New Home Decor: Axor LampShower by Nendo

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The lightness of the visual design, and the harmonization of water and light, presents a heightened sensual appeal on the shower. Adding to this effect is the generous-rimmed shower crest and the ambience of warm lighting. The result: a warm, cozier bathroom that contributes tremendously towards cooling down the pace of your increasingly hectic life.

Axor LampShower: An in-depth look

Axor LampShower is neither a shower nor a lamp. It is a hybrid. This new home decor comes in two versions: wall mounted and ceiling mounted. Both versions come with the standard chrome finish.

Besides the standard chrome variants, Axor LampShower also comes with various special finishes. Thus, this bathroom accessory can be tailored to suit your personal taste.

Axor LampShower offers a one-of-a-kind showering experience. Its meticulous design offers a magical experience: a carefully formed water jet, which wraps up the whole body, rains down from the rim of the lampshade. And the integrated lighting ambience creates a rejuvenating experience throughout your washroom.

Whether you opt for the wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted version, the Axor LampShower certainly eliminates the traditional barrier between spaces. The fixture integrates into the living space as though it were so. At the same time, it brings a relaxed feel to the bathroom and can be perfectly blended with other bathroom and shower products from a range of styles and collections.

Hansgrohe SE: The Axor Lampshower Manufacturer

Headed by Philippe Grohe, Axor is the designer brand of the German-based Hansgrohe SE.  Hansgrohe SE is an undisputed market leader in shower systems, showers, thermostats, and ceramic cartridges. It has won countless awards worldwide and continues to produce innovative products for homes and businesses.

In collaboration with the Axor brand, top product designers, interior designers and architects cultivate their vision for the bathroom as a living space. Axor collections offer a great range of unique and sustainable solutions that create personalized bathrooms with exceptional aesthetic and technological integrations. Axor collections are dedicated to making your life in and around the bathroom much more meaningful and rejuvenating.

Lamp and shower united in a thoughtfully designed accessory produce a soothing and cozy environment with a relaxing interplay of water and light. This new home décor has definitely succeeded in drawing the traditionally isolated bathroom towards the living room with its delicate yet magical mix of water with light.

For more bathroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here

On day 5 of our #BlogTourLA trip Oct 1 – 5th I think we can all say that our energy was running low but our souls were still excited for more design inspiration. Well day 5 was the perfect way to end the trip as we had a tour of Snyder Diamond who supplies all of the luxury kitchen and bath brands and what a treat to finally meet Mr. Steam!

I don’t know about you but every day my most looked forward part of the day is relaxing in a long hot shower and Mr. Steam has some revolutionary products that will help your mind, body, soul and spirit.

Whether you are looking for the benefits of installing a steam therapy system in your home or you need help planning out the system that will work best for you, here are some important tips.

Mr. Steam Relaxes Your Cares and… 

• SteamTherapy keeps you glowing as warm moisture opens your pores, leaving your skin softer and more supple.
• Steam cleanses and nourishes the skin, leaving it with a healthy glow.
• Hydrates dry skin.
• Wheh hew hallelujah, it can also aid in the fight against cellulite while boosting your metabolism.
• Steam eases the pain – relieves sore and tired muscles, joints.

That daily steam indulgence is a natural detox that removes harmful impurities from your body. It can also enhance your breathing, leaving you with an improved sense of tranquility, promoting restful sleep and wellness.

As if that weren’t enough, steam is also recommended for the relief of symptoms of colds, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies, asthma, throat irritation, arthritis and more.

Ready to start planning your personal Mr. Steam shower?

Here are some requirements:

• A shower enclosure ceiling should be angled in a slope to prevent condensation in bathing area. We generally recommend ceiling heights that are no higher than 8’. If they are higher, you may need to use a larger generator.
• Your steam generator will require a water line and drain, as well as access to an electrical outlet.
• Picking the right steam generator size makes a big difference. Too small, and it’s not effective. Too big, and it’s wasteful. To learn how to pick the right size steam generator, click here. (link to sizing tool)
• Steam is delivered from the generator through pipes to the steam heads in the steam shower enclosure, activated by controls. Since all Mr. Steam controls are suitable for in-shower use, we recommend that they be located inside the shower enclosure. For added convenience, Mr. Steam offers several remote controls options.

