Red, White + Blue, Day 2

It's understandable if the Icon fitting would inspire an in-shower performance of 'Yankee Doodle', or some other patriotic ditty. While the handshower is offered in any number of colors, the red version [whose face bears a slight resembles a pyrotechnic display] is certain to make bathers spray it loud and proud. grohe.com

Red, White + Blue

With the Fourth of July on the horizon, posts this week will take a turn for the red, white, or blue palette. It's not just the robin's egg hue of this kitchen that makes it so arresting. Its design independence is further declared by the field of grooved wood that covers portions of the walls. It's a way of using texture and color in the kitchen that I haven't seen before. thomaskroeger.net

#LoveWins

Today, the definition of 'family' became a lot more inclusive—something to be proud about, indeed! That progressive stance has a curious precedent, seen in this 1961 ad. While at first glance, the demographic profile of the depicted household wouldn't raise many eyebrows, check out the headline. The washing machine was apparently a legal dependent, having been adopted by the brood. #ApplianceEquality!

Reality Check

Obviously, this isn't a fully realized kitchen; it is, in fact, an admittedly cute cooking facility for guests at a glamping [dreadful word!] resort. Still, on occasion it's good to revisit the fundamental concept of a kitchen. While fancy cabinets and do-it-all appliances are unquestionably fine, they are simply elaborations on the basics: heating, cooling, and storage. wyeglamping.co.uk

Tectonic Tub

Yesterday's sudden [and much welcomed] downpour might have filled the Lariana tub to its chiseled rim. I think Patricia Urquiola's take on the traditional footed bath—substituting a solid plinth for individual feet—gives the fixture a quietly architectural character. agapedesign.it

Floored!

Linear brass inlays on the floor pick up the metallic accents elsewhere in this bath, and make the room truly memorable. [Picture the floor as plain marble, and you'll see what I mean.] Sometimes the smallest gesture has the largest impact on a design. rodolpheparente.com

Hello, Yellow

This kitchen—the designer frustratingly anonymous—piques my curiosity. The angle of the camera makes the walls and surfaces in the room seem two-dimensional. Such optical tricks allow for a fresh perspective [in this case, literally as well as figuratively] on how a space is assembled. I really appreciate the chance to see an ordinary kitchen in an extraordinary way.