For the last two weeks I have given you a “backstage pass” to the Brizo faucet #Blogger19 Reunion that I attended in Memphis, TN in July. If you missed the St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Tour of the Jackson Delta|Brizo plant tour recap posts, you can link to them here. Today’s post sums up the amazing 3 day trip with a peek at what Brizo has in store for your home in the form of new faucets and I show you how I partied and met my colleagues in crime – the other Bloggers that make up the infamous Blogger19.

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It’s always nice to see what new products Brizo has coming down the pipeline and technology that is already out for your kitchen and bath.

New products & learning about H2Okinetic® technology

H2Okinetic® technology is the study of water in motion, and the Brizo Custom Shower Systems were the first to bring this revolutionary technology to market. By controlling water’s shape, velocity and thermal dynamics, we’ve reinvented the showering experience—creating a warmer, more luxurious shower experience that blankets the body while using less water.

H2Okinetic® products produce larger droplets that retain their heat longer for a massaging effect and a denser spray pattern for a feeling of drenching coverage; together these effects help the user feel more enveloped in the warmth of the water. The all-around experience is achieved with up to six H2Okinetic® body sprays in addition to an H2Okinetic® showerhead.

Brizo – Delta Faucets – H2Okinetic Technolgy

Link to Video –> H2Okinetic Technology

In addition to the shower technology, Brizo has some gorgeous tub fillers available for your home. Everyone is in complete awe of freestanding tubs. They are the latest trend in bathtubs and Brizo has answered the demand with beautiful tub fillers. Here’s some information on their latest models.

Brizo – New Tub Fillers

As freestanding tubs continue taking center stage in transforming beautiful bathrooms into high-end sanctuaries, the Brizo brand is pleased to introduce a new collection of freestanding tub fillers offered in a variety of distinctive designs. The new tub fillers were crafted to coordinate with any style, from stately to modern, and appeal to discerning homeowners who are taking the look and feel of their bathroom to the next level.

“Extreme attention to detail was taken in the development of Brizo freestanding tub fillers,” said Laura Brooks, Brizo senior brand manager. “Not only do they blend well with our existing bath collections, but our freestanding tub fillers incorporate design innovations to help ease installation and improve functionality for a true statement in the bath.”

Coordinating styles to fit any décor

• Two-handle freestanding tub fillers with handshower are offered in three distinctive design styles to coordinate with the Baliza^®, Tresa^® or Charlotte^® bath collections.
  • Available in three configurations — wall mount, deck mount and floor mount — Brizo freestanding tub fillers can be customized through the selection of coordinating handles, spouts and handshowers, included in the trim kit.
  • A variety of finishes are offered, including Polished Chrome, Brilliance^® Polished Nickel, Venetian Bronze, Brilliance Brushed Nickel and Brilliance Brushed Bronze finishes, as well as a Polished Nickel/Cocoa Bronze split finish.
• Virage^® single-handle freestanding tub filler with handshower is offered in Polished Chrome, Brilliance Polished Nickel, Venetian Bronze, Brilliance Brushed Nickel and Brilliance Brushed Bronze finishes.
• Odin single-handle freestanding tub filler with handshower is offered in Polished Chrome and Brilliance Brushed Nickel finishes, as well as a Matte Black finish as part of the Jason Wu for Brizo Odin collection.
• Siderna^® single-handle freestanding tub filler with handshower is offered in Polished Chrome, Brilliance Polished Nickel and Matte Black finishes.

Partying with Brizo’s Blogger 19 Klan!

Each night was truly a treat to spend with all of my fellow bloggers and the Brizo & MSL Group peeps

From a fabulous Brizo + St. Jude Celebration Dinner and Entertainment at the Peabody Hotel Ballroom to our last night at Itta Bena – located just above the infamous BB King’s Blues Club for a private dinner and social event was pure awesomeness!  Here’s a few pics from our perfect evenings.

First night – Brizo + St. Jude Celebration Dinner & Entertainment

Second night –  Itta Bena – Jazz Club (Just above BB King’s Blues Club)

Last but not least.. thanks to the magnificent Peabody Hotel in Memphis!