Mr. Steam – Virtual Spa

Why not plan your perfect showering experience with Mr. Steam’s Virtual Spa

See how you can specify the dimensions, finishes, controls and even aroma therapy and lighting! The virtual spa shows you an idea of how it will look and cost before you choose it for your home.

Plan the amenities for your shower in the comfort of your own home

Steam shower accessories for your ultimate comfort

A shower seat lets you sit at ease, helping to complete the total steam spa experience. If your custom steam room doesn’t already include one, add a Mr. Steam fold-down teak shower seat and relax in comfort.

Steam showers do not require special ventilation. With the shower door closed, very little steam escapes. At the end of a steam shower session, simply turn on the shower to condense the remaining steam in the enclosure before opening the door.

iSteam – Showering comfort meets modern day technology

The iSteam’s revolutionary touch screen display and feature-rich menu offer an unsurpassed, customizable user experience.

High tech meets high touch with the iSteam home steam shower control. As easy to use as a smartphone, the highly intuitive LCD touch screen features beautiful graphics and high-performance in wet environments.

• Swipe-touch simplicity controls temperature, duration, aromatherapy, chromatherapy and music, turning your steam shower into a sensory spa.
• The iSteam microprocessor deciphers between a touch or drag of a finger to perform the correct action.
• The iSteam’s Auto-fading display incorporates a real-time clock, individual user preference settings, and screen dimming technology.
• iSteam displays only the function the user wants, instead of a confusing array of tiny buttons or complex navigation.

If you are ready to take your cares away with steam, music, aromas and your own personal experience every time you take a shower, look to Mr. Steam to relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul!

For more BlogTour LA Highlights on Stagetecture, click here.

When thinking of remodeling your bathroom or updating your old fixtures for new ones, do you know what steps to take to hep you decide on style, finish, and type of fixture perfect for your family and their needs?

Pfister faucets has a wonderful guide to help you!  Whether you are looking for a complete revamp or if you just want to see the collections that they offer. What I like is that they give you a drop down menu of options that makes the process easy and fun to look through the choices!

Once you have selected from each category, Pfister faucets will give you options to choose from in style and their wide array of collections.

Once selected you can zoom in on the features, choose a finish, plus find out where to purchase the Pfister fixture in your area!

I chose the Pasadena Tub and Shower hand held model to replace an existing shower handle style. We love the spray options and the polished chrome finish fit our bathroom perfectly.

It’s always great when you can go to one place to help you choose plumbing fixtures. Visit Pfister faucets here for more details on choosing bathroom fixtures.

Thank you to all of my Stagetecture fans who entered the ‘Fixture Forward’ sweepstakes in October!

Note: A promotional faucet was given for product review.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Purchasing a steam shower for your bathroom does not have to be an overwhelming experience. Consumers are typically bombarded with a long list of different brands, price discrepancies and questions that most customer service representatives in the industry don’t have answers to. Lucky for you, I do and I’ve included them below.

Certified or Not?

Most people aren’t aware that if their purchase is for a home being newly constructed, their steam shower unit almost always needs some sort of certification. The most common certifications a steam shower unit will have are C-ETL-US and C-UL-US certifications. So if you’re looking into purchasing one, ask the customer service rep, “Is this unit ETL or UL Certified?” We recommend ETL or UL Certified units for most customers, so as a rule, new constructions requires a model that is certified, and for certain home remodels, you may be able to get away with a non-certified unit. But always ask, and always check with your contractor or inspector about local codes and requirements.

Price

Understanding the price part of this equation is easy. Never pay more than $6,000 for a modular steam shower and if you pay less than $3,000, buyer beware. If someone pitches you on a modular steam shower unit that is more than $6,000 including shipping, they are marking it up WAY to much and you should shop around. If you find a steam shower for anywhere under $3,000, you’re most likely going to get what you pay for. That isn’t to say that you’re 100% safe within the above price ranges, but now you at least know what to expect.

