Kitchen & Bath
Neat Niche.
Detailing a shower niche to resist leaks
takes time, which makes Bonsal's preformed Niches an attractive
option when you need to keep a tile job moving. The products
come in four styles and can be installed in 16-inch on-center
wall framing in a matter of minutes; sizes range from 6 inches
square to 21 inches by 12 inches. Their extruded polystyrene
foam construction resists rotting, leaking, and degrading, says
the maker. The niches also have some insulating value, so
condensation shouldn't collect inside the wall when wall-cavity
insulation is removed for installation. Costs range from about
$40 to $65 each. Bonsal, 800/738-1621,
www.bonsal.com
Go Wild.
Clients bored with the same old stone-lookalike
tile might want to consider Walker Zanger's new porcelain-tile
collection, Matouche. The 24-inch-square tiles come in four
textures — the one shown, Croco, mimics crocodile hide
— and three colors: black, brown, and ivory. They cost
$11.75 per square foot.Walker Zanger,
818/252-4000, www.walkerzanger.com
What a Relief.
Looking for
something dramatically different? Bryan Kerrigan's High-Relief
Ceramic Architectural Tiles really stand out. Made from fired
stoneware clay with a matte or high-gloss finish, they come in
a variety of patterns — Wood Grain (far left) and Large
Weave (left) are shown — and numerous colors. Prices run
from $25 to $45 per tile. Bryan Kerrigan,
312/671-7770, www.kerriganart.com
Toilets
Boxed Loo.
Plumbing contractors
accustomed to making two or three trips back to the truck for
forgotten parts might save some time with the Titan One-Piece
Toilet In-a-Box. While customers may applaud the one-piece
design's lack of hard-to-clean nooks and crannies, the plumber
will probably appreciate how the toilet, wax ring, mounting
bolts, and slow-close seat all come in the same box. Available
in white, biscuit, and natural/
bone, the fixture costs from $560 to
$790.Eljer, 800/423-5537,
www.eljer.com
Fish Tank.
A toilet tank that
doubles as an aquarium? Clients with a playful side will be
hooked. This double-walled replacement for a conventional
toilet tank — dubbed the Fish 'n Flush — contains
an inner water reservoir for flushing and a 2.2-gallon acrylic
aquarium for fish. It can be plumbed for fresh- or saltwater
and comes with a filter system and pump. If your clients don't
like fish, the tank can be turned into a home for lizards or
snakes. It fits most two-piece toilets and lists for $400.
Aqua One Technologies, 714/898-7016,
www.fishnflush.com
Almost Bidet.
Here in the U.S.,
bidets have yet to really catch on, but Toto has introduced
what may be the next best thing — a toilet that acts like
one. The Washlet S400 incorporates a wand that extends from
below the seat and dispenses warm, aerated water and then a
stream of warm air. Other features include a lid that
automatically opens when the user approaches and closes when he
or she leaves. A wireless keypad controls toilet functions. The
fixture comes in white and beige and costs between $1,890 and
$2,175. Toto, 888/295-8134,
www.totousa.com