In my world of kitchen and bath design, just when I think I’ve seen it all, I realize that’s very far from the truth. Luckily, I see all the drool worthy newness hot off the press via the myriad news releases I receive every day. Here is one new product I recently learned about. I think you'll agree it's not to be missed!
Not only do I love the dependable functionality of the Delta/Brizo brand, but I’m always intrigued in the creative process they use in coming up with new design. Brizo Faucets has outdone themselves again with their new Sotria Collection. Think mid-century-jet-set-streamlined-fins-you get the picture. The sleek angular lines call to mind the days when the iconic Pan American World Airlines ruled the sky. At the risk of dating myself bigtime, I'll admit my dad actually worked for Pan Am so I was a lucky enough to be a jet-setting tot! 
Playing off the Sotria collection’s mid-century inspiration, Adele Young, of VDL Interiors, infused colors and shapes popular in the 60’s throughout this space. The result? A beautiful room brimming with modernity while hinting at the retro age of “Pan Am” airlines. 
Luxury Living, California Style
“All the leaves are gone and the sky is gray…” Yeah I thought you’d be in the mood for a little California dreaming right about now. My esteemed colleagues over at Brizo Faucets asked me to review one particularly awesome coffee table tome that will definitely warm up you design senses. It is California Luxury Living: A Private Tour by John Finton.
Finton started his own construction company before graduating from college and he’s still building. A vagabond by nature, Finton was inspired by travel and the great outdoors. Today he’s added the influence of international travel to the mix and resides and works in sunny California.Check out this video for a little peek into what this luxury living is all about.This is some bold-in-your-face design and there is something in this book for everyone ranging from ultra sleek contemporary, featuring vast expanses of uninterrupted glass, to the ultimate in highly detailed Beaux Arts design, think Versailles. I did enjoy the balance between interior and exterior shots. Mr. Finton is known for his sourcing and use of the highest quality materials photos ooze luxury at every turn of the page.John Finton is also a friend of Brizo Faucets. In this video he chats with their creative guru Judd Lord to chat about what makes them tic in the creative sense. Loving the part where Judd got faucet inspiration from those Asian style sticks in the waitress's long hair!As a designer in this world of Houzz, it’s nice to sometimes have a real book to peruse when in the market for inspiration. This would be a good one for your design library. It’s chock full of widely diverse styles of design, all 278 pages, totally worth $39.00. I found it on Amazon.
My New Treasure: In2ition Dual Shower Head
Hold on a minute! I was going to show you an amazing kitchen transformation today and I promise it’s still coming BUT I’m just bursting to tell you about my shower. We have been doing some renovations around the old homestead. Life seems to fall into a desperate fight for survival mode when you’re removing popcorn, installing flooring, molding, painting yadda yadda. SO this special little box sat in my garage for way longer than it should have. When the hubs finally got to it, we unveiled our beautiful new In2ition Shower Dual Showerhead by Delta Faucet Company. It was a generous gift and memento of a beautiful experience with my fellow Brizo Blogger 19 alumni in Memphis back in July. The folks at Delta /Brizo graciously offered us the In2ition shower head in the style and finish of our choice.
Why go for round when you can be square and hip all at the same time? Needless to say I went contemporary and I went chrome. I learned all about the H20 technology having seen it in action in Memphis. Click here in case you missed it.
The hubs was the first to test it out and he was blown away, by the water pressure (just kidding). Seriously, he loved it, but I really had no idea until I experienced it myself. A handy little lever on the side controls the jets and water flow. You can set your In2ition shower to one of three options: shower head and hand shower combined, shower head only, and hand shower only. The center section pops right out for handheld convenience. The point of the H20Kinetic Technology is to make less water feel like more and it certainly does.
When I tell you it’s worth its weight in gold I’m not kidding but I don’t want you breaking and entering to get mine when you can find out where to get your very own right here. Shop around because prices vary a lot. This shower head comes with a lifetime faucet and finish warranty. Lucky me ;). Now I just have to remodel the rest of the bathroom...
Ever Wonder Where a Delta or Brizo Faucet Comes From?
Is this some cutting edge art installation? Although it's beautiful, it's not! What you see is a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) chamber at the Delta Faucet Plant in Jackson, Tennessee.
Delta's trademark BRILLIANCE anti-tarnish finish is applied here, not only adding color but providing heavy duty abrasion resistance to their faucets.This was just one of the things I learned about on day two of the Brizo Blogger 19 Reunion. (Click here to read about day one at St. Jude's) I always love to visit plants and factories because it gives me so much more information to help my clients make the right choices for there home.
American manufacturing is alive and well at Delta Faucet Company which also produces the luxury line of Brizo Faucets. The plant, located in Jackson, Tennessee is about midway between Memphis and Nashville. They employ around 900 workers operating in about 600,000 square feet.
What impressed me was the level of quality control I saw. Everything was oriented towards helping employees to make the best products as safely and efficiently as possible. There's a lot of creative machining and engineering going on but it's not all automated. This factory is very people focussed. Each faucet is actually hand made and 100% of product is tested before being sent out into the world.
