Musings by Mindy — Fall 2022

By |2022-09-30T20:02:54-04:00September 29th, 2022|Musings By Mindy|

Musings by Mindy

Dear friends and colleagues,

I can’t believe fall is already upon us and we’re about to head into the final months of 2022. This year is flying by, especially since it’s been such an exciting one for our family and the team at Designer Bath. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, our company celebrated its 77th anniversary and our Watertown showroom celebrated its five year anniversary. That’s a lot of celebrating for sure! 

We’re always exploring new ways to make our business better and to make the shopping process easier for all our customers. We now offer a virtual showroom tour where you can browse all of our items online and you can create a wishlist on our shop page to make the purchasing process quick and simple. If there are other ways that we can make your jobs easier when it comes to specialty plumbing fixtures and accessories, please let us know. 

I’m pleased to share the fall edition of Musings by Mindy. We have added a Q & A to the content, which gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge about our industry and how to make projects run more smoothly. Please send me your questions and I will provide answers based on my experience and input from other members of our team as well. 

All my best,

Mindy Sevinor
Showroom Brand Manager

What’s new in the showroom?

Samuel Heath

We are pleased to share the latest trends and products with you. Earlier this year, we debuted our new Samuel Heath display. To introduce the line, we hosted a fancy English tea for designers at our Watertown Showroom. Our British rep from the UK-based company spoke about their products and longstanding legacy dating back nearly two centuries! 

With a factory in Birmingham, the heart of England, craftsmanship and integrity have remained the core principles of Samuel Heath and helped make it the iconic brand we know today. They have perfectly mastered the art of balance. While still focused on their signature look, which channels a traditional aesthetic, Samuel Heath has remained fresh and relevant by expanding their offerings to include industrial and modern styles. The beauty of Samuel Heath is the breadth of options that include something for everyone.

Trendspotting

Fluting & Curves

Looking at design trends, we’re excited to see fluting and curves becoming a strong presence. These two go hand-in-hand as the fluting detail naturally creates a flowing round shape. With manufacturers shifting away from contemporary, linear design in favor of timeless pieces, this trend is the perfect way to bring a warm and updated feel to any space. 

From sink handles to bathtubs, we’re seeing curved patterns in nearly every facet of the bathroom fixture repertoire. On the left are some of our favorites from lines that we display in our showrooms.

Top left: MTI Tub
Top Right: Artelinea Vanity
Bottom Left: Robern Medicine Cabinet
Bottom Right: Samuel Heath Faucet

Ask Mindy

We are so appreciative of our trade community and we love hearing from you. In this new section of Musings by Mindy, we will be answering your questions directly. To be featured in our next edition, please email mindysevinor@designerbath.com

Q. Can I get a lead time for a product when I am trying to decide which one to select?

Based on our experience with other recent orders, we have a pretty good idea of the general timing — however it is not exact. Once the order is placed and the manufacturer confirms the materials have been reserved for us, we can then provide a precise time frame.

Barbara Elza Hirsch’s Showroom Favorites — September 2022

By |2022-09-07T18:00:02-04:00September 1st, 2022|Uncategorized|

A Note From Jason

 .
Anniversaries and Appreciation were the theme in August!

Hi! 

I feel like August went so fast our heads are spinning. One minute we are complaining about the heat and the drought and the next minute we are sending kids back to school and the leaves are starting to turn from green to red and gold.

For me, August was all about appreciation. I was able to reflect on countless reasons to be grateful as my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, our Watertown showroom celebrated its five year anniversary, and the company celebrated its 77th anniversary. 

I appreciate my parents for their commitment to our family and each other. I toasted to them and their enduring marriage at an intimate party my sister and I threw in their honor. 