What a wonderful reunion it was of the Blogger 19 group. Thanks to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Brizo & Delta Faucets, MSL Group, and all of the people behind the scenes that went into making this a memorable experience for all of us!

Disclosure: All events and accommodations were covered by Brizo Faucets. All opinions are strictly my own.

For more Brizo posts on Stagetecture, click here.

If you missed Day One – St.Jude/Brizo #Blogger19 Recap – please visit it here.

I think it says a lot about a brand when they show you were the “magic happens”. Meaning, in every industry there are men and women who are seeing your fixtures, home decor items, textiles, and more from the very beginning of just being raw materials. This to me is the most fascinating part of any company. I find that many readers always ask me “What do you do behind the scenes?” .. isn’t that what we all want to know? What’s behind the magic curtain that makes every Brizo faucet come out looking so gorgeous as it graces our bathrooms and kitchens?

Day 2 – Jackson Plant Tour of Delta Faucet

On Day 2 the Blogger 19 crew loaded up in the tour bus to Jackson, Tennessee – approximately an hour and half drive from Memphis. We went to visit the Delta Faucet Company plant – Brizo is the luxury line for Delta Faucets.

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The Memphis facility is the largest manufacturing facility with nearly 800 employees and more than 600,000 total square feet. They also have a dedicated finishing facility in Greensburg, Ind., and an injection-molding facility in Morgantown, Ky., where specialty components like their DIAMOND Valve are produced.

So how does Brizo produce such beautiful faucets that look gorgeous, but even more so – are quality made with precision, quality-assured and produced by employees that take dedication into every piece? Take a look at our tour that was amazing to witness.

The Plant Tour

It was interesting to see how the faucets components start off. From the brass valves to the sustainability efforts that Delta takes pride in recycling their materials was good to see from such a large manufacturing facility.

Starting off with brass

They machine solid brass rods to create brass valve bodies and various components for their faucets using some of the best technology available.

Delta Faucet is going green

Only 15-20% of the brass stock they use actually goes into their faucets. The remaining 80-85% is turned into chips that are sent back to the mill where they’re melted into brass stock and reused. We also recycle or reprocess water, cardboard, plastic and oil.

Pride from the employees – quality in every step

Brizo® products are assembled by hand to ensure the highest quality standards are met. They have numerous quality and performance checkpoints built into the assembly process, including two final inspections. All faucets with the DIAMOND Valve undergo a highly sensitive testing process using air pressure to ensure an airtight waterway.

Brizo – Innovation in quality faucets

Last year I was fortunate to receive one of Brizo’s Smart Touch kitchen faucets that I love! In the plant we got to see the employees building the technology behind the faucets, testing them and packaging them. Awesome to see each one being assembled by hand.

All Brizo® SmartTouch® products undergo continuity tests to ensure the entire faucet is touch capable. We also test 100% of the solenoids used in SmartTouch products to check both mechanical and electrical functionality. SmartTouchPlus products, such as the Odin electronic lavatory faucet, undergo tests to ensure the encoder valve and TempIQ Temperature Control Technology are working as designed.

In Jackson, teams of operators work together as a mini-company, with their own goals for safety, quality, delivery and cost. They meet daily to discuss their performance and drive continuous improvements.

In their buffing/hand texturing area, they have highly skilled operators texturing products by hand. Using various techniques, they can add texture for specialty finishes. Brizo also operate robots that buff heavier items, such as Roman tub spouts.

Giving the Brizo faucets their gorgeous finishes

Products with their patented Brilliance® finishes go through yet another process—physical vapor deposition or PVD, adding color and more abrasion resistance. At the center of the PVD chamber is a coil with a zirconium rod—one of the world’s most corrosion-resistant materials. The entire chamber is electrified and vaporized particles are fused onto the parts. Brilliance molecules embed deep within the faucet’s surface, creating a bond that’s virtually indestructible

Inspected and delivered around the world

Brizo products are carefully packaged using recyclable and some recycled materials.

From the 250,000 square-foot central distribution center, Brizo® products are shipped around the world.

