Wash Away Your Troubles

The long weekend here in the US—the unofficial last fling of summer—means lots of people will be heading home from the office earlier than usual to make the most of the holiday. I'm sure many will take a tip from this stressed-out, hard-working gent and hop in the shower to emerge rejuvenated. It's interesting to me that not only will he have the benefit of three body sprays [this is in 1923!] but will also enjoy what the manufacturer calls 'once-used water' in the process.

Industrial Evolution

I think it's the coupling of precision detailing and imposing proportion that makes the R.W. Atlas collection of kitchen and bath fittings so appealing. Exposed handle screws, knurled elements [inspired by the textured bezels of 35-mm camera lenses], and hefty cast-brass construction gives them a commanding presence. In the pursuit of authenticity, designers Roman and Williams even modified the manufacturing procedure: The faucets are available with the gently pitted surface produced by the tumbling stage of the finishing process, a texture that would normally be smoothed away by a final polishing step. waterworks.com

Bucket Brigade

This bath, fitted with more framed mirrors than I can count, reflects the fondness that its designer, William Monaghan, has for vernacular style. A native of New Orleans, he founded Build Now, a design/construction firm that specializes in traditional, Delta-influenced architecture, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In a most unwelcome coincidence, Hurricane Isaac has set upon the Big Easy seven years to the day of Katrina's arrival. So far, the levees have held up under a deluge that may total 20 inches of rain.

Talking Shop

Patrick Schiavone, vice president, Global Consumer Design of Whirlpool Corporation, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To create desire. At the entrance to our studio in Benton Harbor, there is a plaque that expresses our mantra, 'Create Desire'. This simple ideal is instilled in every one of my team members and is something that all of our products aim to accomplish.

An industry trend that I'm watching is...
I am looking at global colors, finishes, and materials. With studios in Shanghai; New Delhi; Milan; Monterrey, Mexico; Sao Paulo; and the US, our design team is able to see what designers around the world are focusing on.

One of my creative touchstones is...
As a designer, I use all our different disciplines to execute our vision, including craftsmanship, design benchmarking, usability, and sensory fulfillment [sound, lighting, feel].

My secret design ambition is...
The ultimate design dream for me would be to design my own home.

The best part of my job is...
When my designers take me further than I imagined we could go. Working with a global design team means that my designers are able to see things from different perspectives and build off of each other, creating a finished product that not only meets the original concept, but far exceeds our initial vision.

Melancholy Monday

Sigh. Even with the promise of some warm and sunny days ahead, I've got a case of the end-of-summer sads. This kitchen foreshadows the seasonal transition in several ways: The room is bright, but with a bluish, cold light; the materials, while natural, are so very neutral; the open lines of the space evoke emptiness more than airiness. [If the rafters hadn't been painted out, that last observation wouldn't hold up.] In truth, I like this kitchen very much—it's just the wrong space at the wrong time. vincentvanduysen.com

Getting Sirius

In the final installment of our week of dog day posts, I'm getting literal, with a winsome pup at the center of this 1925 ad, which ostensibly promotes a new line of 'yard stick high' kitchen sinks. The picture's saturated colors, clear light, and idyllic imagery certainly belie the tumultuous reputation of this late-summer stretch. Time seems to stand still in the illustration; I wish it could be so in reality, as these lazy days begin their fade into autumn.

Mayday-Mayday-Mayday

While this image might look ominously familiar to anyone who is in the midst of a bath remodel, imagine having it as permanent facility. Earning its place in our dog-day-relief campaign is this bathroom from a Russian submarine [Foxtrot class, built from 1957 to 1983]. Yes, that is the sink peeking out from amid the Dali-esque tangle of conduits, valves and gauges.

An off-topic footnote: The distress call 'mayday' is phonetically based on the French venez m'adier—which translates as 'come help me.' The things you learn as a blog author....