Selecting Waterworks plumbing fixtures is more than a design choice—it’s a statement. For decades, Waterworks has set the standard for what it means to live with luxury fixtures that transcend trends. Their best-sellers have earned their place not simply through popularity, but because they embody the brand’s enduring hallmarks: craftsmanship, timeless design, and an undeniable sense of presence.
At the heart of Waterworks’ appeal is a rare ability to blend artistry with engineering in a way that feels both timeless and tangible. Every faucet, tub, and fitting is conceived as more than a utilitarian object—it’s a tactile experience. Lift a Waterworks faucet and you immediately sense its weight and precision. The hand-finishing, the clean geometry, the meticulous detailing—nothing feels incidental. Everything is intentional, and it shows.
This design integrity extends to form. While trends come and go, Waterworks collections are grounded in classic proportions and enduring silhouettes that never lose their relevance. A piece specified today will carry the same elegance decades from now, making it an investment in lasting beauty rather than a fleeting moment.
Then there are the materials. Brass, cast iron, stone, and natural finishes are chosen not just for their beauty but for how they evolve. Rather than deteriorating, they develop a rich patina over time—a visual narrative of daily use and care. In a world of the disposable, Waterworks creates fixtures intended to live with you for generations.
Henry: Classic Meets Industrial
The Henry Collection is a love letter to early 20th-century engineering. Exposed screws, crisp geometry, and architectural lines strike a balance between boldness and refinement. In polished nickel, burnished brass, or gold, Henry brings quiet strength to any space.
R.W. Atlas: Bold and Iconic
Inspired by machinery and architecture, R.W. Atlas showcases solid brass construction and distinctive wheel-inspired handles. Its knurled detailing and robust silhouette embody strength and precision—making it a designer favorite worldwide.
Flyte: Minimalist Luxury
The Flyte Collection channels modern serenity with smooth curves and seamless lines. It’s proof that minimalism, when executed with intention, can be as luxurious as the most ornate designs.
Empire Tub: A SculpturalCenterpiece
The Empire Tub stands as both centerpiece and sanctuary. With elegant proportions and sculptural form, it transforms the bath into a personal retreat of elegance and calm.
Highgate: The Kitchen Showstopper
The Highgate faucet combines classic bridge design with modern functionality. Its refined detailing and superior performance make it the perfect focal point for gourmet kitchens and everyday use alike.
Visit an Alexander Marchant Showroom
Waterworks’ best-selling fixtures are more than functional pieces—they’re heirlooms, designed to be lived with and loved. Visit Alexander Marchant showrooms in Austin, San Antonio, or Oklahoma City to explore Waterworks collections in person. Our expert consultants will guide you through finishes, configurations, and custom options to help bring your vision to life.
Creating a Cohesive Design Language Across the Home
In the world of interior design, it’s often the details that leave the most lasting impression. A thoughtfully selected faucet, a beautifully proportioned shower system, or an impeccably crafted accessory can transform a utilitarian space into something truly exceptional. Among the brands that understand this transformative power, Waterworks stands apart.
Celebrated for its heritage craftsmanship, refined design language, and enduring quality, Waterworks has long been the go-to choice for designers who want to bring timeless elegance into kitchens and baths. Beyond its visual appeal, Waterworks offers a tactile, everyday experience that quietly elevates the way people live in their homes.
Here are five key points that make the case for Waterworks easy to communicate to clients.
Craftsmanship That Lasts
Design trends evolve, but true craftsmanship never goes out of style. Waterworks fixtures are engineered to last, both in aesthetic and in performance. Unlike mass-market alternatives that often require replacement within a few years, Waterworks invests in superior materials and meticulous construction. The result is a product that not only looks beautiful on day one but continues to perform flawlessly for decades.
A Cohesive Design LanguageAcross the Home
One of Waterworks’ greatest strengths is its ability to create a unified aesthetic across the entire home. Each collection encompasses faucets, shower systems, accessories, and hardware, allowing designers to carry a consistent design vision from the kitchen to the primary bath and beyond.
This cohesive approach resonates deeply with clients who appreciate harmony and attention to detail. It also streamlines the specification process, ensuring that every fixture works seamlessly within the larger design narrative.
Collections for Every Vision and Budget
While Waterworks is often associated with high-end luxury, the brand offers a diverse range of collections to suit a variety of budgets. From elegant entry-level options to showstopping statement pieces, Waterworks provides flexibility without compromising quality.
This breadth allows designers to tailor their specifications to each project’s scope and client expectations, making the brand accessible to more homeowners than many realize.
Everyday Luxury, Redefined
Few design elements are experienced as frequently as plumbing fixtures. From the first turn of the tap in the morning to a restorative evening shower, Waterworks transforms daily routines into moments of quiet indulgence.
Clients immediately notice the difference: the weight of a handle, the precision of movement, the refined finishes. It’s a sensory experience that elevates even the most ordinary tasks.
Long-Term Value and Resale Appeal
For clients with an eye on future resale, Waterworks fixtures offer undeniable appeal. Luxury plumbing details signal thoughtful design, long-term quality, and a level of finish that sets a home apart in a competitive market. Homes equipped with these fixtures often stand out to discerning buyers, reinforcing the value of choosing quality from the start.
Specifying Waterworks is about more than selecting fixtures—it’s about curating an experience. With its unmatched craftsmanship, timeless style, and ability to create a cohesive design language throughout the home, Waterworks offers designers and clients alike a way to elevate the everyday.
And by partnering with local showrooms like Alexander Marchant, designers gain an added layer of expertise and service. Visit Alexander Marchant showrooms in Austin, San Antonio, or Oklahoma City to explore Waterworks collections in person. Our expert consultants will guide you through finishes, configurations, and custom options to help bring your vision to life.
Whether the vision is modern minimalism, classic refinement, or something in between, Waterworks plumbing fixtures provide the foundation for spaces that are both beautiful and enduring.
Let’s be real: hardware doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves. However, the truth is that it’s one of the easiest ways to make a space feel elevated, personal, and intentional. The right cabinet knob or drawer pull can completely transform furniture or millwork — and the most beautiful designs don’t come from mass-market factories. They’re being designed and handmade by artists and studios who treat artisan hardware like sculpture.
That’s the beauty of small-batch, handmade hardware collections. Brands like Marion Cage, Lo & Co, Mi & Gei, Chapman & Bose, PullCast, and Ged Kennett are redefining what luxury cabinet hardware can be — focusing on craftsmanship, design-forward details, and materials in a way that feels fresh, intentional, and seriously beautiful.
Think of artisan hardware as the finishing touch you didn’t know you needed — the detail that proves every element was carefully considered. It shows that someone thought about the space. In a world full of sameness, there is something refreshing about handcrafted hardware designed in small batches, by people who actually care about design and craft.
