Kitchen & Bath
COOKTOPS
Modular Options. If no single cooktop arrangement seems
to satisfy, why not assemble your own? Homeowners can decide
whether to break up the cooktop into separate stations around
the kitchen, assemble a monster array of all six Integrated
Cooktop modules, or combine two or more most-used modules to
suit space and cooking requirements. Modules include
two-element gas or electric burners, a steamer, deep fryer,
grill, and multifunction (wok) burner. Gas burners include a
high-low, dual-flame option for searing heat or fine simmering
control. Estimated retail prices vary by dealer and region but
should run between $1,000 and $1,600 per module.
Wolf, 800/332-9513,
www.wolfappliance.com.
All-Business Burners. Vertical panel controls return to
the cooktop in the Metro Professional Gas Cooktop. The
slide-instyle top comes in 30- and 36-inch widths, with
a stainless-steel finish and four to six burners or a
burner-and-grill combo. Dual-head burners with inner and outer
flame rings supply variable, even output from 450 to 15,500
Btus. Optional no, low, standard, or high stainless backguards
leave wall and island options open. Stainless-steel splashback
panels in 30-, 36-, and 42-inch heights continue the
professional styling up to the matching 500- to 900-cfm vent
hoods. Suggested retail prices range between $4,155 and $5,595
(cooktop only).
Heartland Appliances, 800/361-1517,
www.heartlandapp.com.
Chameleon Cooktop. Optional removable griddle and wok
ring accessories add versatility to the Preference line of
cooktops. Five models flesh out the line, from 30 to 46 inches
wide and with four to six burners. The SGM464GG features one
14,000-Btu, one 12,500-Btu, and two 8,500-Btu sealed gas
burners, and a 10,000-Btu grill burner. But don't even think of
specifying this top without an appropriate vent hood; a 54-inch
canopy with a minimum 1,100-cfm blower is the word. Continuous
two-burner grates and instant flame re-ignition are standard
features. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $1,290.
The hood won't come cheap, either.
Dacor, 800/772-7778, www.dacor.com.
Fire in the Hole. The tick-tick-tick sound of
electronic gas burner ignition always makes me a little uneasy,
like a bomb's about to go off. Especially when the flame
doesn't happen right away. The Designer Series DGSU cooktop
features electric spark ignition that lights the burner at any
setting. And if unexpectedly extinguished, the burner relights
automatically, a feature found on most of the cooktop brands
covered here. The DGSU comes in 30- and 36-inch models, with
four and five burners, respectively, and a range of 950 to
14,000 Btus. The standard finish is stainless steel; other
finishes, including black, white, biscuit, and a couple of
shades of gray, as well as a brass trim option, are available
at higher cost. The cooktop lists for $1,200 to $1,600.
Viking, 888/845-4641,
www.vikingrange.com.
BATH FIXTURES
Strictly Squaresville. "A minimalist square shape is
the hallmark of all the furnishings and ceramic products in the
Starck 3 bath collection," according to the manufacturer's
press release. Before you comment on your own shape, rest
assured that the wall- and floor-mount toilets in this renowned
architect's design line force no compromises on human anatomy.
The line includes a dozen wash basins, available in 19-, 22-,
24-, and 26-inch widths. They can be mounted in the countertop
or on a pedestal or hung on the wall. Spare in form, these
fixtures are intended to complement both commercial and
residential settings.
Duravit USA, 888/387-2848,
www.duravit.com.
Child's Play. Twelve thousand diapers: $4,000.
Toilet-training book, video, and anatomically correct doll:
$69. The Bambino toilet: priceless. If you're remodeling the
children's bathroom, this high-quality miniature potty could
make your reputation. It consumes 1.6 gallons per flush and is
made of solid porcelain with a glazed trapway, just like Big
John. Rough-in can be from 8- to 12-inches on-center. The
Bambino costs $330; the seat cover, sold separately, costs
$45.
Capizzi, 866/250-8833, www.capizzi.com.
Complete Experience. The Washlet S300 upgrades an
average toilet to a complete sanitary experience. Features
include a thermostat-regulated heated seat, a soft-closing lid,
and a docking station that makes the seat easily removable for
cleaning. An auto-extending bidet wand provides front and rear,
aerated, warm-water personal cleansing. Mild air drying is also
available at the touch of a button. All functions are operable
by wireless remote control. The piéce de
résistance is a catalyzed disk fan said to quickly
eliminate odor. Hats off to the engineer who vetoed the voice
chip option. The S300 lists for $1,200 and is not compatible
with all toilet makes and models.
Toto USA, 770/282-8686,
www.totousa.com.
Stainless Suite. Given a high-rise steel pipe mount,
the Metaal toilet, with its exposed P-trap design focus, would
make an interesting bar stool — and eliminate the need
to leave your beer unattended. On the other hand, it almost
looks ready to spring into Matrixlike action. Obviously, this
fixture suite (matching basin available for $1,810) is for a
client seeking that upscale-yet-unconventional bathroom
experience, or maybe just a little extra attention. The price
is $3,160; the top-mount elongated toilet seat ($360 to $480)
and outsourced concealed tank (by Geberit) are not
included.
Acorn Engineering, 800/591-9050,
www.neo-metro.com.
Waste Abhors a Vacuum. Some sensible people ask nothing
more (and nothing less) of a toilet than a reliable, quiet
flush. The Vacuity's tank-within-a-tank design induces a vacuum
upon flushing, bringing the brunt force of atmospheric pressure
to bear upon the delivery system. A 10x12-inch water spot and
2-inch-diameter glazed trapway help maintain bowl cleanliness.
The Model 4200 elongated retails for around $200 in
white.
Briggs, 800/627-4443,
www.briggsvacuity.com.