There's nothing more luxurious than a TOTO toilet. There, I said it. Even the "design civilians" know about the TOTO toilet with tush cleaning features but since learning about this amazing company, in depth, I have begun to notice that TOTO toilets are literally everywhere! When you visit restaurants, airports, hotels and any number of commercial locations, check the toilet. It's probably TOTO. There's a good reason for that. Their products start with really listening to people and discovering what they need. They call it "People First Innovation".TOTO is the world’s largest plumbing products manufacturer offering a complete line of commercial and residential decorative plumbing fixtures including, not only toilets but showers, faucets, lavatories and more. They're at the top because they achieve a seamless integration of performance, conservation, technology and innovation. No small order and they've been doing it for over 90 years. TOTO was founded in Japan in 1917 and continues to be a global company with TOTO USA headquarters and state-of-art plant located in Morrow Georgia.We both know a TOTO product is an investment so let me tell you what you're paying for. Countless layers and hours of research and development are spent which results in superb performance and products that are environmentally responsible. Quality and worry-free fixtures translate into money savings and, even better, peace of mind. I'm not joking when I say research. While on the Modenus Blog Tour, I spoke with Lenora Campos, TOTO PR guru, who explained that TOTO studies, in depth, every possible type of matter that is likely to end up in the bowl. They are intrepid. TOTO's Dual-Max® flushing system, found on several of their most popular High Efficiency Toilets, offers the option of a 1.6 gallon flush or 0.9 gallon flush based upon need. I've heard consumers complain about the inefficiency of the one gallon flush. My answer to that is that quality varies in all products. The one gallon flush is not going away and I can tell you with TOTO it's a win-win concept. Even the materials used help conserve your time and water. SanaGloss® ceramic glaze - prevents debris, mold from sticking to ceramic surfaces, leading to fewer chemicals and less water in cleaning.In addition to the famous NEOREST toilet, TOTO also makes what they call a Washlet toilet seat which offers the same personal cleaning system that uses warm, aerated water to clean (similar to a bidet) and can fit right onto your existing bowl. All you need is an electrical outlet in the vicinity. Still not sure? You can actually try one out for yourself at a number of establishments. Click here to see where they are.
I was able to view many of the TOTO products at the recent Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) last month. The product selection extends beyond their famous toilets. I loved the Rain Showerheads. Not only are they lovely to look at but somehow they are able to make less water feel like more!
The Wyeth Collection also embodies TOTO's People First Innovation philosophy. A part of that is it's extreme "environmentally friendliness". It consumes only 1.5 gallons of water per minute without sacrificing an ounce of performance. The transitional design is also the product of consumer research. This look will be at home in a variety of decors. Wyeth tub and shower faucets are also available. Click here to visit TOTO's comprehensive website where you can see the many features and technologies they incorporate into their products. 
Brizo Does Memphis!
I haven’t even finished telling you about all the great products I learned about in New Orleans and it’s time to announce the next great event! If you’ve been a follower of Kitchens for Living for a while, you’ll remember my visit to fashion week in September of 2010 courtesy of Brizo Faucets. They continue to host a select group of design bloggers (known collectively as The Blogger 19) each season, on a trip to the Big Apple. They get to preview what’s in the pipeline for Brizo products AND to attend fashion designer Jason Wu’s runway show. I love fashion, in fact my first career was in fashion merchandising. I find a strong connection between fashion and design and Jason Wu really gets that. He has collaborated with Brizo for many years in a very mutually beneficial relationship. The next great event will be a reunion of Blogger 19 alumni July 16-18 in Memphis. We’ll be taking and exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of both the Brizo factory and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. I'm really looking forward to both. If you’re bored at work and you want to get your inspiration vibe on, check out this video featuring Jason’s latest collection as well as his take on his relationship with Brizo Faucets.
BALIZA, A NEW TWIST ON TRADITION
I grew up in South Florida, never more than minutes away from the beach. The lighthouse is not only a symbol of tradition, where in days gone by it was a way shower and lifesaver for those at sea, but for me it also stands for Dad. My dad taught me how to swim, snorkel and generally love the ocean when I was a wee girl. As a Navy veteran who spent many days at sea, you could say he became a connoisseur of lighthouses. Today he makes them with his hands and if you're lucky enough to be a friend or relative you will have one gracing your yard with its soft illumination.
Well apparently I'm not the only one thinking about lighthouses. On a trip to Portugal Judd Lord, Director of Industrial Design at Brizo, found the inspiration for the Baliza faucet. You guessed it, lighthouses! To him the lighthouse exemplifies all that is timeless and traditional. I love the idea of using a familiar object in a new and innovative way.
Check out this video to see what Baliza is all about. Now I'm going to the beach!