Materials

Many steam shower manufacturers have given these products bad names over the years because they used cheap materials in their units so they could offer up more affordable models. The problem is that while in the process of creating models that retail for under $3,000 they built inferior products. Here’s what you want your unit to include…

Fiberglass Reinforced Acrylic Base

Make sure that the unit you purchase has a fiberglass reinforced acrylic base. Many manufacturers skimp on the type of acrylic they use. If you don’t get a unit that comes with this type of base, the unit will seem a bit flimsy.

Sealed Glass Frames

A sealed glass frame is HUGE and units that tout this feature are always among the best reviewed in the industry. The tempered glass that is used in steam showers is expensive. Most steam shower units on the market come with what is called a frame where the glass is free floating. Tell your sales rep you want a unit where the glass is pre-sealed or factor-sealed. This will make the install easier, and will also cut down the instances of glass damage that free floating frames are known to cause.

Glass Thickness

Another important factor is the thickness of the tempered glass. The thicker the better. Look for glass that is around 1/3 (8 millimeters).

Trust The Supplier More Than The Manufacturer

A lot of steam shower buying guides tell you to trust the manufacturer, but who you really need to trust is either the dealer your purchasing the unit from, or their supplier. Ask where the units ship from, and always inquire about where spare parts ship from if you need them? If their answer is China for either question, find another source. Trusted dealers, suppliers & importers have both units in stock housed in warehouses in the US, as well as a wealth of spare parts including glass panels, plumbing components, electrical control panels and so on. All steam showers on the market today are manufactured in China, but you want to deal with a company, that ships the units and parts from the US.

Warranty

A final word of caution concerns the warranty for these types of units. The industry standard is a 3-5 year warranty, but understand that for almost every steam shower on the market, the warranty only covers, (1) the steam generator, (2) the electrical control panel and (3) the water and heat pump if your unit includes a whirlpool tub.

FURTHERMORE, the warranty is typically only valid as long as the unit itself is in production. So always inquire about how long a specific model has been around and ask if the dealer feels that model will be around long enough for its warranty to be fully honored.

In general, buying a steam shower is no different than buying a car, except often times you’re buying a steam shower without ever getting to see it in person. So be careful, ask the right questions and shop around.

Ted Hust is the owner of BathroomGetaways.com which is one of the leading online retailers of steam showers, bathroom vanities and other bathroom remodel products.

For more bedroom & living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

We are midway through the summer and the heat is unbearable! Depending on where you live, the heat may be approaching the worst of the summer, or you may have hotter days yet to come.  Along with rising temperatures are rising energy bills to try and cool your home.

Last summer, I featured this article on how to save energy in the summer months, and I figured its time to repost it, after all… who doesn’t want to save money during the hottest time of the year?

Original Entry #211, July 13, 2010

With record breaking heat in some areas of the United States, and just being darn hot everywhere – how can you even think about saving energy in your home? Low Impact Living has 8 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money this Summer.

1. Keep your home at an eco-conscious temperature. 78 degrees is plenty cool in the house. Turn down the AC and get a programmable thermostat so you’re only cooling the house when you really need to.

2. Work with the sun to keep your house cool. Close all shutters and blinds during the day to keep the sun out– then open windows at night to cool the house and feel the breeze (if you have any!).

3. Let the air dry your dishes and clothes. The dryer and dish washer use a lot of energy– and the air does the drying job just as well. Plus your clothes will last longer. See some great clothes-drying racks here.

4. Take shorter showers and do not take baths. Hot water heating is one of the major uses of energy in any home. Showers are the way to go– and keep ’em short. Baths use much more water and heat than do baths (unless you’re taking 30 minute showers!).

You can also look into solar hot water.

5. Ditch the beer fridge. It’s amazing how many homes have two refrigerators. Please do not use more than one fridge. And if you have an old model, get a newer Energy Star model.

6. Use ceiling fans rather than A/C. They are much more energy/-efficient and you can get very reasonably priced Energy Star models.

7. Get solar screens for your windows. These screens cut 75% of the heat coming through your windows, but don’t impact your visibility. They are really great energy savers. See solar screens here.

8. Spend one night each week in candlelight. It’s romantic, fun and inspires new conversation. If you’ve got kids, how about turning off the TV one night and playing a board game by candlelight? Clue would be particularly spooky!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

If you are tired of your shower losing hot water too often, before you get to it, today’s Guest Blogger may be able to help! See how electric showers or mixing showers can help your home.