Whether you’re designing your dream kitchen or simply upgrading knobs on a vintage dresser, these luxury hardware brands deliver impact far beyond their size. The smallest details often speak the loudest.
At Alexander Marchant, we’re proud to represent these six artisan hardware makers at out showrooms in Austin, San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Because just like the perfect pair of shoes, small-batch hardware completes the look, expresses your personality, and makes your space feel truly designed.
Marion Cage
Based in New Orleans, Marion Cage brings an architectural eye and jeweler’s precision to hardware design. The line is clean yet tactile, luxurious yet restrained — a testament to Marion’s background in both metalsmithing and industrial design. Each piece feels deliberate and quietly daring, often blending wood, bronze, and enamel in compositions that straddle the line between sculpture and utility.
Sydney-based Lo & Co has quickly earned a cult following for its modern, geometric silhouettes and fearless use of finishes — from brushed brass to matte black and marble. There’s a playful elegance to their collections, with forms that feel fresh and fashion-forward, often drawing inspiration from Art Deco and modernist references. Perfect for interiors that lean contemporary but want a bit of edge.
Founded by a husband-and-wife duo, Mi & Gei (short for “mission” and “gesture”) celebrates the tactility of handcraft. Their designs are often inspired by global travels and traditional materials — think hand-hammered brass, intricate woodwork, and an organic sense of form. Every knob and pull carries with it a sense of story and place, offering warmth and character to any space.
Chapman & Bose specializes in finely cast bronze hardware that feels at once timeless and unexpected. Their collections evoke the patina of age, yet never feel retro. With textures that range from smooth to deeply striated and finishes that glow softly rather than shout, Chapman & Bose pieces work equally well in heritage homes and avant-garde interiors.
PullCast redefines hardware as sculpture. Based in Portugal and rooted in a design culture that values art and craftsmanship, PullCast offers bold, often whimsical pieces that draw inspiration from nature, architecture, and couture fashion. These are not background players — they are focal points, conversation starters, and declarations of design confidence.
Handmade in England, Ged Kennett’s hardware is minimalist in form but rich in presence. With precision-milled lines and a focus on brushed and polished stainless steel and brass, the pieces carry a quiet sophistication that elevates without overwhelming. It’s a line for the true modernist — where restraint becomes the ultimate luxury.
Encompassing nearly 800 square miles of rolling hills, winding rivers, Medieval castles and storybook villages, the Cotswolds is England’s largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Stretching across six counties — Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, North Somerset, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire — the pastoral region has served as creative inspiration for such literary icons as Jane Austen and J.R.R. Tolkien, not to mention famed British series spanning from Harry Potter to Downton Abbey.
With a name that’s likely an amalgam of the terms for “sheep pen” (cot) and “rolling hills” (wolds), the Cotswolds have long been associated with sheep — specifically the Cotswold Lion breed known for its golden fleece. During the Middle Ages, the area thrived as a producer of high-quality wool and many towns saw the construction or expansion of “wool churches” — Gothic houses of worship funded by wool merchants.
Photo via Cotswolds Distillery.
As recently as 1999, the Cotswolds landscape evolved with the arrival of spectacular lavender fields that now cover 45 acres of farmland. “It is now difficult to remember a time before lavender was central to our farm,” Cotswolds lavender farmer Charlie Byrd admits. “Almost everything we now do revolves around lavender — growing, harvesting, making new products and of course using it ourselves every day.”
But from an architecture and design perspective, the Cotswolds is easily known best for a distinctive style that began flourishing in the 17th century. Firmly rooted in reverence for tradition, Cotswolds style is synonymous with country homes and cottages built from a honey-colored limestone that’s indigenous to the region. In her blog “A Story of Sheep and Stone,” Wilderness England writer Alex Boag-Wyllie sheds light on its composition and characteristics.
“The stone found in the Cotswolds and beyond in the south of England is yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone. … Limestone is naturally a creamy color, becoming increasingly golden as it weathers, giving Cotswold stone its color. … The Jurassic segment of ‘yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone’ comes from the fact that this stone was formed between 199 and 145 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.”
Intriguingly, the shade of yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone shifts slightly based on geography — from golden hues in the center of the region to creamy whites in the Southern city of Bath. Famously singing its praises, English novelist J.B. Priestly once wrote, “The truth is that it has no color that can be described. Even when the sun is obscured and the light is cold, these walls are still faintly warm and luminous, as if they knew the trick of keeping the lost sunlight of centuries glimmering about them.”
From left: the Cotswolds hamlet of Castle Comb has been described as “the prettiest village in England”; yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone distinguishes some of the Cotswolds’ most famous buildings.
A distinguishing feature of landmarks such as Windsor Castle, Eton College, and the University of Oxford, Cotswold stone essentially inspired the hyperlocal color palette for the entire region. Warm, earthy, and textural, the classic Cotswolds mood board goes beyond honey-colored limestone to include exposed wooden beams, flagstone flooring, open shelving, comfy furnishings, brass and copper accents, and — importantly — a pervasive sense of understated luxury. Unsurprisingly, designers and homeowners often adapt and modernize the hallmarks of traditional Cotswolds style — which shouldn’t be confused with the more whimsical “cottagecore” aesthetic.
Among the design threads connecting Cotswolds-style kitchens is an unfitted plan that hearkens to the pre-industrial era. Prioritizing function over form, early unfitted kitchens were mix-and-match affairs combining unattached appliances, baker’s racks, butcher blocks, and hanging pot racks. Even today, unfitted kitchens often eschew built-in cabinetry in favor of freestanding hutches and sideboards that reflect craftsmanship and individuality.
Wood, limestone, and layered lighting add texture and warmth to the open kitchen and dining area in designer Bee Osborn’s BIID Interior Design Award-winning project The Old Post Office.
One shining example, London/Cotswolds-based Osborn Interiors’ project The Old Post Office earned a British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) award in 2022 based on its thoughtful transformation of a stone thatched cottage from the 1540s into a “fully functioning dwelling, eminently suitable for our times.” Tasked with maintaining and highlighting “the historical features, such as the original stone walls, low-beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces, while using sympathetic design and materials throughout the renovation,” designer Bee Osborn created richly textured interiors — including an open kitchen and dining area distinguished by reclaimed materials and layered lighting.
In many Cotswolds kitchens, plumbing fixtures and hardware sway traditional and are often treated with “living” finishes. Long championed by Alexander Marchant, unlacquered brass and other living finishes age gracefully by design. Devoid of a protective sealant, the base metal is exposed to the elements — from the oxygen in the air to the oil on our hands — and begins to deepen in shade and develop a natural patina. Arguably inimitable, the nuances of living finishes exemplify the warm glow of the Cotswolds.
Design by Roseywood Interiors.
From left: Armac Martin’s Cotswold Collection comprises cup pulls, pot rails, bail handles, and other shapes inspired by the traditional beauty of the English countryside.
