Play Time.
Armstrong’s KidZone activity center keeps children busy so they can hang out in the kitchen without getting in the way. The 36-inch base cabinet has a slide-out worktable, wire storage bins for toys and games, and a built-in tray for crayons and pencils. It comes with a variety of door styles and starts at $1,400. Armstrong, 800/527-5903, armstrong.com
Reach High.
With a reach of 9 inches up and more than 6 inches out, Cifial’s L-Spout Vessel Bowl Filler is a good match with vessel-style sinks. The handles can be spaced from 6 inches to 16 inches apart. The faucet is suitable for countertops up to 1 1/4 inches thick and comes in eight finishes, including nickel, chrome, bronze, and brass. It costs $575.Cifial, 800/528-4904, cifialusa.com
One Fan, Multiple Bathrooms.
A less expensive option than putting a fan in each bathroom is to install (in the basement) a single in-line fan that serves a number of bathrooms. Fantech’s Energy Star–rated Premium Bath Fan pulls moist air through grilles in bathroom walls and exhausts it through a wall cap just above the foundation, eliminating roof penetrations. A heat- or energy-recovery ventilator can be added later. A fan rated at 135 cubic feet per minute lists for $155; the 303-cfm fan costs $175. Fantech, 800/747-1762, fantech.net
Off the Wall.
Faber’s Matrix may not look much like a conventional range hood, but the stainless steel fixture houses a four-speed fan rated at 600 cubic feet per minute and dishwasher-safe grease filters. A special mode allows the fan to run continuously at 60 cubic feet per minute to clear airborne pollutants. The 30-inch-by-36-inch unit comes with a bank of three halogen lamps and a remote. Faber says it can also be used for a ductless installation. It costs $2,500. Faber, 508/358-5353, faberonline.com
