Talking Shop

Gray Uhl, Director of Design for American Standard, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a new feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To communicate the future. My design team and the engineering team here are working on many new product solutions. We as a society face environmental and conservation challenges; I believe it is important to let everyone know what is possible and that there is more cause for optimism than may be apparent.

One of my creative touchstones is...
The automotive industry. I find that your car is the only product that you interact with on both physical and emotional levels as closely as you do with your bathroom. These two industries also face similar challenges in conservation and environmental arenas.

A current project I'm exploring is...
What routines people have when they take a bath or shower. We've been traveling around the country conducting research interviews in people's homes. One thing I've learned is that we all want the same comfort and convenience, no matter how diverse the sample group may be.

If I had a week off from the studio, I would...
Hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

Seasonal Style

Here's a kitchen that eases the summer-autumn transition for me. The celadon color of the cabinets has a freshness that's uplifting, while the burnished tones of the range hood, floor boards and ceiling beams promise warmth in the chilly months ahead. elainegriffin.com

A Copper Coup

Returning from an auction of Arts & Crafts furnishings this weekend [with some newly acquired Roycroft pieces], I noticed a nip in the air and a few russet leaves crowning the trees. The De Dion faucet seems appropriate to the time and place. herbeau.com

Shall We Dance?

Decades after this promotional film was made, it could qualify as performance art. At once simple and esoteric, graceful and mechanical, literal and symbolic: Enjoy your journey back to the wonderful world of appliances, circa 1957.
[Do not view this clip while drinking liquids, or your screen may suffer. You have been warned.]

Rock On

If you find granite, concrete or marble surfaces lacking in visual character [or if you happen to be a geologist with a sense of the aesthetic], take a look at this line of semi-precious stone slabs. This counter is made of carnelian. Other stones in the collection include amethyst, red jasper, tiger iron, agate and petrified wood. prexury.com

Corner Play

For kitchens where a conventional corner cabinet just won't do, this angular drawer may fit the bill. When closed, the front panels are flush with the flanking drawers; a concealed fingerpull keeps the design discreet. ernestomeda.com

Sustainable Shower

In this poetic invention, a team led by designer Jun Yasumoto envisions a self-sustaining eco-system that utilizes the natural filtering qualities of plants to purify drainage from the shower and sink. The water is then recycled. junyasumoto.com