An English mainstay since 1929, Birmingham-based bespoke hardware manufacturer Armac Martin captures this vibe brilliantly with the aptly titled Cotswold Collection. Available in a broad array of finishes — from aged brass to polished nickel — the nine-piece collection is highlighted by cup pulls, bail handles, cupboard latches and homey pot rails with brass “S” hooks.
Similarly masterful with solid-brass luxury hardware, New York-based Classic Brass nails Cotswolds-appropriate styles with traditional collections such as Chautaqua and Hunter — both of which comprise dozens of knob and pull varieties available in 37 finishes.
An iconic American brand known for impeccable quality and design, luxury kitchen and bath authority Waterworks boasts collections that span from classic to transitional to modern. Channeling the spirit of the Cotswolds with the Connecticut-based company’s cabinet hardware might involve anything from the R.W. Atlas latch to a porcelain-topped Etoile knob or cup-style Paragon pull. Befitting any room in the house, the Waterworks Fallbrook collection also echoes the earthy tones and textures of the Cotswolds with classic knobs and pulls wrapped in timeless brown leather.
Design by Jackson and LeRoy. Photo by Joshua Caldwell.
From left: bridge and gooseneck kitchen tap styles from TONI Copenhagen (Christiansborg), Newport Brass (Gavin), and Waterworks (Easton).
Arguably, one of the most impactful ways to bring the old-world warmth of the Cotswolds into the kitchen is with a traditional faucet — especially bridge and gooseneck styles. Among our many favorites are styles from Waterworks’ Easton, Julia, and Aero collections; TONI Copenhagen’s covetable Christiansborg collection; Waterstone’s vintage-inspired Hampton suite; Newport Brass’ Fairfield, Chesterfield, and East Linear collections; and just about any kitchen tap from longtime London mainstay Barber Wilsons.
Frank Allart’s Decorative Scroll Lever.
As UK-based designer Jacqueline Dantier explains in a video exploring English country style, “The Cotswold interior design style captures the essence of rural charm and timeless elegance, blending heritage with contemporary comforts in perfect harmony.” In addition to tried-and-true materials such as limestone, exposed wooden beams, and flagstone flooring, Dantier points out that Cotswolds living spaces often feature traditional furniture — think Chesterfield sofas, Windsor chairs, French-style coffee tables, and oversized ottomans — along with a warm and earthy palette of soft neutrals. Emphasizing the warmth of that palette, lighting is frequently layered and takes shape in ceramic table lamps, brass or copper pendants, lamp-shade chandeliers, even candles in glass lanterns.
In keeping with the tone set by traditional hardware and living finishes in the kitchen, door hardware also sways classic. “Makers of fine English hardware since 1914,” Birmingham-based Frank Allart rises to the occasion with a wealth of options available in a wide range of finishes — including multiple shades of unlacquered brass.
Design by Angus Reid Projects. Photo by Genevieve Lutkin.Photo by Marie Louise Munkegaard.
From left: Waterworks’ Empire bathtub and Henry tub filler; Devon&Devon’s cast-iron Ambra tub; TONI Copenhagen’s Christiansborg lavatory tap.
The sense of quiet luxury easily carries over into Cotswolds-style bathrooms, with plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware typically following time-honored traditions. (A cast-iron or claw-foot bathtub outfitted with a brass tub filler is a great place to start.)
But as British interior designer Pippa Paton deftly illustrates in her book Twenty First Century Cotswolds, English country interiors are increasingly eclectic and appointed with modern comforts and conveniences. “The main theme of this book is the passion to preserve the Cotswolds’ history, architecture, and buildings whilst making them relevant to 21st-century living,” she writes. With that in mind, Cotswolds style can be adopted with reverence or adapted with contemporary sensibilities and creature comforts at play.
Clockwise from top left: Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 classic Breathless, Haussmann-style apartments, iconic designer Coco Chanel, and the Louvre Pyramid.
Evidenced by everything from the Gothic grandeur of Notre-Dame to the playful spirit of Rococo and the bespoke intricacies of haute couture, French design is a vast arena that simply can’t be placed in a nutshell. Even the effortless chic style of French people elicits the elusive je ne sais quoi. On full display in the films of Nouvelle Vague auteur Jean-Luc Godard, that seemingly innate cool factor extends beyond French people — it’s an attitude, an indefinable vibe that can be applied to art, fashion, decor, almost anything imaginable.
Although there are multitudes in between, a compendium of French design might contrast the ornate, gilded flourishes of the Baroque and Rococo movements of the 1700s with the streamlined, geometric elegance of Art Nouveau and Art Deco in the 1900s. That compendium might also credit controversial urban planner Baron Haussmann with “transforming” Paris into a modern city distinguished by grand boulevards, stately apartment buildings and lush gardens.
Icons of Parisian aesthetics, the buildings Haussmann designed in the mid-19th century were intentionally uniform — all built from cream-colored limestone and topped with mansard roofs — as part of plan to “unify” the evolving City of Lights. But France is also a grand champion of mixing styles and juxtaposing old and new. Beaux-Arts architecture — an 1830s-era mashup that put a modern spin on Neoclassical and Baroque styles — is one famous example. The ultra-modern glass pyramid I. M. Pei plopped amid the classical confines of the Louvre courtyard is another.
Fittingly, the distinctive French brands represented by Alexander Marchant — Rémy Garnier, Bronzes de France, THG Paris, and the enigmatic niche line Serie Rare — uphold rich and historic traditions while also embracing innovation and stylistic evolution.
The company behind the cremone bolt, Rémy Garnier is known for both historic preservation and contemporary pieces like the new Vanities lock.
Entrepreneurial metalworker Rémy Garnier established his namesake workshop on Paris’ left bank in 1832, focusing chiefly on locks and door hardware. Credited as the inventor of the cremone bolt — a ubiquitous locking mechanism for windows and doors — Garnier hit an early career milestone when he got tapped to restore the locks of Paris’ city hall after the 1871 Commune Fire. That high-profile project positioned Garnier neatly with Baron Haussmann’s revitalization efforts and the construction of his quintessentially Parisian apartment buildings — which all called for cremone bolts. Nearly two centuries since its inception, Rémy Garnier now boasts a catalog comprising 7,000 unique bronze and brass designs — sleek Art Deco levers and ornate Louis XIV knobs among them. Anchored by an immense Paris workshop on Boulevard de la Bastille and a bronze foundry in Touraine, the company is a go-to for historic preservation projects and has restored locks, cremones and light fixtures at the Louvre, Versailles, the Élysée Palace, the Swiss Embassy and the Paris Opera, among many other landmarks and monuments. As a result, Rémy Garnier has earned the designation of Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, which recognizes significant contributions to national heritage through craftsmanship. While the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements remain touchstones, Rémy Garnier marches onward with forward-thinking offerings that encompass both custom orders and new creations such as Vanities — a monumental lock inspired by biker culture and the fleeting nature of life itself.
