installed in hospitals and health care facilities as well as private homes and luxury hotels where wheel chair or walker access is necessary.  The traditional four way sloped “bowl shaped” floor of a center drain makes it difficult for the user to keep their balance in the shower. Additionally, if there is wheel-chair access, the center drain can catch a wheel making it difficult to maneuver. Quick Drain uses a gradual, almost unnoticed two degree, one way slope and removes the hole in the middle of the shower floor. Eliminating the problem of maintaining balance in the shower with traditional four way floor sloping.

In hospitals and health care facilities, Quick Drain helps control infection with something no other linear drain has, a 100% sloped drain trough not allowing any sitting water. Ten standard sizes from 26” in. to 68” in. with custom sizes available from 10” in to 10’ ft. And what’s the icing on the cake? You can use larger format tile, less time to install, IAPMO listed and it’s attractive!

Elegantly handcrafted… and ADA compliant!

Palmer makes console sink legs for premade china tops or fabricated stone/marble tops and considered the finest on the market. Their understated beauty far surpasses others who offer less value. Palmer is considered the Mercedes of console sink legs.

Their ability to make the exact size YOU want set them apart from others who only offer a few sizes which may not meet your needs. Is that really good customer service? Unlike others, Palmer can easily be made in virtually any size you want. The ability to customize and adjust on the jobsite is priceless. Understanding the need of some homes, hotels and restaurants to be totally accessible, Palmer leg systems are available in an ADA compliant version.  The simplicity and elegance of Palmers product can be seen in all of the styles they offer.

Attractive… yet Powerful!

Sure, you can order the standard institution style of ADA compliant grab bars. And while you’re at it, why don’t you replace your customers beautiful tiled shower with an inexpensive fiberglass version?  Great Grabz ADA compliant decorative grab bars will set your design inspiration free!  When designer Abbie Sladicks client stated, "I would rather fall than have my friends think I have a grab bar!" It sent her on a fantastic journey of creativity and innovation in a seemingly dull industry of grab bars!

The “Splash” series and well known “Signature” series along with the award winning “Wave” style come in a variety of finishes. Great Grabz also has the “Sure Grip” textured finish. Decorative grab bars for those who “… would rather fall than have their friends think they have a grab bar.”



NEW! from MGS - All Stainless Vela-DF

MGS Designs has launched a new single-hole faucet with built-in water filter, the Vela DF. 

This beautiful single hole faucet eliminates additional holes in the counter for a seperate water filter and helps provide a cludder free counter. As with all MGS kitchen & bath faucets, it is manufactured near Milan, Italy from 316 marine grade stainless steel. Perfect for indoor or outdoor kitchen areas where it can withstand the harsh elements. One handle controls the hot, cold and volume. The other handle controls the cold filtered water which exits through the center of the spout. The filter hose will connect to a standard 3/8” connection.

MGS Designs also have a new website, www.mgstaps.com, with beautiful photos to show your clients.

Please remember, MGS was AB1953 compliant before there was AB1953. All of MGS kitchen, bath & shower products are 100% 316 marine grade stainless. Not stainless covering brass as shown here. 

Think about it. Option A. is a beautifully crafted all stainless steel faucet from Milan, Italy. Option B. is a faucet that has a stainless skin over brass.  Which would you spend your money on?



Arc-Interiors Networking Conference - What’s The Next Green?

Want to network with some of the best architects and interior designers in the nation?  If you answered yes, then Arc-Interiors may be the venue for you.  Some of the top architects and designers from the United States and Canada were at the Marina del Rey Marriott September 23^rd to 26^th attending the Arc-Interiors Networking Conference.

The opening cocktail mixer and dinner were held at Glow, the latest Southern California outdoor lounge.  I was fortunate to be invited by one of our clients, Barbora Hulikova-Eriebach of Quick Drain USA.

Lisa Henry, ASID 2012 National President, gave a very insightful Keynote Address.  She spoke about how the sustainable design field is getting more crowded every day and asked… “What’s the next Green?”

Ms. Henry envisions many people now planning to stay in the workforce well into their 70s.  This, I believe, will be due in part to economic necessity and that we are in much better physical shape at an older age than we use to be.  The statement, “50 is the new 30”, applies more every year.  This, Ms. Henry feels, will prompt new requirements for space planning and ergonomics.

Ms. Henry spoke about several areas of opportunity which I believe echo the concerns and benefits of Universal Design.  Consider the aging population and their inability to down-size or move to a single level house due to economic conditions.  Currently houses, work environments, restaurants, shops, museums, concert halls, hotels & resorts are primarily designed for the young and healthy middle-aged adults.  In time, these areas will need to be modified for accessibility and mobility issues.  Additionally, sensory issues will be a concern such as acoustics, color and lighting will need to be addressed.

According to Ms. Henry, designers can prepare by becoming more knowledgeable about aging, both physiologically and sociologically and developing real solutions to compete with the many off-the-shelf solutions looking to capitalize on this rapidly growing market.

“We have only scaled the tip of the iceberg of sustainability. We have been addressing the symptoms and old bad habits.”, said Ms. Henry.  She spoke about the need for a new model of design based in broader context of sustainability. Clients should consider long-lasting adaptable solutions.

Ms. Henry’s thoughts on Gen X and the Millennials are that they prefer smaller, energy-efficient, low-maintenance residences, with versatile floor plans that are very design-conscious.  They value innovative, well-designed products and they have the potential for becoming lifelong consumers of design.  More of the products created for these two groups will incorporate smart technology.  Linking together, through a single device such as the iPhone, the products they use at home and the office on a daily basis:  computers, climate controls, TV’s, MP3 players, banking, etc.  Consider the recent introduction by Chase which allows you to take a photo of a check and deposit it into your account.

One of the most impactful thoughts Ms. Henry shared was during the closing of her Keynote Address.  She reminded us that the designer should be a steward of the design.  Design should not be considered a “closed loop” or a project. Instead, design should be treated as an open system… an ongoing relationship with a space.

From time to time, we cross paths with someone who makes an impression upon us. If we are fortunate, our minds open to a different way of thinking, a new twist, new insight.  Listening to and meeting Lisa Henry at Arc-Interiors has me looking at the world a little differently now.