A Hued Improvement

Ever think that the ubiquity of chromed kitchen faucets is due to lack of choice? Ponder that simple truth while coveting the colorful coils of the Lady Chef. In the interest of equality in fittings, let's hope that a Mister Chef line is in development. aquabrass.com

Strength + Grace

Too robust to be labeled rustic, more contemporary than Craftsman—this is a kitchen that crosses borders. One of many details that mark it as a serious cook's habitat is the row of knife slots that runs along the back of the counter to the left of the window. seidmanwoodworks.com

Technicolor Times

Spring flowers, eggs [and bonnets] of Easter—it's a colorful season indeed. Hence this Flashback Friday post, which gaily displays the chic bathroom palette of 1957. Cornflower blue, daffodil yellow, tulip red: the ceramic sinks of fifty years ago were a veritable bouquet compared to the monochrome preference for white that dominates today's design. I appreciate how this ad suggests coordinating colors; note the small swatches abutting each basin.

A Moment of Silence

Regular readers of KBCULTURE may have gleaned that my secondary passion [after kitchens & baths] is rock 'n' roll music and its practitioners. [See Exhibit/s A, B and C.] Today's news of Jim Marshall's passing has elicited paeans from many musicians around the world. This mini-fridge in the guise of a Marshall half-stack is a cool tribute to the Father of Loud; in addition to the fret-cloth front, the control knobs can be cranked to 11. Rock on. marshallfridge.com

Analog This

For the obsessive clock-watcher, I present this odd little luxury, whose presence in your bathroom basin virtually guarantees that time won't ever go down the drain. The sink stopper, tested to Swiss standards of water-pressure resistance, is available in your choice of face treatments: brown, white, grey and black. muranohouse.com

Steamy Solution

Such a simple and smart detail, this band of clerestory windows. Not only do they mark the transition from wall to ceiling in this casual bathroom, they also provide an escape route for moisture. A small criticism: the spindly legs of the console sink aren't up to the task of supporting the solid feel of the architecture here. I'd have gone with either a wall-hung basin or a contemporary pedestal design.

KBCULTURE readers, what would you do?

Into the Light

Although I question the wisdom of locating the wall ovens at the oh-so-very-far end of this galley, its sun-splashed floor puts me in a forgiving mood. [Hey, it's Monday!] The mix of stainless cabinets and such plebeian elements as the encaustic tiles and wooden beams gives the room a pleasant jolt; coordinating the color of the wood with the metal is a fine idea.