From the plant to your home…

What an experience to walk the entire plant and see each step of Brizo’s process. We were able to talk with many of the employees who all take such pride in their part of the process. It was just like a peek behind the curtain!

Thanks Brizo for having us!

Next week – I’ll round up my Brizo – Blogger19 Reunion Recap with – Partying with Brizo, some new products that Brizo has for your and how I finally got to meet such wonderful bloggers in this industry.

If you missed Day One – St.Jude/Brizo #Blogger19 Recap – please visit it here.

As you know over the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of enjoyable, enlightening and memorable times traveling to Memphis, Tennessee with Brizo Faucet July 16-18th 2013 for the #Blogger19 Reunion. Last year when I went to New York City for Fashion Week and the Jason Wu Fashion Show I compiled my 3 day experience into one post.

After last year, I said the next time I would break up the posts, because there is just too much to talk about and Brizo love’s to jam pack a lot of activities into the day & I love to share it all with you!

What a wonderful experience Day 1 was as you can see almost 80 of us from the Blogger 19 seasons.

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Day 1 – St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Today I want to talk about Day 1 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – one of the most enlightening experiences of my life to date. To my Stagetecture readers who already know about the amazing research, guidance, housing, and medical treatments they give to children with cancer and their families, then you already know the magnitude of this charitable hospital.

Morning Breakfast Buffet

The morning started off with us meeting many of the St. Jude staff, being welcomed by the Brizo team and enjoying a delicious breakfast.

Here we learned about how the late entertainer Danny Thomas  founded St. Jude opened in 1962. His mission was to find cures for children with cancer and other deadly disease through pioneering research exceptional care to children worldwide.

The most eye-opening facts were that no child/family has to pay for their care at St. Jude. All of the expenses are covered by donations, public contributions. The daily operating costs for St. Jude is 1.7million dollars a day! – Truly amazing

All meals, medical treatments, on-site family housing in the Target House (if needed), physical therapy and more are 100% covered, so the families can concentrate on their child and family getting well.

For me it was an eye-opening experience in many ways. Here are just a few of the facts that I learned about St. Jude Children’s Hospital:

Patient Focused:

The Child Life Program which works to minimize anxiety of patient families and provide engaging activities for patients, pay a part it all design and construction decision throughout the hospital and the Target House.

Patient Design Ideas:

Patient and parent inout in considered in all building, layout and design plans because St. Jude want all design aspects to grab people’s attention and increase patient engagement and comfort.

Teens Count:

A long hallway in the hospital has been transformed into an art gallery for their teenage patients. Every year there is an art show to unveil their new artwork. Additionally they have their own Teen Room where they gather to use computers, video games, pool table and get to just be teens!

After breakfast we broke up into two groups. One to tour the Target House for families who stay at St. Jude and the other group to the hospital tour.

Target House

The Target Houses I and II are family housing like nothing you have ever seen. They provide extended stay solutions for families that need longer term medical assistance and enable the family to still have all of the “comforts of home”.

“There’s no place in the world quite like Target House—a multimillion dollar gift from Target Stores. While nothing can completely replace the comfort of home, Target House comes close by providing a magnificent community of fully equipped, two-bedroom apartments in a beautiful setting just minutes from St. Jude. Here, families who need to be at St. Jude from 90 days to up to three years or more have privacy, independence, and support.

To make their stay more pleasant, all residents can enjoy spectacular communal amenities such as the Tiger Woods Library, Scott Hamilton Family Fitness Center and Parents’ Spa, Amy Grant Music Room, and Scott Hamilton Arts and Crafts Room.

Target House is more than a place to stay. It’s a haven where children and their families derive compassion, comfort, and strength from other family’s struggles and victories. In a difficult time, Target House is a place to live, heal, and rejoice as a family.“

Then it was time to tour St. Jude Children’s Hospital and engage with some of the children.

St. Jude Children’s Hospital Tour

When you go into many children’s hospitals – the sterile environment, the chemical smell and often times the lack of inspiring colors doesn’t make you feel very happy. What a welcoming surprise it was to go inside the St. Jude hospital. They have taken considerable time and consideration into thinking of the aesthetics and experience for the children and their families.