IT'S ALL CREATIVE
One thing I discovered during my Bosch Blanco Bloggers' Retreat is that creativity cannot be contained. It spills out of the box in all sorts of interesting ways. It was a great experience. It's exciting and inspiring to learn about all the products, both the history and origins, as well as the very latest technologies. Most of all, I loved hearing about the design process and how these products come into being. I enjoyed interacting, not only with the creatives at Bosch and Blanco, but also with my peers. Whenever I could, I asked them about their typical days, how they work and what they do in their off time. What I found is that there is no off time for a creative. I should know that, right? I discovered an editor who loves to knit, a kitchen designer who's passion is ballroom dancing and a much admired kitchen blogger who loves to photograph roses. She confesses to having literally thousands of rose photos lurking in her hard drive! The creative process is also a big part of what I learned about during our two days at the BSH Design Center in Irvine, California.
The process of developing new products begins with colored pencils and adventurous minds. The team at Bosch endeavors to achieve just the right combination of precision German engineering and the latest technology to address the needs of the consumer.
Sometimes these needs are apparent but often they can be situations (observed and researched) that we may not even be aware of! This is what makes the folks at Blanco and Bosch such a great team. They have a similar approach which understands that everything's connected in our world and it all informs what we need to function comfortably and efficiently in our homes. Kudos to them and thanks for the memories!
DAY 1 BOSCH/BLANCO BLOGGER RETREAT
Back to the real world!! Got home around 11:30 last night. Jet lag be damned. I owe you! Here are my notes from Thursday which was officially day one of our Blanco/Bosch Blogger Retreat. So without further ado:It's beautiful here! The sun is shining but no sweat! They tell me it's because it's dry. I could get used to this no humidity stuff. Last night the first arrivals gathered for dinner at Bayside, a beautiful restaurant in Newport Beach.
The food was delicious, the scenery beautiful and I was so excited to be in California with such an impressive group! This morning we went on a walking tour of the amazing Segerstrom Preforming Arts Center which is right around the corner from our hotel. It's a world class venue for concerts, theater and especially dance. In fact it's the largest privately funded performing arts center of its kind in the nation. The oldest part was built in 1986 and the newest twenty years later. The design is comprised of an interesting juxtaposition of triangles and undulating curves.
The 3000 seat theater is currently running the musical American Idiot featuring the rock group Green Day. We got a sneak peak back stage. I had no idea it was so complex behind the scenes!
After a delicious lunch at Seasons 52 it was time to descend on the brand new BSH Design Center located close by in Irvine. BSH will feature not only Bosch but also Thermador and Gaggenau appliances when completed. Blanco and Bosch are two German based companies who value fine German engineering so it makes sense that they are collaborating to offer consumers the whole package, sinks, faucets and appliances of unmatched quality and design.
After a champagne reception we got to participate in a panel discussion on kitchen design trends moderated by Dwell Magazine Contributing Editor Erika Heet.
Thursday's dinner was a real treat. The event was titled Designed to Devour. That was a pretty apt description. True Food Kitchen, Newport Beach is a new restaurant specializing in a very "California" type of cuisine, very whole, healthy and organic. I had the best panang curry ever (vegetable, of course). The acai-pomegranite mojito was not too shabby either!
Enough for day one? Day two we entered the "design lab" (lab coats and all, honest!). We got a first hand view at the design process, materials and more. Check back next post for round two where we really dig into the nitty gritty of what makes Bosch appliances so extraordinary.
ONE SEXY FAUCET
I know my last post was all about the plumbing but I'm not done yet. As I peruse my ever growing roster of press releases this little tidbit caught my eye. It's a sleek beautiful sexy faucet with one hell of a marketing strategy.
The new Salome faucet by Riobel is going to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting public on June 7th at Koko Bar and Restaurant in Montreal, should you be in the area. What makes it so special you ask? Check it out. Need I say more? I just love it when art history intersects with design. I think it just adds a whole other layer.
Yes it's all about the looks, you know a faucet can never be too thin or rich expensive, which I'm sure it is. The marketing brilliance is in the name and inspiration for this design. She's (yes this faucet is a girl) called Salome' after the work of Aubrey Beardsley, the 19th century bad boy famous for his erotic Art Noveau illustrations. Here's what Riobel has to say in their press release:
"In Harmony with this (Art Noveau) artistic concept, the faucets of Riobel’s SALOMÉ Collection are based on the aesthetics of curved lines. Due to their round profile and arched shape, Salomé products exude finesse, refinement and elegance.Turning on a SALOMÉ faucet is reminiscent of an exotic cascading waterfall, deep in the forest where all is pure, a significant aspect of these wall-mounted fixtures." So I lied when I said it's all about the looks. This water-as-in-nature concept seems like a great way to tame the stress and put a little Zen in your life.