Bronzes de France hardware runs the gamut from Art Deco to ornate, historical designs.
Baguès Paris lighting installed at Hôtel Château Frontenac.
A leader in the realm of artistic bronze hardware since 1852, Bronzes de France holds a vast collection of designs that spans from Louis XVI to Art Nouveau and contemporary styles. A testament to its authenticity and impeccable craftsmanship, the company was authorized by the French government in the 19th century to preserve and reproduce historic door and cabinet hardware installed in the chateaus and palaces of the former Kingdom of France. Today, those wide-ranging styles comprise Bronzes de France’s encyclopedic collection La Quincaillerie Centrale. Fittingly, these exquisite bronze pieces are created using hand-chasing techniques typically used for fine jewelry. But historic refinery is but one aspect of Bronzes de France, which employs cutting-edge technology in the creation of new designs and custom pieces in a busy atelier in Normandy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the company’s work can be found in some of the most luxurious hotels in Paris, including the Crillon, Le Meurice, and Georges V. Elegantly illuminating the offerings of Bronzes de France, its sister company Baguès Paris designs and manufactures a wide assortment of bronze light fixtures. Arguably known best for their show-stopping crystal chandeliers, Baguès also designs and manufactures sconces, lamps and mirrors that run the gamut from traditional to modern and even whimsical. The revered French siblings are also among the select companies who have earned Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant status.
From left: THG Paris takes bathroom fittings to new heights with Beyond Crystal, Hirondelles (a collaboration with Lalique) and O Collection.
Although it’s the youngest in the bunch, THG Paris quickly captured the attention of the design world by taking bathroom fittings and accessories to unexpected new heights. Founded in 1956 by the trio of André Tétard, Julien Haudiquez and Alexandre Grisoni, THG prides itself on “exceptional pieces” that incorporate crystal, marble, porcelain, onyx, optical glass and semi-precious stones. Thanks in part to collaborations with buzz-worthy designers and iconic brands, the company’s collections are refreshingly diverse. Among the many shining examples, Beyond Crystal (designed by Rémi Tessier in collaboration with Baccarat), Dahlia (a Lalique collaboration based on a poetic design from 1931) and Nihal (designed by Xavier Cartron in collaboration with the French Limoges porcelain factory Haviland) are some of the most individualistic bathroom taps one could dream up. Likened to the “haute couture of bathroom fittings,” THG goes far beyond splashy taps to offer showers, basins, bidet mixers, tubs and whirlpools along with sleek kitchen fixtures. An environmentally conscious operation that handles every step of the manufacturing process (“from design and machining through to the foundry”), THG is also a member of the elite Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant family.
From left: the catalog for the V & A’s “British Design” exhibition, the iconic K6 telephone box, and the 1951 Festival of Britain poster. Anarchy in the UK T-shirt by Vivienne Westwood & Malcolm McLaren, 1977-8, worn and altered by Johnny Rotten.
Nine years ago, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum opened “British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age” — an exhibition comprising more than 300 objects exploring three key themes: the tension between tradition and modernity; the subversive impulse in British culture; and Britain’s leadership in design innovation and creativity.
Sir Terrence Conrad photographed in his Cone Chair by Ray William.
In a promotional video for the exhibition, Edward Barber (of the London-based industrial design studio Barber Osgerby) made a compelling point: “It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you’ll find a British designer working there, whether it’s in architecture, industrial design, fashion design or graphics, we are everywhere.” Hailed by the museum as “one of the most exciting creative practitioners working in the UK today,” London Design Medal winner Thomas Heatherwick echoed Barber’s sentiments: “When I think of British design, I find that somehow one is talking about people from all over the world who have chosen Britain to base themselves. A lot of modern history has been rooted in what has come from the United Kingdom.”
Undoubtedly due to this global network of British designers, their wide-ranging influences and the diversity of the UK, it’s futile to try to categorize or summarize British design. It can be regal or rebellious, minimalist or maximalist, eccentric or restrained. Ungovernable stylistic inclinations aside, Brits are also behind numerous innovations and inventions, including the tin can, the chocolate bar, the toothbrush, the thermos, the kaleidoscope, the bagless vacuum cleaner and the ATM — not to mention the popularization of the miniskirt (courtesy of swinging ’60s designer Mary Quant) and punk culture (thanks to the Sex Pistols, Vivienne Westwood, Malcolm McLaren, et al.). On the home furnishings front, Sir Terrence Conran is credited with “revolutionizing retail and decor” in the 1960s with Habitat — a London-born chain that brought modern design to the masses and introduced a build-it-yourself format later adopted by IKEA.
Fittingly, the British brands represented by Alexander Marchant champion myriad styles and points of view. Some uphold age-old traditions, others buck tradition altogether — but all maintain a razor-sharp focus on quality, craftsmanship and innovation.
From left: Armac Martin’s MIX collection, and decorative grilles installed in cabinets in our Brentwood showroom in Austin.
Launched by brass founder Harold McGrail in 1929, Armac Martin celebrates the timeless elegance of brass and takes heritage and craftsmanship seriously. Based in Birmingham, the fourth-generation family business offers more than 30 distinct collections of cabinet hardware that run the gamut from industrial (the customizable MIX series is beloved for its tactile, diamond-knurled knobs and pulls) to ornate (Aberdovey takes stylistic cues from seashells). Adding geometric flair to cabinets, doors, vents, panels and more, Armac Martin’s decorative brass grilles are an undeniable fan favorite that are assembled by hand and available in nine unique finishes.
From left: Buster + Punch hardware, a dog collar with solid brass detailing, and “Heavy Metal” brass pendant lights.
The brainchild of architect and industrial designer Massimo Buster Minale, Buster + Punch boasts unusual roots in a motorcycle garage in East London. Drawing inspiration from “London’s fashion, music and sub-culture scenes,” the company strives to “transform everyday functional fittings into extraordinary home details” and succeeds with flying colors. In addition to solid-metal door and cabinet hardware (the multicolored “burnt steel” finish is truly something to behold), the edgy lifestyle brand creates industrial-chic pendant lights outfitted with covetable bulbs, diamond-knurled brass candle holders, dog collars, jewelry, metal coffee tables and home bars fit for a rockstar.
Croft cabinet knobs, pulls and catches in an assortment of finishes.
Croft
Built by five generations of a family with 150 years of manufacturing history between them, West Midlands-based manufacturer Croft isn’t afraid to use the word “perfection.” In fact, it’s what they call their “default standard.” Since opening its modern chapter in 1972, the company has earned a reputation for impeccable brass and bronze door, cabinet and window hardware as well as bespoke furnishings for royal palaces, historic castles, stately museums and luxury hotels. Encompassing an array of styles (from Art Deco to contemporary), Croft fittings can be personalized in an assortment of signature finishes and patinas including matte black bronze, marbled brass, pearl nickel and polished chrome.
