Mechanical Hub recently spoke with Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager, Moen, regarding the latest trends in kitchen & bath. As Harper explains, as two of the highest traffic areas of the home, maintaining and upkeeping a refreshed, clean, stylish kitchen and bathroom are top priorities for consumers. It goes a step further taking Read more
Kitchen & Bath
Mechanical Hub recently spoke with Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager, Moen, regarding the latest trends in kitchen & bath. As Harper explains, as two of the highest traffic areas of the home, maintaining and upkeeping a refreshed, clean, stylish kitchen and bathroom are top priorities for consumers. It goes a step further taking into consideration the desire for more personal expression and customization right now. The following is an exclusive Q&A with Moen’s Harper.
MH: I just saw a report by the NKBA that remodeling will sustain the K&B industry for 2023. Does Moen agree with this assessment? What other factors are influencing the market for 2023 K&B?
HARPER: People continue to look for unique ways to meet their own needs inside the home from design to plumbing. The expansion of Moen products over the last year and throughout 2023 emphasizes the growing demand for more options in the kitchen and bathroom. Consumers are looking for spaces and products that meet their design preferences but also offer enhanced functionality. An example of this is the Smart Faucet with Motion Control that allows consumers to elevate how they move about their kitchen with smart technology, while increasing style.
MH: Are any colors or finishes dominating the K&B landscape this year?
HARPER: Moen is seeing Matte Black finishes on fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen become increasingly more popular. With a bold, dramatic finish like Matte Black, fixtures can take a room to new depths, heightening both classic and contemporary designs. Additionally, the finish is a simple way to elevate more minimalist collections to the very on-trend industrial chic style, making it a very versatile design.
Along with Matte Black, the trend of personalizing fixtures is hitting new heights. By mixing metals and providing more options to customize your sink, adding a brushed gold escutcheon to a matte black bathroom faucet easily adds extra flair and personality to the room’s design.
In terms of color, we’re going to continue seeing both the layering of neutral and natural tones as well as the inclusion of bold pops of color like cobalt and citrus tones.
MH: Piggybacking off of that, what is trending as far as consumers looking at fixture styles? (Contemporary, modern, traditional, farmhouse, retro, etc.)
HARPER: Moen is finding a greater desire for fixture styles that can fit any room aesthetic. To encompass this idea, homeowners are looking toward fixtures that lean more transitional to meld together both traditional and modern pieces for a clean, comfortable, contemporary look.
As we go further into 2023, the kitchen and bathroom spaces are focusing on combining styles to create one unique design that helps homeowners encapsulate their own personal tastes and lifestyles. An example of this is the new TenonTM collection. This collection brings a touch of warmth to the contemporary kitchen, while offering the modern functionality consumers need and enjoy. The tall stature and the teak wood handle make these faucets an eye-catching addition to the sink, while offering the consumer a sense of customization.
MH: Can you address Moen’s sustainability initiatives?
HARPER: Moen takes pride in innovating and designing products with sustainability top of mind. This is why we have created Mission Moen. Mission Moen is our promise to protect and preserve the world’s most precious resource — water. Our goal with Mission Moen is to save one trillion gallons of water and repurposing 2,000 tons of ocean plastic by 2030, all while helping consumers enjoy water even more.
At Moen, we are driven to deliver outstanding water experiences inside and outside the home to celebrate water’s power and beauty, but also to protect the water of tomorrow. By creating products that save water effortlessly while improving how you experience it, we’re making your interactions with water even more meaningful without ever having to compromise style.
MH: Let’s talk functionality. I know Moen has some very unique offerings such as eBidets, eToilets and Workstation sinks. Can you talk about those and any other products/services coming soon?
HARPER: Moen is focused on creating the ultimate experience for consumers. This goes beyond faucets. We know how important each touch point with the water that flows through your pipes is and how that impacts daily routines. We’ve dedicated our focus streamlining tasks at the sink with Workstation Sinks, bringing comfort and cleanliness to a new level with eBidets and eToilets. With features such as water pressure, temperature control and endless instantaneous warm water, eBidets and eToilets deliver the ability for each user to customize their own experience in the bathroom.
In 2023, we’re excited to share our newest expansion to our Smart Water Network with enhanced interoperability in our products. This provides more integrated and advanced experiences when you have more than one Moen Smart Water product, such as the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, Smart Faucet and Smart Shower. As a result, Moen is giving consumers more power over their water than ever before. The Smart Water Network is also an integral part of Mission Moen by proactively protecting the home from leaks and reducing water waste with built-in water conservation every time you turn on the faucet or shower. We’ll also be launching a new Smart Sprinkler Controller that helps automate lawn irrigation and provides even more control over your home’s water.
Along with the expansion of the Smart Water Network, Moen is excited to launch new styles and innovations, such as new laundry faucets- and water filtration faucets to improve how our customers enjoy their home, while achieving even more customized experiences.
MH: Finally, let’s talk vision of space. The kitchen has always been the heart of the home and the bathroom (master) has long been considered a place of respite and relaxation. When designing these spaces, is it still a matter of personal preference, wellness, functionality, etc.? Explain.