Here’s what I learned about their “Artful Solutions” in design:

Impact of Color & Thoughtful Design

The environment is a huge influence on a child’s health and happiness. By incorporating bright colors, natural lights, specialty designed murals that look like in-patient children help create an environment the children enjoy being in.

Fun with the St. Jude children

Later that day we enjoyed crafts and activities with the children. My group played with individual dollhouses that the kids could change out the wallpaper, carpet, furniture and more! It was so much fun.

Dream Home Giveaway to Help St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Every year Brizo Faucets pair with St. Jude and donate fixtures and help raise money for the hospital. The partnership with Brizo has raised $1,293,000 to date as of January 2013. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway program sells $100 chance tickets for a family to have a chance to win a dream home. It is the single largest fundraising event for St. Jude!

What a wonderful day with the children, families, Brizo and the St. Jude staff. I thank you for allowing us to see the wonderful work that you do for children worldwide!

This was only Day 1! In the upcoming days I will share about the Brizo plant tour in Jackson, Tennessee, the innovative products that Brizo has coming out and I can’t forget about the fun times meeting the other Bloggers.

For more Brizo posts on Stagetecture, click here.

So it is finally here! Brizo Faucet’s #Blogger19 reunion July 16-18th in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a bit surreal to go through this experience with you Stagetecture readers as back in February 2012 I attended the New York Fashion Week with Brizo and it was the time of my life! This time Brizo is assembling all of the past NYFWeek with Jason Wu seasons and bringing them to a reunion in Memphis!

The event will be a wonderful experience as many of my fellow home designers, bloggers, architects and engineers I have met through social media but never have met in real life! Here’s a glimpse of what we will be doing this week and you can come along with me in my virtual suitcase.

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Tuesday, July 16th 

Arrive in Memphis, Tennessee – Hang out with old and new friends, networking

Wednesday, July 17th – St. Jude Children’s Hospital Day

Tour of the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Facility

Tour of the Target House

End of the Day – St. Jude + Brizo Dinner & Entertainment Celebration

Thursday, July 18th, – Brizo Day

Brizo Presentations – New Products & Technology Training

Tour of Jackson Manufacturing facility where they make Brizo faucets

End of the Day – Private Memphis Jazz Club – Dinner & Entertainment

Join me as I travel to Memphis, Tennessee – July 16 – 18th for the Brizo Blogger 19 reunion!

Follow me on Twitter, Follow all of the Bloggers at #Blogger19 on Twitter, Follow on Facebook, and on Pinterest!

Come along in my virtual suitcase as Stagetecture brings you a taste of the southern hospitality in Memphis…..

For more Brizo & Media events on Stagetecture, click here.

This Tuesday I will be headed to Memphis, Tennessee for the long awaited Brizo Faucet’s – Blogger 19 reunion. As you know every Sunday, Stagetecture features a delicious breakfast or brunch recipe for you to try. So today’s breakfast is my tribute to southern breakfast recipes. Biscuits n’ Gravy are a treasured favorite. Try this recipe and let me know if you can feel the love in every southern bite!

Keep close to Stagetecture throughout the week for all of the #Blogger19 happenings – Follow me on Twitter & Facebook.

Southern Favorite: Memphis Biscuits n’ Gravy

Image via: Cooking like a Champion 

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
Milk gravy, recipe follows

Gravy:

1/4 cup bacon grease
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk warm
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoons pepper
2 tablespoons melted butter

Image via: Back to Her Roots

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the shortening with a fork until it looks like cornmeal. Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly until well mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly two or three times. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch cutter.

Place the biscuits in a greased iron skillet. Gently press down top of biscuits. Brush the biscuits with half the melted butter. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the hot biscuits with the remaining butter. Split the biscuits in half and ladle milk gravy over the hot biscuits.

Heat bacon grease in a cast iron skillet. Add the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbly about 1 minute. Add the warm milk slowly and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and stir, until thickened, about 5 minutes, adding milk as necessary to control the thickness. Season the gravy with salt and pepper. Serve hot over biscuits.

For more breakfast recipes on Stagetecture, click here.