Seriously, your toilet does what?!

Numi

Kohler Numi

One day last summer my husband came home from work and said, “Tomorrow I’m picking up Numi”, to which I responded, “Who’s Numi?”. Kohler is the manufacturer of Numi, and I must say that no expense was spared when they created this toilet. It has a sensor that will automatically open the toilet seat when walking up to it, and men, don’t feel left out because it will raise both lid and seat for you, too! One of the many favorites about the Numi is its advanced bidet technology including the integrated dryer, and believe me when I say that people LOVE the dryer function. One of my favorites are the seat and feet warmers – who wants to sit on a cold toilet seat during wintertime when there’s a built-in seat warmer for your tush! Another crowd favorite for the people who wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is the night light, so no more having to turn the bright overhead lights on while you’re still halfway asleep. Did I mention it also has an external FM antenna and auxiliary cable so you can listen to some tunes while in the bathroom? I do have to admit, at first I thought it was so ridiculous to have a toilet that some would say is over-the-top, especially since its only a toilet, and who wants to spend more time in a bathroom than need be? But, it turns out that I really do like this toilet – doesn’t hurt to make the most of it while in the bathroom, right?! 😉

Check out the video for Numi

Numi Video by Kohler

 

What is trending in kitchen and bathrooms for 2013?

This is a question that comes up frequently in the remodeling industry, but it can be a tricky question to answer since every market sets there own trends. Here are some broad trends you can expect to see in 2013.

Shades of Gray

Design by Baden Baden

Design by Cassia Wyner CW Design

In recent years kitchens and bathrooms have seen an upward swing of gray being incorporated through cabinetry, backsplashes, counter tops and wall color. How can you not fall in love with this color? Its so chic and sophisticated!

Quartz

Caesarstone

Granite has been the counter surface material of choice for many designers and homeowners over the last decade. But there’s a new kid in town that has been gaining momentum in the last few years – Quartz! This year its significantly narrowed the gap with granite because of its low maintenance. Unlike granite, quartz doesn’t need to be sealed every year because its a non-porous product. Its also crack, scratch and stain resistant which is nice if you have a busy household – less to worry about!

Traditional, Transitional or Contemporary

Downsview of Scottsdale

McGill Design Group

Transitional continues to grow in popularity among homeowners because of its simplicity and warmth. Some of you may ask, “What is transitional?”. Transitional is a seamless blend of style between Traditional and Contemporary. Such a versatile design that maintains a classic and timeless look.

Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry

KIRKPATRICK ARCHITECTS

Contemporary kitchens and bathrooms are also very popular right now. Many homeowners are finding themselves wanting to unwind after a long day of work, and for some there is something relaxing about a “less is more” type of room. Contemporary offers clean, minimal and straight lines, but more importantly it can offer lots of warmth with the right colors.

LED Lighting

Stonewood, LLC

It comes as no surprise that LED (light-emitting diode) is being specified more and more by designers. The reason for this is not only are they highly energy efficient, unlike halogen or incandescent bulbs, LED’s stay cool. Let’s talk about the longevity of LED’s – they can last up to 100,000 hours! That’s pretty impressive, considering incandescent last up to 1,000 hours and fluorescent up to 15,000 hours. Ask your designer or contractor about LED’s if you are remodeling home – they offer such versatility from overhead lighting to undercabinet lighting, or if you’re looking to show off serveware in glass-fronted cabinets LED’s makes for a great option!

Touch-Activated Faucets

Kohler

Pull out faucets are still the most used faucet, but touch-activated faucets are quickly growing in popularity. With the wave of a hand or the touch of your elbow or wrist, these touchless faucets enable cooks with messy hands to turn water on and off easily between cooking tasks.

Hope these few updates give you some ideas for any upcoming renovations you may have planned!