HARPER: As two of the most used spaces in the home, the kitchen is the hub of entertaining during family gatherings, while the bathroom is used as the ultimate escape to reset at the end of a busy day. When designing for these spaces, it’s important to carefully customize each room to meet your individual preferences and needs. This ties into the overarching trend of home holistic wellness which we see continuing through 2023 and is heavily influenced by the home embodying the lifestyles and habits of the consumer in each room. Designing a kitchen and bathroom with functionality, wellness and versatility top of mind allows homeowners to choose what their environment says about them to anyone who walks through their front door.
Lake Forest, Calif. — Pfister, a trusted leader in the plumbing industry since 1910, is introducing American Plumber Stories, a docuseries that features the lives of plumbers throughout the U.S. The bi-weekly digital series, hosted by country music entertainer and Army veteran Craig Morgan, launches today at www.AmericanPlumberStories.com. American Plumber Stories aims to promote the Read more
Lake Forest, Calif. — Pfister, a trusted leader in the plumbing industry since 1910, is introducing American Plumber Stories, a docuseries that features the lives of plumbers throughout the U.S. The bi-weekly digital series, hosted by country music entertainer and Army veteran Craig Morgan, launches today at www.AmericanPlumberStories.com.
Craig Morgan – Country Music Entertainer and Host of American Plumber Stories
American Plumber Stories aims to promote the plumbing trade to the next generation of professionals. The show highlights the stories of plumbers around the nation including how they got started in the plumbing trade and the passion they have for their profession. These stories show how they built a career that allows them to lead financially rewarding and fulfilling lives.
Featured will be plumbers and their unique hobbies such as car racing, kitesurfing and many other exciting stories. Each episode is entertaining but also highlights the true opportunity the plumbing trade has to offer those who are not aiming to pursue a college education or who are unsure which career path to take. Becoming an “American Plumber” is a true alternative. By foregoing significant student loan debt and entering a career early, young plumbing professionals can build a fulfilling life for themselves and their families.
The plumbing trade has been experiencing a significant shortage of workers. The most experienced professionals are nearing retirement age and are exiting the workforce. At the same time the number of men and women willing to learn the trade continues to decline. Today, special high school programs and vocational or trade schools are scarce for aspiring students who want a career in the trades. Compared to higher learning and the promise and perceived security of a corporate career, there is also a negative stigma attached to the plumbing profession. Academic achievement became more favorable and the idea of trade education was left behind.
“Young men and women who enter the workforce early can learn the plumbing trade and make it a long-term career. This also allows many to establish and build their own company. The goal of American Plumber Stories is to update the perceptions of the plumber profession in a documentary-style format. We need to engage with young people, sharing an authentic look at the plumbing trade today and real plumbers’ success stories to encourage a new workforce,” says Spencer Brown, Pfister’s Director of Sales and executive producer of American Plumber Stories.
“The goals of American Plumber Stories are to inspire, educate and entertain. Our hope is that the docuseries changes the image of the industry, helping to attract and recruit new talent.”
Initially 12 episodes will be released over the course of 6 months, starting August 2nd. Pfister partnered with chart-topping country music star Craig Morgan as an official brand ambassador and he’ll also host each episode. Morgan, who wrote and performed the docuseries’ original theme song “Good Life,” embodies the values of all those who work in the trade. His integrity, family values and grit echo the ideals of the “working man” and their passion for our Country which delivers on the narrative that each one of us deserves every opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
“I was very excited when Pfister approached me about this project – I am glad to help shine a light on the trade and see what Pfister is doing with American Plumber Stories to help inspire a new generation of plumbers.” says Morgan.
Ultra-hygienic toilet with built-in washing nozzles debuts as bidet popularity surges in U.S. While they’ve been used around the world for over 300 years, it took a global pandemic and historic toilet paper shortage for many Americans to discover the benefits of bidets. Now, as the popularity of the hygienic bathroom fixtures soars in the Read more
Ultra-hygienic toilet with built-in washing nozzles debuts as bidet popularity surges in U.S.
While they’ve been used around the world for over 300 years, it took a global pandemic and historic toilet paper shortage for many Americans to discover the benefits of bidets. Now, as the popularity of the hygienic bathroom fixtures soars in the United States, Mansfield is rising to the occasion by introducing its first-ever toilet with a built-in bidet attachment.
Dubbed Nyren, the toilet features an electronic seat equipped with a self-cleaning spray nozzle offering five adjustable spray positions. The toilet’s washing functionality, including rear wash and feminine wash capabilities, reduces the need for toilet paper and offers users hygienic benefits not available with paper-only cleaning methods.
“We’re excited to help introduce bidet toilets to Americans with the debut of Nyren,” said Stephanie Radebaugh, sanitaryware product manager at Mansfield. “Bidet attachments have an array of hygienic benefits, and we look forward to helping people live a healthier, happier and greener lifestyle.”