From left: Frank Allart’s new Rope Knurl hardware range, and an array of cabinet knob and plate combinations.
Established by George Allart in 1914, Frank Allart (exclusive to Alexander Marchant in Central Texas) made a name for itself in WWI-era Birmingham by manufacturing brass fittings for the architectural, marine and railway trades. Proud inventor of the 5640 flush bolt that’s still in heavy rotation in the door hardware industry, Frank Allart now designs and manufactures a comprehensive selection of residential hardware (including more than 100 door lever and knob designs) available in 30 metal finishes and patinas. Last year, the century-old company introduced Allart Precision, a new range of door, cabinet and window hardware distinguished by engineered knurled patterns and precision cuts.
Examples of Ged Kennett’s Handmade and Precious Hardstone collections, including round knobs, amethyst pulls, and semicircle handles.
Based on a quaint, country estate in Southwest England, craftsman Ged Kennett got his start in hand-forged ironwork for residential projects but found his calling in the realm of bespoke cabinet hardware. Formed in 1997, his niche operation is filled with “beautiful old machinery” and proprietary tools used to create stainless steel and brass handles adorned with distinctive textures. Inspired by a trip to India and produced in collaboration with Jodhpur-based designer Gajendra Shanane, Ged Kennet’s Precious Hardstone Collection places amethyst, banded jasper, bloodstone, fossilized agate, green aventurine, lapis lazuli and other semi-precious stones in an exquisite yet functional context likened to “jewelry for furniture.”
Clockwise from top left: Kast’s compact Elm Mini in Ember, the Kast color range, Rena basin in Ivory, and Sienna double basin in Forest.
You might not know how desperately you need a colorful concrete washbasin until you get familiar with Kast, the design-forward outfit Swiss designer Tim Bayes formed in 2013. Situated on the edge of Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood fame, the company admittedly focuses “relentlessly on one thing” — crafting concrete sinks in a rich and earthy rainbow of 28 colors (storm, mint, peach, brick, golden and duck egg among them). While concrete (or “liquid stone”) is the sole medium of choice, Kast’s shapes, sizes and styles encompass everything from the compact Nilo to the twin Flor Double and the texturally patterned options of the Kast Canvas Collection.
From left: a grouping of seven Original BTC Fin pendants made from bone china, Titan pendants in putty grey, and Pillar wall lights.
Hailed as “one of the first designers to capture the appeal of industrial styling,” Peter Bowles founded Oxfordshire-based Original BTC in 1990 with a goal to produce “lights that you are instantly at home with.” In addition to running six factories — including facilities for ceramics, glass and metal — the family-run company serves as an umbrella over the Davey Lighting and Beadlight brands. While industrial sensibilities are a common thread (the aluminum Titan pendants are to die for), some Original BTC designs skew elegant and even delicate — especially those rendered in translucent bone china (a signature material). Another hallmark described as “one of Original BTC’s best-loved design features” is the use of braided cotton flex in lieu of unsightly plastic cords.
From left: three fixtures from Samuel Heath’s One Hundred Collection, and their Landmark Industrial tap at the 2019 WestEdge Design Fair.
With an astounding 200-year history, Samuel Heath (exclusive to Alexander Marchant in Central Texas) is both an authority and a pioneer in the realm of British design. Established as a traditional Birmingham brass founder in 1920, the company initially produced bed frames, fireplace accessories and giftware but is now known for bathroom fixtures and architectural hardware that deliver “perfect function and beautiful form.” Complementing collections that take design cues from Art Deco, industrialism, “Nordic chic,” the Bauhaus movement, “quintessentially English” neoclassical styles and plenty in between, Samuel Heath’s distinct One Hundred Collection showcases the company’s rich heritage with taps, showers, tub fillers and accessories distinguished by mirror-polished black levers, knurled escutcheon detailing and even translucent crystal glass.
From left: Turnstyle’s Button Stitched Loop Strap handles, custom leather and brass Scroll T Bars, and Shagreen Recess Amalfine door pulls.
Formed by Steven Roberts and based in “glorious North Devon,” Turnstyle Designs arrived on the scene in 1992 with the amusing slogan “Bored of Brass.” Over the course of nearly three decades, the company has proven its nonconformist point of view by creating innovative door and cabinet hardware from perspex, concrete, hand-stitched leather, dyed marble and the proprietary composite Alupewt. Awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2018, Turnstyle offers more than a dozen unique collections ranging from the geometric Labyrinth (a collaboration with London-based Winch Design) to the organically inspired Bamboo.
Italian marble company Davani made a splash with its 2020 debut collection “Purity.”
Stone has been one of the building blocks of life on Earth since the dawn of humanity. While our early human ancestors sheltered in caves and fashioned tools and weapons by chipping rocks together, ancient civilizations began using it as a building material — for anything from the engraved stone monoliths of the so-called “world’s oldest temple” in Turkey (c. 10,000 BC) to the Pyramid of Djoser in Egypt (c. 2,650 BC). Fast-forward a few thousand years and Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius was shaking things up as an ancient influencer in the realm of natural stone. Importantly, his groundbreaking proposal that all buildings should have firmitas, utilitas and venustas (strength, utility and beauty) extended far beyond the 1st century BC to influence Roman architecture at large — and in turn, myriad aspects of the built environment as we know it today.
As the world’s most enduring and history-rich building material, natural stone — from marble and travertine to granite to limestone — is a rightful favorite among architects, builders, interior designers and homeowners alike. Beyond its expansive history and remarkable lifespan, natural stone is incredibly versatile and largely sustainable. Technological advances — including computerized cutting and polishing techniques — have made the quarrying and processing of natural stone easier, faster and more efficient. In addition to unlocking exciting new possibilities for stone surfaces, fixtures and furniture, those innovations have helped drive costs down over the decades. And since it’s a product of the Earth — at times millions of years in the making — it simply can’t be replicated in a factory or laboratory. Those organic nuances only add to the beauty of natural stone, and make it an ideal fit for architectural and design projects striving to be truly one-of-a-kind.
As a means to illustrate the wealth of ways natural stone factors into contemporary design, we’ve highlighted seven vital members of the Alexander Marchant family of brands: Claybrook, Davani, Inbani, Kreoo, Salvatori, Stone Forest and Waterworks.
Dedicated to “reinventing classic British bathroom design for the 21st century,” Claybrook boasts a unique history within the stone industry. Named in tribute to a family home built by the proprietor’s great-grandmother, the British-owned, Hong Kong-based company specializes in “combining the finest materials with an innovative approach to design” while maintaining a “truly British understanding of quality and craftsmanship.”
This marriage of sensibilities takes shape in elegant stone tile, mosaics and bath fixtures — from contemporary tubs and basins to vanities and accessories — all of which are hand-crafted and hand-polished.