Delta and Brizo faucets are also known for their trademarked DIAMOND SEAL technology. This is the little mechanism inside that dictates water flow and temperature. Yes, there are actually diamonds in there! Diamonds lubricate moving parts without need for lubricants. This eliminates even trace amounts of lead. What this means for the consumer is that a Delta or Brizo faucet is safe and durable lasting up to 5 million uses – up to 10 times longer than the industry standard!Last but not least we can't leave the factory without mentioning what I consider to be the Delta Brizo crowning glory, the trademarked Brizo SMARTTOUCH technology. In Delta products it's called TOUCH20. All SmartTouch/Touch20 (touch on, touch off ) products undergo extensive testing. Yes, every single one! In addition my favorite, the Brizo Odin electronic lavatory faucet now sports SMARTTOUCH PLUS technology which means it can also be used totally hands free.
Back at the hotel we were able to preview top secret products in development as well as the new line of Brizo freestanding tub fillers. We also learned that all "touch technology" is not created equal and were able to experiment with a wide variety of products, many of which use the infrared method that we frequently see in public bathrooms. In my opinion there was a big difference between how these products function compared to the Delta products which function using the static electricity we carry in our bodies! The human body conducts electricity. The surface of the faucet conducts that energy activating a solenoid (on/off switch) under the sink. The result seems to be much more dependable. I tested Moen, Kholer and Hansgrohe, so basically all price points. Though none were perfect, to me the most expensive Hansgrohe was the worst!
We ended the day with a demonstration of the newest showering phenomenon, H20KINETICS. Wow! It's a very wet, very satisfying shower with LESS water. Check it out. The H20KINETICS shower on the left as seen with an infrared light vs. a typical sprinkling showerhead. You can see the strands of water seem turbo charged!I want to thank Brizo for a most amazing experience. It's always great to connect with people I am proud to call my peers and to learn a great deal in the process.
Bloggers Do Memphis! First Stop, St. Jude's
Great to be home and inundated with eager clients who just can't wait to get started! First things first, however. I must share my thoughts and experiences from the late great Blogger 19 Reunion which took place July 16-19 in Memphis. I can't believe I've already been back for over a week! I came away from the event with two main impressions 1) In a world of doubt and cynicism a true and pure force for good is alive and well at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. 2) American manufacturing is not only alive and well but also innovative and cutting edge at the Delta Faucet Factory in Jackson, Tennessee.
In case you're not aware of "the Blogger 19", Brizo Faucets has wined dined and educated approximately 19 bloggers in New York City every fashion season since Feb 2010. I was a part of the second group in September 2010. Bloggers get to attend a show during fashion week as well as preview products in development for Brizo Faucets (shhhhh). Fashion designer Jason Wu has a long standing relationship with Brizo. He informs their aesthetic with his own fashion philosophy and they offer him the opportunity to expand his design into the home. Fashion is not the only cause near and dear to Brizo. Three years ago they also teamed up with St. Jude's, the second largest healthcare charity in the US.
After settling in at the luxurious Peabody Hotel on Tuesday we were off to St. Jude's the next day.
St. Jude's was founded around over 50 years ago by the late comedian Danny Thomas. The torch is carried today by his daughter, That Girl, Marlo Thomas. He was of Lebanese descent, thus the Arabic design details of the Pavilion where we dined and witnessed the remarkable success story of a former patient.
Over the last 50 years, thanks to the efforts of St. Jude, the average survival rate for children with leukemia has improved from 4% to 94%! I was afraid this experience would be gut wrenching and while it was sobering to be sure it was tempered by such a strong attitude of hope.
In order to become a patient at St. Jude's, three criteria must be met. Children beginning treatment must be no older than 18, they must be referred by a doctor and they must be suffering from a disease that is being studied at the hospital. That's all. Once accepted treatment is 100% free. From there on every detail is addressed for not only the patient but for the families as well. There is long term (3months to 3 years) housing on site as well as a short term facility. Families are given food allowances as well. 
Brizo works with St. Jude's on the Dream Home Program in which designer homes are raffled to raise proceeds for the hospital. Brizo is, in fact, the first national sponsor donating products to to raise funds. To date, 246 million dollars has been generated by the Dream Home Program which began 21 years ago. 
St. Jude is the Catholic patron saint of lost causes but hope is not lost at St. Jude's. That is a thought and comfort I take with me daily since this experience. I'm so happy to know about it and share it with you. I now have a new favorite cause. They say "if you can't give green give red"! Money is important but every bag of platelets donated saves the Hospital $700!
Disclaimer: I am not employed by Brizo and my editorial content is comprised entirely of my own opinions and experiences. The trip however was fully paid for by Brizo Faucets.Next up: Day 2 The Manufacturing Magic happening at Delta Faucet.
Back on the Road with Brizo and St. Jude's
Only days away from my next adventure, a reunion for all the bloggers who have been a part of Brizo’s Blogger 19.In case you don’t know, this is a bi-annual jaunt to fashion week sponsored by Brizo Faucets who teams up with fashion designer Jason Wu. I was a part of the second group to go back in September of 2010. Seems like eons ago! There have been many blogging trips since then but it will be great to reconnect with all the blogosphere peeps.
The reunion will be held in Memphis and since this is the number one question I get, I’ll answer right off the bat, no I’m not going to Graceland! Where we will be going is on a tour of the Brizo plant in Jackson, just outside of Memphis, where we will learn how their cutting edge products are produced. I always love to get an inside peak at the how’s and whys. It’s such a great tool to have for my clients.
We will also be spending a day at the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital which should be amazing. I recently learned that since 1962 treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80%! Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.Wheels up on the 16th. Remember to follow me on FaceBook and Twitter. Look for #blogger19reunion on Twitter.