Kitchen & Bath
Backsplashes
Bamboo Galore. Bamboo comes in many guises
these days — flooring, cutting boards, and now
backsplashes. Totally Bamboo offers 4-inch-tall backsplashes
with or without an inlay in both flat and vertical grain
patterns with a carmelized finish. The integral bullnose cap
measures 11/8 inches wide. The material also can be ordered in
3/4-inch-thick 8-foot-long-by-4-inch-wide planks without a cap.
Costs range from $5 to $10.25 per foot, depending on style.
Totally Bamboo, 818/765-9000,
www.totallybamboo.com
Neo-Classic. Although an embossed-tin
backsplash provides an authentic period look, installation can
be time-consuming. ACP has an alternative: thermoplastic panels
that look like tin and come in more than a dozen finishes and
six embossed designs. They can be cut with scissors or a
utility knife, and attach with adhesive or double-sided tape.
Matching corner and edge trim finishes off edges. The
18-inch-by-24-inch panels cost about $17 each.
ACP, 800/434-3750,
www.acpideas.com
Stain-Free Marble. Tumbled marble is a popular
material for backsplashes, but if its porous surface isn't
sealed, its good looks won't last. Questech's tumbled-marble
tiles have a factory-applied finish guaranteed to hold up for
as long as the homeowner stays in the house. According to the
company, the tiles repel water and stains, resist mold, and
— unlike most stone tiles — never need resealing
and can be maintained with ordinary household cleaners. They
come in two colors — castle wheat is shown — and
several sizes, and cost $12.50 per square foot.
Questech, 802/773-1228,
www.questech.com
Showerheads
Squeaky Clean. We might not be in such a hurry
to jump in the shower if we knew just what was in the water:
Chlorine from the municipal water supply, iron oxide, hydrogen
sulfide, and sediment could all be hitching a ride. The
Enviropure shower filter strips out those contaminants and
leaves water pH balanced. It comes in four models, including
the hand-held shower shown (available in white or chrome);
prices range from $54 to $67. Replacement filters cost $20 to
$27. Water Inc., 800/322-9283,
www.waterinc.com
Comfortable Low-Flow. Like other low-flow
showerheads, Hansgrohe's Croma 1-Jet EcoAir uses a lot less
water than the government limit of 2.5 gallons per minute. But
its spray is softer and more soothing than that of its
competitors, says the maker; the showerhead mixes three times
as much air as water in the spray to produce a flow rate of 1.6
gallons per minute. It lists for $26 in chrome and $36 in
brushed nickel. Hansgrohe, 800/334-0455,
www.hansgrohe-usa.com
Doubling Up. Homeowners are clamoring for
oversized showers, but sometimes space is just too tight. In
such cases, the Danze Double Head Showerhead can be a modestly
priced compromise. Each of the two pivoting spray heads has an
adjustable spray pattern. The fixture mounts on a single shower
arm, making installation no more complicated than that of a
conventional showerhead. It costs $120 in chrome (shown) and
$138 in brushed nickel or polished brass.
Danze, 877/530-3344,
www.danze.com