Thanks to their refined simplicity, Claybrook’s natural stone basins effortlessly showcase the striations of marble varieties such as Calacatta Borghini, Bianco Carrara and Lightning Grey. Intriguingly, each versatile design is imbued with a bit of personality: the rounded square “Shadow” is “redefining luxury,” the rectangular “Touch” is a “contemporary classic” and the oval “Soho” is “small but perfectly formed.”
From left:the building blocks of Clayrbook’s “Glimmer” mosaic tile collection; Claybrook marble basins; a Claybrook basin and stone tile from the “Urban” collection.
Admirably, Claybrook also champions eco-friendly materials and production practices. Exemplifying its commitment to the environment, the company developed MarbleForm as a means to “reimagine the possibilities of stonecraft.” Composed of upcycled marble dust salvaged from the factory floor, the patented material is extremely durable and resistant to stains and scratches.
Quickly becoming one of its greatest hits, Claybrook’s wall-hung basin collection — which comprises four MarbleForm designs available in both natural and colorful hues — picked up several accolades last year, including Product of the Year at the Decorative Plumbing + Hardware Association Awards.
Carved lines distinguish the fixtures of Davani’s “Meridian” collection.
Davani
Co-founded by Anthony Davani and his wife Julia in 2014, the Davani Group found its footing as the U.S. distributor for the long-running Italian manufacturer Kreoo. Six years after its formation, the Davani Group (which remains dedicated to commissions and custom projects) broadened its scope via Davani — a brand that sources natural stone from more than 65 countries and fabricates exclusively in Italy. Since its 2020 launch, Davani has channeled its fascination with natural stone into timeless furniture and capsule collections created in collaboration with independent designers. While marble “in a multitude of colors” is at the forefront, Davani also works with travertine, onyx, quartzite and semi-precious stones along with ancient olive wood, petrified wood and hand-forged bronze.
“I formed Davani specifically because I saw a lot of well-known brands bringing in the same designers — and then they all start doing the same things,” Anthony Davani told Rome-based magazine Italics in 2021. Countering that industry trend, he enlisted emerging and lesser-known designers to bring his unique vision to life.
Davani’s “Vitality” dining table designed by Annysa LaMantia.
Befitting the company’s stylistic mission of “capturing the past, imagining the future and punctuating the present,” Davani’s debut collection “Purity” boldly updates the old-world elegance of travertine — a hallmark of Italian design since the Roman Empire. Designed in collaboration with Milan-based architectural designer Melanie Murata, the collection draws visual inspiration from rippling water and comprises a suite of tables — including what’s billed as “the first truly extendable luxury stone dining table.” Sparked by the return to home life ushered in by the pandemic, the 10-seat dining table is also available in a conference table version outfitted with recessed floor lighting and discreet pop-up and wireless charging for an array of devices.
Since the launch of “Purity,” Davani has continued releasing capsule collections — including “Lamé” (a series of puzzle-like nesting tables designed by New York-based INC Architecture & Design) and “Vitality” (a debut from designer Annysa LaMantia inspired by “the energy and artistry found in the veining that traverses natural stone”).
Designed by Norm Architects, Inbani’s “Grate” collection explores the interplay between light and shadow.
Founded in 2004 and based in the Spanish port of Alicante, Inbani transforms natural stone into elegant bathroom fixtures designed to “contribute to greater personal well-being.”
Known for an aesthetic that’s simultaneously minimalist and luxurious, Inbani distributes to more than 40 countries around the world and maintains a strong presence at international design fairs including ISH Frankfurt and Salone del Mobile Milan.
In addition to working with a talented in-house design team, Inbani collaborates with a curated assortment of global designers on signature collections — several of which have garnered notable awards.
In 2015, the company took home a prestigious Red Dot award for Design Innovation for “Fluent” — a graphic, linear collection created in collaboration with Israeli-born designer, filmmaker and photographer Arik Levy.
From left: Inbani’s “Origin” collection (designed by Seung-Yong Song) and “Ease” collection (designed by Note).
Two years later, Inbani earned a Design Plus award for “Origin” — for which Korean designer Seung-Yong Song fused Asian and European sensibilities into a sleek suite of bathroom fixtures.
More recently, the Spanish stone enthusiasts have been making waves with bathroom — and even bedroom — furniture collections such as “Grate” (a collaboration with Copenhagen-based Norm Architects); “Heritage” (French designer Patrick Norguet’s contemporary take on Greek columns and other hallmarks of antiquity); and “Ease” (Stockholm-based Note design studio’s creative ode to joy and relaxation).
Kreoo’s luxurious “Kora” tub is available in eight distinctive marble finishes including Artik Green.
Kreoo
Launched in 2010 under the umbrella of the pioneering Italian company Decomarmi — which has been celebrating “the art and craft of marble since 1963” — Kreoo takes its name from the Greek word kraino (to create). Though its moniker nods to the classical statues of Ancient Greece, Kreoo takes a decidedly contemporary approach to designing marble coverings, bathroom fixtures, tables, chairs and lighting.
In collaboration with an array of renowned designers — including Christophe Pillet, Enzo Berti, Marco Piva, Matteo Nunziati, Alberto Apostoli and Sebastiano Zilio — Kreoo takes marble to exciting new heights while showcasing the material’s unpredictable characteristics.
From left: Kreoo’s “Tao” washbasins and stacked-stone “Keir” seating collection.
Evidence of Kreoo’s unique take on marble — to the tune of more than 30 exquisite varieties — can be seen in designer Enzo Berti’s sculptural “Kora” and “Kalypso” bathtubs; Marco Piva’s bold, cylindrical “Tao” freestanding washbasins; Berti’s zen-like “Keir” collection of stacked stone seating and coffee tables; and the gorgeous “Ducale” suite of coverings, which brings Murano glass, brass and semi-precious stones to the luxurious marble mix.
Salvatori’s eco-friendly “Patchwork” textured stone surface designed by Piero Lissoni.
Established in 1940s-era Tuscany as a small marble business, Salvatori is now an undisputed icon in the realm of natural stone surfaces, bathroom fixtures, furniture, accessories and lighting. Helmed by third-generation family members Gabriele Salvatori and his brother Guido, the Italian company proudly maintains “a deep-rooted passion and respect for the inherent beauty of natural stone and its defining characteristic: that no two pieces can ever be identical, meaning that every single product has its own unique history.”
Masters of fusing old-world craftsmanship and forward-thinking design practices, Salvatori has been an industry innovator from the get-go, spanning from the 1950 invention of the beautifully textured split-face finish spaccatello to the 2010 creation of the recycled stone composite Lithoverde and points beyond.
Although the company boasts a long history of collaborating with Italian and international designers — Piero Lissoni, Elisa Ossino, John Pawson and Yabu Pushelberg among them — its creative output is consistently on-brand and often instantly recognizable as Salvatori. One key reason for that design continuity is a steadfast approach based on “clean lines and pared-back forms that showcase the material itself.”
