"People First Innovation" is the guiding principle behind Toto, the world’s largest manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and fittings. TOTO is an un paralleled luxury brand creating beautiful and functional fixtures for the bath. What really impresses me is that at the same time the are heavily focused on water conservation, a leading global concern that needs more attention here in the US.
In 1989, in response to the state’s dramatic drought conditions and the growing need for water conservation, TOTO USA was established in California. Today they operate three manufacturing facilities in the US. I was amazed to know that 80% of all toilets on the Las Vegas strip are, you guessed it, TOTO! The brand first started nearly one hundred years ago in Japan. Today there is still a zen aesthetic to both the design and experience of the product. 
The Washlet is a must have in my opinion. There are lots of choices to make when creating a new bathroom. A few judiciously selected "special items" can make your bathroom awesome and this is one I'd pick. TOTO reinvented the toilet seat by creating the Washlet, which gives people a new way to be cleaner and more comfortable every day. Washlet seats can be installed on virtually any toilet and use pure, clean water –along with several TOTO technologies – to make their users cleaner and more refreshed. Ok we're taking personalization to a new level here but you must admit... In case you're wondering, there are many public restrooms you can visit and see for yourself. Here's where they are. If you do, get back to me. It would make a great blogpost ;) Speaking of blog posts, I also found this great post by engadget.com A Westerner's Guide to Japanese Toilets .In addition to this, TOTO uses a lot of technology designed to preserve both the environment as well as your water and energy bill. This even includes something called SanaGloss. TOTO’s patented, super smooth glaze that repels visible and invisible waste, making it difficult to adhere to porcelain. I'm all for less toilet cleaning!
Accessible design and real showers were a part of TOTO's interactive booth at KBIS2015! 
Up next: The other item not to be missed for your bath, Mr. Steam! You can easily plan it into your bathroom renovation.
Getting Personal with Thermador
The Kitchen & Bath Industry show (KBIS) is like Christmas morning for a designer, full of excitement and new discoveries. That's exactly what my experience was like this year as a member of the Modenus Blog Tour. 
Not only that, I also had the opportunity to meet and mingle with some truly awesome designers, the rock stars of our industry. Before we get to that, on Monday our group visited the Las Vegas Market located in the World Market Center, also the location of Modenus Talks, a meeting of the minds where the topic of the day was: The Power of Great Design - Improving Well Being at Work and at Home.
So awesome to think that the way we design our homes and work spaces impacts our health and well being, including mental health! Combine this with personalization, a significant trend across brands, and you have a winning recipe for client and designer.
Personalization means more options and choices to suit your individual needs. One example of this is the innovation at Thermador. Zach Elkin, Director Luxury Division at Thermador, spoke about how the brand embraces the culinary enthusiast.
This year, at KBIS, they introduced a new 30” professional style range with innovative features that provide more design possibilities. Sister company Bosch also introduced a line of smaller appliances proving that very good things come in small packages
Another big healthy trend is steam cooking. Trust me, you are going to be seeing much more of this. You can cook ANYTHING except popcorn in a steam oven and it comes out great, even pizza, crispy too! Steam is not just for veggies anymore.
I can't leave without telling you about Thermador's new Freedom Induction Range, the first full-surface induction appliance in the luxury appliance category. That means that there are no "burners", in fact the whole thing is one big "burner"! It has sensory technology that "just knows" ;)
Next up: The Perfect Party Mix: Blanco & Poggenpohl