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If you live in a crowded home, it’s easy to run out of hot water in a hurry if several people are taking showers in turn.The advantage of mixer showers is that they limit the amount of hot water running through your pipes, allowing you to set the temperature to conserve hot water. Electric showers will have their own heating source which will allow you to run cold water through the unit which heats as you go, eliminating the need for hot water from your home’s water heater altogether. If you are in the market for a shower of this kind, there are ten things you need to know.

1. Shop Comparatively

Comparison shopping allows you to weigh the pros and cons of the best brands side by side, including pricing, warranty information, and more. You can do this online or in your local store. Knowledgeable staff at your nearest DIY store should be able to help you make an informed choice; however, the best way to learn about a product before you buy is to read user reviews and to consult the manufacturer’s website.

2. Hire a Professional Installer

Unless you know a lot about plumbing, a lot of things can go wrong when trying to install a new piece of plumbing by yourself, as it will involve connecting several different pieces of your existing plumbing hardware in order to make it work properly and to avoid leaks.

3. Fill Out the Warranty Card

If your electric shower comes with a warranty, as most of the units from major manufacturers do, it is worth the trouble and investment to protect your purchase in case of a defect, or if it wears out before the expiration of the warranty. Make sure you know the terms of the warranty, so that you can get a proper refund or replacement.

4. Read What Others Are Saying

Reviews and user feedback are the most reliable sources of information that can help you to make an informed decision about what brand to buy from, so it’s important to read what others have said.

5. Ask For a Demonstration

Many appliance showrooms will have demonstrations set up in order to allow you to see first-hand how the unit operates before you buy. Those on the sales floor should also answer any technical or general questions you may have.

6. Check For Compatibility

f you haven’t looked at the hardware behind your shower or bathtub in a number of years, now is the time to do it. You should ensure that the plumbing fixtures you have will not present any problems when installing your mixer shower or electric shower.

7. Be Energy Efficient

Many appliances today are Energy Star rated for co2 emissions and other outputs. Not only will these kinds of products save you money, but they will be better for the environment.

8. Clean it Regularly

One of the best ways you can protect your investment and make sure your new electric shower will last for years to come is to take a wet sponge and a mild solvent to it every other week or so.

9. Get the Best Price

Different stores, particularly online, will have a difference in the final sale price, and you should take advantage of stores offering discounts, to get the best price.

10. Purchase a name brand

Whenever new and innovative products hit the market, cheap imitations are bound to crop up, but these are not worth your money and should be avoided. They will wear out faster and may not be covered under warranty.

Screwfix is the UK’s largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we dispatch tens of thousands of parcels every week for next day and weekend delivery to tradesmen, handymen and serious DIY enthusiasts all over the UK.

To view our range of mixer showers from Screwfix customers can visit the Screwfix website.

If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger on Stagetecture, click here.

Whether you are ready for the warmer weather or not, it is officially coming or has already set in. For many homeowners this means getting your outdoor home ready for relaxing in the sun. Whether this means your front patio, back porch or lanai, or your pool area.

Today’s post brings inspiration for your outdoor pool shower area. I’ve always loved the idea of outdoor showers, especially for those who entertain and have a cabana bath to their home. Outdoor showers are great tucked away in the corner of your outdoor home, or out in the open! Today’s inspiration photos come from Coastal Living, let me know which ones you like.

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Match the surroundings

Mimic details of the main house:

Creative use of outdoor space

Build outdoor shower with environmentally friendly construction

Good tips to consider when building your outdoor shower:

Treated wood, rust-resistant fixtures, and an outdoor-fabric curtain withstand harsh coastal conditions.

• Choose materials that will survive the elements. Use pressure-treated, painted, or composite lumber; synthetic decking; mildew-resistant fabrics; and rust-resistant fixtures.

• Stash rolled-up towels in a galvanized bucket to warm them in the sun.

For more outdoor living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

After coming from Madison, Wisconsin last week visiting Sub-Zero/Wolf kitchen appliances, I am all about finding cutting edge technology for the home. While I was flipping through the latest Florida Design magazine I ran across an innovative plumbing fixture manufacturer called Toto out of Morrow, Georgia.