Salvatori’s timeless “Love Me, Love Me Not” dining table designed by Michael Anastassiades.
Shining examples of these partnerships including such covetable marble furnishings as London-based designer Michael Anastassiades’ “Love Me, Love Me Not” dining table, Toronto/New York-based agency Yabu Pushelberg’s “Anima” bathtub and Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s “Isbiburo” washbasin.
Furniture aside, Salvatori is a trusted source for exquisite stone surfaces, which grace the floors and walls of many prestigious addresses, including the Armani Hotel in Milan, the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami, Bergdorf Goodman in New York City and the Louis Vuitton boutique in Tokyo.
Globetrotter and outdoor enthusiast Michael Zimber founded Santa Fe-based Stone Forest in 1989 — amusingly at the request of his mother. Addressing his decade-long gig working as a climbing and river guide, she told him to “get a real job.”
Stone Forest’s Papillon Bathtub
Zimber recalls that mom-sparked lightbulb moment well: “If I could somehow bring what I loved about being in the wilderness into people’s homes and gardens,” he thought, “it might turn into a rewarding new direction.”
Now 34 years later, Stone Forest is billed as “a group of artisans and designers focused on bringing the elegant simplicity of natural materials into the bath and garden.” Rightfully, the company has earned an enthusiastic following with its covetable sinks, bathtubs, fountains and other creations that take cues from “nature’s blueprint” and emphasize “the quiet beauty of stone.”
Regardless of its destination in the home, these fixtures are all sculpted from single blocks of stone with hammers, chisels, small diamond saws and hand-held polishing tools. Whether working with granite, marble, limestone, travertine, sandstone or onyx, Stone Forest champions these artisanal techniques over machining — celebrating the “individual fingerprints of nature, such as anomalies in the form of areas of enhanced coloration and unusual veining and swirls of color in the stone.”
In addition to standalone fixtures, Stone Forest has developed a customizable collection dubbed “Elemental.” Beloved for its adaptable nature, “Elemental” allows for seemingly endless possibilities based around the key components of stone sinks, wood drawers, steel or wood shelving, and brass legs with knurled fittings. Befitting vanities and storage solutions alike, “Elemental” components can be configured to complement contemporary, transitional or minimal decor.
Cofounded by Barbara and Robert Sallick in 1978, Connecticut-based Waterworks has evolved from a luxury bath and kitchen design company into a globally recognized lifestyle brand. Proof of the company’s wide-reaching influence can be seen everywhere from fixtures in high-end hotels around the world to Barbara Sallick’s beautifully photographed Rizzoli coffee table books The Perfect Bath (2016), The Perfect Kitchen (2020) and The Ultimate Bath (2022).
Although arguably known best for luxury plumbing fixtures inspired by historical and industrial styles — “Henry,” “Highgate,” “Ludlow” and “R.W. Atlas” among them — Waterworks also sources Tuscan marble and other natural stone for the production of tile, mosaics, sinks and slabs.
Shining examples of this corner of the Waterworks universe can be seen in the elegant marble slabs that top stylish vanities and the sleek washstands that enhance many of the company’s signature collections.
The Effe Perfect Wellness BodyLove H is a Turkish-inspired hammam that combines steam, chromotherapy and a shower.
Over the last several years, wellness has emerged as an undeniable influence in the realm of interior design. Just last year, health and wellness landed at the top of the American Society of Interior Designers’ 2023 Trend Outlook report, which specifically cited the rising demand for “spa-like bathrooms and retreat spaces for exercise and meditation.”
While Alexander Marchant is a longtime advocate for bringing wellness into the home, not all homeowners and designers are aware of the transformative fixtures available — or specifically how they function or promote wellness.
A 19th-century Olof Sörling engraving depicting Finnish steam bathers.
From the prehistoric cave saunas of Finland to the Ancient Roman baths, the concept of heat bathing has informed human existence for thousands of years. Thanks to the presence of modern-day saunas and steam rooms in gyms and spas all over the world, many have learned first-hand about the diverse benefits of heat therapy.
In addition to soothing sore muscles and flushing toxins from the body, heat therapy has been shown to improve cardiovascular and circulatory function. While not all wellness-related research is definitive, proponents posit that steam therapy in particular can help loosen stiff joints, clear congestion, rejuvenate skin, reduce stress, encourage mindfulness and balance mental health.
Although less understood, chromotherapy (also known as color therapy) has also fascinated humans since ancient times. Ancient Egyptians worshipped the sun, filtering its rays through colored crystals to alleviate ailments and even constructing therapeutic rooms dedicated to specific colors. Thousands of years old, the holistic concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) translates worldly elements — earth, fire, water, metal, wood — into a color system tied to organs and moods. And in Ancient Greece, the pioneering physician Hippocrates believed strongly in the healing power of colored light.
Thousands of years later, chromotherapy remains a debated topic. Naysayers file it under pseudoscience, but there’s plenty of convincing evidence to back it up.
The most common application of chromotherapy, red light therapy was first championed by Danish physician Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen, who used it to treat smallpox and won a Nobel Prize in 1903 for “his contribution to the treatment of diseases, especially lupus vulgaris, with concentrated light radiation.” Since red light stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, it’s also been used to fight inflammation and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, stretch marks, scars and acne.
Chromotherapy is but one function of ThermaSol’s Serenity Advanced rainhead.
Since the 1950s, blue light therapy has been used to treat jaundice in newborns. And by the 1980s, it was being used to treat early cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). That factoid is in keeping with the notion that chromotherapy is primally ingrained in humans. As personal trainer Ryan Fritz points out on a chromotherapy-themed episode of his podcast Science of Cardio, early humans awoke outside under a blue sky that illuminated green grass and trees. At night, they cooked over a fire glowing red and orange. As such, blue and green light therapy might stimulate our minds and bodies, while red and orange may offer calming effects.
In hopes of learning more about real-world — and design-world — applications of chromotherapy, we reached out to California-based color psychology and color therapy expert Constance Hart. Through her multifaceted wellness company Conscious Colors, Hart offers color therapy certification to a wide range of professionals including interior designers.
“Colors have inherent effects on our body, our nervous system, mind and emotions,” Hart explained. “When you learn about these effects, you can begin to utilize them consciously as co-partners throughout your day. … As far as real-world examples, those of us who have worked with color professionally have long lists of positive testimonials from our students and clients about how color therapy has changed their lives for the better. In my own professional experience, I’ve seen clients reverse high blood pressure, shift out of panic and high-anxiety, change liver disease, cure insomnia — all through the application of therapeutic colors.”
Expanding on her work with design creatives, Hart offered, “[My students] learn how each color can influence the body, mind and emotions. … For installations and projects that include products that include chromotherapy lights or lighting design, they can better inform which colors to program to match the intended emotional effect.”
