Weekend Furlough

It's a three-day weekend here in the States, as we mark the close of summer with Labor Day. Not to clamber up on a soapbox here, but I can't help reflect on the irony of the holiday, with the job market stagnant while income inequity has soared. In 1946—the date of this beautifully rendered appliance advert—the US unemployment rate was 3.9%; today it's about double that figure. But reading the last line ['Design it better, make it better'] of the copy, I do notice one optimistic similarity between these times: A resurgent dedication to quality.

Have an excellent weekend, dear readers.

Tidying, Up

In the smallest room of the house, space must be utilized to its fullest potential. Designer Monica Graffeo kept this precept in mind when creating the Fonte collection of bathroom fixtures; most of the pieces are multi-purpose. I'm partial to the sink, with its integral shelves and a base-basket that can hold laundry, cleaning supplies, or what-have-you. It's all made of that most perfect of plastics, Corian. rexadesign.it

Marching On

'What good does it do to be able to eat at a lunch counter if you can't buy a hamburger?' —Martin Luther King

Mixer Unmatched

In bathroom design, color is often equated with childish. I'm happy to see the Series 240 lav defy this notion; its confident lines are a mature foil to the palette of 30 hues that are offered for the handle component. The body of the faucet is available in five finishes, which allows for 150 color combinations. steinberg-armaturen.de

In-Between Bath

The sun is out, it's 83ºF, and there's even a light breeze coming through—yet a glance at the calendar augurs the unofficial end of summer. Change and I can be uneasy partners, and the shift in seasons is no exception to this. There's something about the gauzy, blurred view afforded by this bath that puts me in mind of this upcoming transition; who's to say what the future holds? erinmartindesign.com

Kitchen Uncovered

Sometimes you just get lucky. Called to renovate a modest ground-floor apartment is São Paulo, AR Arquitetos discovered an opportunity to transform the space. Part of the property extended under a central courtyard. By glazing the ceiling of that portion of the home, the heretofore dark interior is given a dazzling new look; the kitchen is the principal beneficiary. ar-arquitetos.com.br

Seat of Power

Let's file this thought-provoking piece under 'Who Knew?'. I for one have been woefully ignorant of the telltale nature of the toilet seat and the pivotal role it plays in commercial real estate and corporate politics! To believe this 1930s ad, the washroom accessory is both status symbol and architectural asset, found in the the most prestigious, progressive buildings. Reviewing the list of these landmarks—which includes the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the Chrysler Building—I grew a bit empirically curious. So I can share that in 1929, Walter P. Chrysler's private office/residence on the top floors of his eponymous building, was the highest toilet in the world. At least it was for six months, until the ESB, with its 2,500 commodes, was completed and eclipsed Chrysler's claim to fame.