Additional features include six different adjustable settings for water, air dryer and seat temperatures. Along with stationary and motion wash modes, as well as three water pressure levels, the user can easily customize their most comfortable experience with a wireless remote control.
Beyond Nyren’s extensive benefits for personal hygiene, the toilet also advances sustainability efforts. With a high-efficiency flush model that allows the user to choose full- or half-flush while washing and rinsing the bowl twice, Nyren saves both water and money. The use of a bidet also substantially decreases the reliance on single-use products like toilet paper and drastically reduces the amount of paper waste directed to sewers and landfills.
Aesthetically, Nyren’s sleek and contemporary design offers a modern style while remaining universal enough to fit the décor in most bathrooms. An LED light inside the bowl enhances convenience for nighttime visits.
Nyren is available through wholesale distributors and direct for consumers on Lowes.com. To learn more about Nyren and all of Mansfield’s product offerings, visit https://www.mansfieldplumbing.com/nyren-smart-toilet/.
Fluidmaster unveils all-new Soft Spa 9500 Bidet. Designed to provide a more hygienic, clean and refreshing solution in the bathroom, the feature-rich Soft Spa 9500 Bidet leverages Fluidmaster’s 64-year history of innovation. Complete with water temperature and pressure controls, adjustable dryer speeds, an ergonomic, temperature-controlled comfort seat and more, the electronic bidet features a sleek Read more
Fluidmaster unveils all-new Soft Spa 9500 Bidet. Designed to provide a more hygienic, clean and refreshing solution in the bathroom, the feature-rich Soft Spa 9500 Bidet leverages Fluidmaster’s 64-year history of innovation. Complete with water temperature and pressure controls, adjustable dryer speeds, an ergonomic, temperature-controlled comfort seat and more, the electronic bidet features a sleek design that won’t shift under your bum. The Soft Spa 9500 Bidet is offered at $400 MSRP and available now through Fluidmaster.com.
The Soft Spa 9500 Bidet by Fluidmaster serves as a healthier, more hygienic way of cleaning up in the bathroom. Front and rear cleaning cycles help remove more bacteria and prevent the spread of germs when compared to wiping with toilet paper. The result is a fresh, “just stepped out of the shower” clean feeling made possible by a premium, fully customizable experience.
“Adding electronic bidets to the toilet has been a growing trend in the U.S. market over the last few years as more people have transformed their bathrooms into a personal spa oasis,” said Corinne AndersonSchoepe, Director, Global Brand, Fluidmaster. “COVID-19 and the recent toilet paper shortages fast-tracked our development of the Soft Spa 9500 as we responded to the widespread adoption of elevated personal hygiene standards. We’ve leveraged our trusted leadership in the toilet repair industry to offer a premium, more hygienic solution that we believe is going to be a welcomed upgrade in the bathroom.”
Features of the Soft Spa 9500 Bidet by Fluidmaster include1:
- Automatic front and rear cleaning cycles with oscillation, water temperature and pressure controls
- Adjustable dryer speeds with temperature control
- Sleek design with an ergonomic comfort bidet seat that won’t shift under your bum, featuring adjustable temperature control
- Electronic control via push button at bidet base or wireless remote
- Deodorizer and push-button quick release for easy cleaning
- Night light and soft-close bidet seat lid for round-the-clock use
Geberit’s revised Bathe In Style brochure highlights Cable-Operated Bath Waste and Overflows in three easy-to-operate styles. PushControl operates with a simple push, TurnControl operates with one-eighth turn, and the integrated Cascading Tub Filler and Drain is a fast tub filler with virtually no splash. Each design can enhance the beauty and functionality of a bathtub Read more
Geberit’s revised Bathe In Style brochure highlights Cable-Operated Bath Waste and Overflows in three easy-to-operate styles. PushControl operates with a simple push, TurnControl operates with one-eighth turn, and the integrated Cascading Tub Filler and Drain is a fast tub filler with virtually no splash. Each design can enhance the beauty and functionality of a bathtub, while providing years of trouble-free service.
The thin, elegant, PushControl BWO has set the standard for bathtub draining by receiving the IF Award from the International Design Forum. A simple push on the self-adjusting PushControl, which adapts easily to any bath thickness, operates the drain.
The Traditional TurnControl BWO, an industry standard, continues to offer unparalleled simplicity and sleekness. The drain opens and closes with an easy one-eighth turn of the contoured handle.
The metal Cascading Tub Filler and BWO with contoured handle is an integrated system that combines the functionality of filling and draining into one component. It features a fast tub fill – 18 gallons per minute – with almost no splash. It is as effective and trouble free as it is attractive.
Geberit BWOs come in a variety of contemporary colors and finishes and the exclusive and guaranteed Forever Shine™ finish is available on some models.
To learn more about Geberit products please contact your Geberit sales representative, call Geberit Customer Service at 800-566-2100 or visit www.geberit.us.
Download the Bathe In Style brochureat http://www.geberitnorthamerica.com/media/local_media/_imported/brochures/GNA7005.pdf or call 800-566-2100 to request a copy.