With those nuggets of wisdom in mind, here are five wellness-minded companies within the Alexander Marchant family of brands that are manufacturing fixtures designed to transform your primary bath into a spa-quality sanctuary.
BainUltra brings spa technology home with Vedana — a care unit combining thermotherapy, chromotherapy, aromatherapy and sound therapy.
BainUltra
Since 1977, Quebec City-based BainUltra has been dedicated to transforming the bath experience “into a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss.” Innovators from the get-go, the company made its first big splash by inventing the air-jet bath, a game-changing design that paved the way for many other cutting-edge models. Nearly half a century later, BainUltra now boasts 23 Canadian and American patents and 114 active trademarks — including its revered Hydro-Thermo Massage system.
In 2008, the company introduced Vedana, a multitasking care system designed to transform showers or entire rooms into spa-like retreats outfitted with five distinctive therapies: thermotherapy, chromotherapy, light therapy, aromatherapy and sound therapy.
A sleek update of the ThermaSens tub BainUltra released in 2013, the new Illuzio tub delivers a soothing, chromotherapy experience with hidden LED lights in six colors: blue, violet, red, orange, yellow and green. As the company sees it, “Chromatherapy is not merely a decorative element. Rather it has a direct effect on one’s physical and psychological condition.”
From left to right: Dornbracht’s Horizontal Shower, Aquamoon Embrace, and Sensory Sky.
Dornbracht
Founded in 1950 by Aloys F. Dornbracht and his son Helmut, the German manufacturer Dornbracht also started patenting designs straight away, releasing an industrial-inspired extendable spout before moving into luxury fittings in 1969.
In 1995, Dornbracht set its sights on luxury fixtures designed to elevate bathrooms into “emotional retreats.” Exploring “the effect of hydrotherapy on the body, mind and soul” since 2010, the company’s interest in wellness has taken shape in incredibly innovative bath designs. Billed as a “hydrotherapy massage bed,” Dornbracht’s signature Horizontal Shower invites the bather to lie down while being massaged by water cascading from six shower heads. The ultra-modern Aquamoon Embrace is a luxury shower with four unique flow settings and chromotherapy integrated into a recessed dome. And Sensory Sky is an expansive rain shower experience with 345 water jets, various flow modes, body spray, chromotherapy, aromatherapy and a mist feature.
Effe delivers the best of both worlds with BodyLove SH — a side-by-side dry sauna and shower-equipped hammam.
Effe Perfect Wellness
Headquartered in Cesena in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, Effe Perfect Wellness boasts 30 years of experience specializing in saunas, Turkish baths, sensory showers and complete custom spas. Infinitely adaptable, Effe systems are designed to fit any space, and the company prides itself on the capability to transform any ordinary shower into a Turkish-style hammam with the addition of a steam generator.
Working with esteemed Italian designers and architects such as Rodolfo Dordoni and Michele Angelini, Effe has developed free-standing saunas and hammans marketed as “cubicles” and designed to mesh harmoniously with an array of interior settings.
Among Effe’s dry-heat standouts: the minimalist Aladdin seeks to conjure the feeling of weightlessness with clean lines, strategic lighting and reflective surfaces such as the anodized aluminum encasing the unit’s stone heater; earthier but no less elegant, Effe’s BodyLove S celebrates the beauty of natural wood and features a discreet, five-color chromotherapy system and a stone heater cased in glazed ceramic tile.
Humid heat comes into play with modular systems such as BodyLove H — a compact hammam equipped with a steam generator, a bench, a shower, chromotherapy and a handy basin for a refreshing splash of cold water.
Offering the best of both worlds, Effe’s BodyLove SH is an integrated unit combining a dry sauna and a shower-equipped hammam with “countless customization options.”
Fantini’s Acquafit Dream rain shower incorporates four calming shades of chromotherapy.
Fantini
Due in no small part to its location near the shores of Lake Orta in the Piedmont region of Italy, water is both an inspiration and guiding principal for Fantini. Established in 1947 by brothers Giovanni and Ersilio Fantini, the company arrived on the forefront of Italian design in the 1970s with the launch of I Balocchi — a groundbreaking series that reimagined the metal tap as “the protagonist of the bathroom environment” in a rainbow of poppy colors.
Admirably, Fanitni has used profits from its iconic I Balocchi series toward the humanitarian effort 100 Fountains for Africa — a project that entailed building a water main that feeds more than 100 fountains and water collection points in an impoverished area of Burundi.
While Fantini has designed many award-winning fixtures, the family-owned company’s interest in wellness is exemplified by Acquafit Dream. Introduced in 2019, the “multifunction and multisensory” rain shower delivers a waterfall effect enhanced with chromotherapy in four calming hues: Dawn, Leaves, Sunset and Night.
ThermaSol
ThermaSol’s Total Wellness package combines a fast-acting steamhead, a high-tech rainhead, bluetooth speakers and chromotherapy.
Launched in California and now based in Round Rock, Texas, ThermaSol has steam in its very DNA. In 1958, ThermaSol founder David Altman designed and patented the very first electric steam shower as part of a commission for a French diplomat wishing to add a home spa to his Manhattan apartment. In 1970, Murray Altman followed in his father’s innovative footsteps, patenting the first aroma-enhanced steamhead and ushering ThermaSol into a pivotal era marked by placement in high-end hotels and spas. Currently under the direction of Murray’s son Mitch, the family-owned business remains committed to its roots in home spa innovation — albeit with an increased focus on “intelligent wellness technology.”
ThermaSol’s outdoor Kuuma sauna includes a back window option.
In addition to individual fixtures for smart showers and steam showers — from rainheads to steamheads — ThermaSol offers complete packages, with Total Wellness being the most comprehensive. Customizable in a broad range of finishes — matte black, antique brass and polished chrome among them – the touchscreen-controlled package combines a fast-acting steamhead and a high-tech rainhead outfitted with 300 adjustable jets, bluetooth-compatible speakers and full-spectrum chromotherapy.
With a nod to “the brilliance of Finnish sauna technology and design,” ThermaSol’s indoor sauna units are crafted from clear Western red cedar and Nordic spruce and feature authentic Finnish rock heaters and full-spectrum LED chromotherapy. While the boxy shape of the indoor units makes them an easy fit for myriad interiors, we’re partial to the barrel-shaped Kuuma, an outdoor unit that seats six and features an optional back wall window.
As Adream Decor founder Dan Fingerhut reminds, adding spa fixtures represents an investment in the home as well as an investment in personal wellness. “People building homes currently are taking wellness design into consideration now more than ever,” said Fingerhut, whose agency represents ThermaSol and BainUltra, among other wellness-focused brands. “In a fast-paced world, people are realizing that they can have all the benefits of a spa or wellness retreat in their homes — and it’s easier than ever.”
