Temperature Check
Universal design for the bathroom is moving beyond grab bars and low-clearance showers to technology that aims to smooth what can be a cumbersome experience for those taking care of small children and aging adults. Delta Faucet is adding to that repertoire with a new option available on a variety of its luxe showerheads, handshowers, and tub-showers beginning this spring. Temp2O features a thermal sensor to help users get a better read on their water’s
temperature before stepping into a stream that may be too hot or too cold. The fixtures are fitted with a digital display that uses colored LED lights to indicate water temperature ranges—below 80 F in blue, 80 F to 100 F in magenta, and greater than 110 F in red. The sensor and display are battery-powered. –Hallie Busta
Flat Packed
Minimizing visual obstructions is just one challenge facing designers of applications that aim to seamlessly bridge indoor and outdoor living spaces. Among them are folding glass doors whose panels, when open fully, often stack up on one end of the wall and protrude into functional outdoor living space. NanaWall Systems is upgrading the operable glass wall with a new, angled track that allows the door panels to rest parallel to the wall when not in use. For use in spaces ranging from residential interiors
to restaurants and bars, FoldFlat
is currently available for the company’s WD65 wood and SL45 aluminum folding door systems. –Hallie Busta
Get That on Film
If you’re looking to help your clients save energy, and possibly expand your service menu, check out the opportunities afforded by Eastman’s window film division. With products ranging from heat-blocking Low-E films, to frosted privacy solutions, to tough safety films that can protect against airborne debris, Eastman has a solution for just about any remodeling job. The low-E films can help lower a home’s cooling costs by as much as 40%, and shields 99% of ultraviolet rays! The company offers installation training for pros that want to take on the task themselves, or can point you to a partner in your area to bring that value to your clients. Live demonstrations
at the show proved that a trained installer can apply a film faster than you can say, “can someone close those blinds?” –Lauren Hunter
Up on the Housetop
It was only a matter of time before Ply Gem hit the roof. The exterior products manufacturer is well known for its wide range of windows, siding, trim, stone, and other exterior products, but up to now the company’s product offering stopped at the roofline. Now the company caps off the house
with synthetic slate available in four natural-looking colorways, named charcoal, brownstone, pewter, and sagebrush, all of which comprise 97% recycled material, including real reclaimed slate. The introduction not only brings Ply Gem into the roofing market, but hits on the trend of slate roofing we’ve seen from other companies in the market. –Lauren Hunter
Wide Open
If you missed this gigantic sliding glass door at the Koma booth, you’ll get a chance to see it soon. The German company, Kommerling, is actually one of the world’s largest manufacturers of windows and doors, but up to know has not been seen in the States outside of its extruded PVC trim offering. Company representatives told us that by the end of the year, they’ll bring their PremiDoor 70 and PremiDoor 88 lift/slide doors and InnoNova 70 M5 slim-profile windows to the US, also with production in Huntsville. In the company’s IBS booth, the impressive door measured 19 feet wide and 8 feet tall, but even the 600-pound slider could be moved with a single finger. Specify sizes up to 20 feet wide and 10 feet high. –Lauren Hunter
Affordable Elegance in the Bath
Most manufacturers position their solid cast acrylic bath lines as high-end specialty products with price points to match. Clarke Architectural’s stunning new line of solid surface acrylic resin based baths are affordable to a wider audience, says owner Don Clarke. They pair a natural stone-like finish with sculptural lines created by world-class architects such as Hariri and Hariri and Desai/Chia. –Jennifer Goodman
Natural Stone on Steroids
The Natura Collection from Antolini takes natural stone in a unique direction with patterns that evoke nature, the plant kingdom, and a wealth of exotic or native woods in elegant geometric, leaf and
plant motif surface decorations that are perfect for floors or walls. The Italian manufacturer’s exclusive process etches patterns and colors onto the stone. –Jennifer Goodman
