Off the Wall

Down in the basement, there's a box or two of Function Tiles, one of my favorite items ever produced by the always-inventive crew at Droog. Destined for our bathroom remodeling, I look forward to the lively exchange of ideas with our tile setter ['You want what?'] that they will likely provoke. Nota bene: The knowledgeable folks at Moss coordinated the special order process for the tiles; they are not an off-the-shelf item.

Sweatin' to the Oldies

Three WHOLE cents? While we've been having a hamam-worthy heat wave this week [absolutely free, I might add], way back in 1899, the confident folks at Racine Bath Cabinet offered a Turkish-bath-in-a-box that comprised 'a tight, double-walled room, rubber coated inside and outside and fitted with a door...alcohol stove, vaporizer and face-steaming attachment included.'

Frankly, it sounds like a ride on the subway—only you could sit down.

Stream of Consciousness

These interchangeable spray heads—the designer calls them 'mobile faucets'—intrigue me with their tactile qualities and dedicated functions. The large faceted sphere can be used for washing the torso; the others deliver targeted spray, mist and jet streams to other parts of the body. Of course, there are products on the market that combine similar functions in a single housing. But such convenience can lend itself to unthinking consumption; the mobile faucets force us to reflect on the water we use. feliperibon.com

Cool It!

"Triple-digit temperatures."

It's a phrase I don't want to hear ever again—but one that's been on the [parched] lips of every meteorologist in the Northeast for several days, now. Here's my riposte: a triple-headed shower. While its agricultural appearance is actually rather appealing, it's the idea of being drenched by three refreshing sprays that makes it a winner with me. douches-de-jardins.com

A Shore Thing

While you might glean from the last couple posts that I'm cooling off at the beach, down the coast, up the creek, et cetera, I'm not—it's all wishful thinking on my part. In reality, the closest body of water is the Hudson River.

That said, I'll continue my fantasy island hop with this now-classic bath. Slightly sentimental design, sure, but summer brings out the daydreamer in us all, yes?

Kicking Back

The long weekend continues [in spirit, if not in practice] with this sun-washed space. The textures of the ceiling and cabinet doors are a funky contrast with the smooth, liquid-like floor. As we're not even at the half-way point of a searing, seven-day heat wave, I am happy—very happy!—imagining the barefoot coolness of that surface.

Red, White and Blue

Should stormy weather spoil your plans for a Fourth of July barbecue—and I certainly hope it doesn't, dear readers—let's trust you have a suitably patriotic kitchen to which to retreat. To take shelter in this space, we'll need to go back to 1966, a time when colors were bold, the microwave oven had yet to be realized, and photo styling was a nascent art form. To that last point, it looks to me like the side panel of the fridge has been fudged; surely only the front of the appliance would have been given the royal-red treatment. And what of the dishwasher? An opportunity missed.