I appreciate my colleagues at Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing Supply for their energy and expertise. Our business has achieved these amazing milestones as a result of hard work by all members of our team. Each employee brings a unique perspective and knowledge, which has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our customers every day. To show my gratitude for this group of professionals who show up and deliver beyond my expectations, we organized two festive outings. We took a road trip to Gillette Stadium to cheer for the MLS team, The New England Revolution. We felt a little like we were embedded in a scene from “Ted Lasso” when we got to see the locker room and training facility! Then, we had a bbq with games for kids at a local park on the North Shore to make sure everyone who couldn’t make the big trek to Foxboro still felt the love. 

Our people are the lifeblood of our organization and I strive to support them and let them know that I am thankful for their dedication to their jobs and to the success of our company. It makes me exceptionally proud to say that almost 50% of our employees have been with us for over five years, with a number over ten, fifteen, and even twenty years. This is a true testament to a corporate culture that focuses on positivity and growth from within. 

As our staff and locations have expanded, our goal is to continue to raise the bar. For this reason, we have started an executive search for a Business Development Manager for the Salem Plumbing Supply side of our business. If you know someone who is interested in talking to us about this opportunity, please reach out to me. Details can be found on our careers page.  

And now, I would like to introduce you to our guest blogger for September, Barbara Elza Hirsch, a French-American interior designer and principal of Elza B. Design, Inc. in Concord, MA. She has been a valued Designer Bath client for many years. She brings a unique sense of color to her work, creating soulful interiors that are joyful and functional. Her award-winning designs have been featured in numerous publications. We feel fortunate to collaborate with her on her beautiful projects.

Best,
Jason Sevinor

President

DORNBRACHT SINGLE-HOLE LAVATORY MIXER WITH DRAIN  

I’m always sourcing faucets for clients and the Dornbracht Single-hole Lavatory Mixer really caught my eye. It’s different from what I typically gravitate toward and use in projects. I love the gooseneck and how the design has been well thought out. The way the cross handles pop out at an angle from the centerpiece makes it unique and minimizes the space it takes on the countertop. It’s such a beautiful faucet that has a very simple yet jewel-like quality.

LACAVA FREE-STANDING SOAKING BATHTUB

The Lacava Free-standing Soaking Bathtub has a really inviting shape. But what really struck me was its color finish. It’s not a shiny black – it has a soft natural stone look to it. I would love to use this in a bathroom that has matte black fixtures. When you’re using a dark color like this for such a large feature, you want it to be repeated and it has to speak to something else in the space. I picture this in a room with bold pattern wallpaper or against colorful and moody tile walls. The options are endless with this tub and it would really help
elevate any bathroom.

JULIEN INC. SMARTSTATION KIT, UNDERMOUNT SINK SINGLE 30X18X10 – WALNUT

I’m a big fan of the Smartstation products. I think they’re really appealing visually and also have incredible functionality. They add dimension to the area where you’re doing dishes, food prep, etc. and can introduce different wood textures to the kitchen. The Julien Inc. Smartstation Kit has movable platforms and accessories on 2 levels which increase your working surface space. You can cut and prep veggies on the wood surface and let the peelings fall directly in the sink, allowing you to free up a counter in the kitchen for other food prep. When you are hosting guests, you can quickly tidy up the sink area with the flat wood covers until you’re ready for cleanup.

HANSGROHE AXOR FRONT SHOWERPIPE – CHROME

The Hansgrohe Axor Front Showerpipe was on display next to other systems that I tend to select for an outdoor shower set-up but it really stood out. I love the upside down funnel-shaped showerhead at the top and the overall geometry of its shape. It’s so different from what you typically see in a shower, it’s much more modern and whimsical.

GRAFF MUSA FREESTANDING SINK WITH INTEGRATED OVERFLOW

I fell in love with this the minute I saw it in the showroom. A lot of people have small powder rooms. This piece demonstrates that you really don’t need a lot to spruce up a room and make it interesting. I often use wallpaper to make a statement but the Graff Musa Freestanding Sink makes one on its own with its verticality. It’s also very functional and would be super easy to wipe down, especially if you have kids. I love the rounded edges – it feels very inviting and almost feminine. It takes up very little space and adds a fabulous shape
as a functional design element.  
              

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