Their line is gorgeous and they have a beautiful 3D animated program to showcase each of the plumbing fixtures.

They have an innovative line out called the Toto Neorest Suite line. It encompasses

Toilet:

• Automatic Open and Close Lid
• Washlet Cleansing with Three Modes
• Hands-Free Automatic Flush
• Integrated Warm Air Dryer
• Built-In Air Purifying System
• Oscillating and Pulsating Comfort Washing
• Easy-to-Read Remote Control
• Adjustable Spray with Precision Positioning
• Energy-Saver Timer
• Manual Override Function

Air Bath:

• LCD Control Panel with Audio Response
• Intelligent Auto-Fill Function
• Three Personal Settings, Presets and Memory
• Settings for Water Temperature, Volume and Depth
• Soothing Waterfall Cascade
• A Hand Spray
• Accommodates Two Users at Once
• Two Warm-Water Shoulder Cascades at Either End

Shower Tower:

• Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Thermostatic Mixing Valve
• Polished Chrome Finish
• Simple Push-Button Operation for Water Functions
• Body Sprays
• Rain Shower
• Hand Shower
• Sleek, One-Piece “Tower” Design

Lavatory (Sink):

• State-of-the-Art, Hands-Free Technology
• Cascade Water Flow
• 1.7 gpm Flow Rate
• Integrated Automatic Sensor Faucet
• Automatic and Manual Control
• LED Button for Hot or Cold Temperature
• LED Button for Manual Off/On
• Automatic Shut-Off Function
• Easy-to-Clean SanaGloss Ionic Glaze

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

For more plumbing and maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Have you noticed in homes how the bathroom has gotten larger and larger from 50 years ago? What use to be a utilitarian room to “do your business” and leave, has now become one of the most  influential rooms when home buyers are looking at homes.  As our days have become more hectic, a spa-inspired bathroom is the perfect getaway from the stresses of the day.

Today on DIY Saturday, I will show you how to transform your bathroom into a spa.  Spa inspired bathrooms are huge in home decor inspiration, and here are some tips on how to achieve the same feel in your home.

Decor:

1.) LINEN:

Towels, plush area rugs, and hanging bathrobes will transform your space from ordinary to zen-like.  Consider using baskets to display towels and toiletry articles around the bathtub and shower for easy access.

2.) TOILETRIES:

Bath soaps, gels, bubble bath, and natural body sponges should be easily accessible and can be displayed in a wooden or sea grass container to bring nature into your bathroom. For a luxurious experience, consider bath salts, sugar scrubs, and hot stones adjacent to your bathtub. When used, they will take you from inside your bathroom into a lush rain forest in minutes!

3.) COLORS:

Grab inspiration from nature when considering colors for your spa inspired bathroom.  Choose colors that are reminiscent of the sky, grass, sand, sun, rain, etc.. From pale blues, tans, greens, and browns, there is no limit to your creativity.  The more subtly toned colors you use with variety, the better your bathroom will feel.

Bathroom Fixtures:

1.) BATHTUB:

Opt for a large soaking tub that has plenty of room for relaxing.  A variety of tubs are available from sleek and modern lines to more traditional and ornate types.  Create an area around the tub for display of natural inspirations, such as sea shells and river rocks.  Also allow for ample room for when you get in and out of the tub to sit, and enjoy your tub.

2.) SHOWER:

The shower has come a long way from just being a shower head in a regular tub! Showers are now their own entity aside from the bathtub.  To create a truly spa inspired bathroom opt for a shower with glass doors and minimum ornamentation.  Shower heads now come in an array of options – rain shower head, multiple heads, temperature controls, dual heads, and the list goes on.  (See the You Tube video by Moen below to see some great options!)

3.) FINISHES:

Choose materials in your bathroom that are natural and inspired by rustic exotic places.  Stone accent walls, granite sink countertops, and sleek wood cabinetry will make your bathroom feel like you are one with nature. Opt for minimal detailing and use metals such as copper, iron, and matte chrome handles and sink fixtures  to bring the entire bathroom together beautifully.

You Tube Video – Turning your bathroom into a spa.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.