Once largely national in scope, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show has evolved into an influential international exposition. This May, a record-breaking 44,000 professionals filled three halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to visit more than 1,000 exhibits representing the world’s top designers and manufacturers—including those from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This migration of ideas resulted in a merging of European aesthetics and technologies with those from the U.S. - Linda C. Lentz
 

Inside the box
At a room- and people-friendly 55'' square x 28'' high, the Blue Moon “pool” tub (shown), by Berlin-based designer Jochen Schmidden, features a circular 21''-deep acrylic tub rimmed by a teak or matching deck, plus optional lighting, bench, and stainless-steel clothes stand. Duravit, Duluth, Ga. www.duravit.com

[Reader Service: July 2007 #201]
 

Water toys
For color and ingenuity, the Hansa2day and Hansaclear Lux showers can’t be beat. The former, a bright saucer-shaped head, tilts to alternate between surge or needle spray. Completely transparent, the latter reveals the water as it flows through and is illuminated by LED hues. Hansa, Norcross, Ga. www.hansa.com

[Reader Service: July 2007 #202]
 

Power wash
Designed for electric and induction cooktops, the avantGarde multiMedia Hood integrates 600 cfm ventilation with a high-resolution 17'' LCD TV and DVD/CD player. Speakers are front and center beneath the screen; wiring and technical elements are concealed in the chimney. Siemens, Huntington Beach, Calif. www.siemens-home.com

[Reader Service: July 2007 #203]
     

The wow factor
The Ono-Highflex kitchen faucet sports a patented spring hose for maximum flexibility with 360-degree swivel. A simple lever switches from filtered stream to pressurized wash, while an elegant flat-topped spout takes care of business as usual. KWC, Norcross, Ga. www.kwcamerica.com

[Reader Service: July 2007 #204]

Fool the eye
When French designer Jean-Marie Massaud developed his namesake collection he aimed to make the plumbing recede. Thus organically sculpted single-lever basin and bath mixers appear to be—indeed double as—shelves. Water delivery mimics the clarity of nature while keeping its use at bay. Axor, Alpharetta, Ga. www.hansgrohe-usa.com

[Reader Service: July 2007 #205]