When I attend KBIS 2018 with Modenus as part of their Blog Tour I was super excited as I work with a lot of clients in designing kitchens and bathrooms. I was so excited to see what is new in both of these areas and specifically was thinking of my current renovation clients. One of the sponsors for the blog tour was the Lixil Corporation that encompased American Standard, Grohe, and DXV brands. I'm choosing to write about American Standards new line of shower faucets for a number of reasons. You will see why below!Please note: according to FTC rules, I need to disclose that my trip to KBIS was a free trip. While I did not get paid for my time at KBIS, my hotel, airfare and some meals were covered. As I write about our sponsors I wish for you to know that I do not receive any additional monetary compensation for doing so.
When I start working with clients in designing their new bathroom, we often talk about the shower and their preferences. As I'm known to be blunt and to the point, I typically ask if they like a soft, gentle rain-like feel from their shower head or if they prefer to have their skin ripped off with a high pressure spray. Clients understand this line of questioning and are quick to let me know their own preference. What I typically hear is that one person likes the softness of a rain shower while the other person loves the blast of water (that really could rip your skin off)! So what is a couple to do? Let me introduce you to American Standard's Spectra+ Shower Collection!
I'll be showing you all of the shower head options below, but let me just say that the multi-function shower heads offered in the new Spectra+ collection provide you with a choice of 5 spray patterns: Drench, Sensitive, Jet, Massage and PowerWash.
In addition, I'm breaking down the shower head options and the shower faucet options separately. Why am I doing this? Because that is the way I specify these products with my clients. Wait - let me add this: you can purchase 'packages' at a big box store (that contain the faucet [known as the trim kit] and shower head all in one. When I work with clients I typically like to specify the shower head and the trim kit on their own (to give the client the custom shower faucet/head that they deserve).
When you're updating a space without a massive overhaul or renovation, replacing your shower head is one simple way to make a change. American Standard offers the following choices in their new Spectre + Series.
I personally love a rain shower. I do know that many people do not enjoy it as it's not a hard enough spray. If you love the feel of a rain shower, then you'll love these features:
What's even better is the price! The price is around $159 - $219 USD depending on your finish.
For those of you who don't care for the rain shower and would like more features, the Spectra+ Fixed™ 4-Function Shower Head is a great choice. Here are some great features:
The price for this ranges from $79 - $109 USD. Yes - you read that correctly!
For those of you who like a shower head with the ability to have it in your hand, this is a wonderful option. Very similar to fixed head, this option provides the flexibility to take the shower head off. I often hear that this is a preferred choice to help with the ease of showering off kids or cleaning a shower. Some great features include:
This shower head is the bomb! It combines the flexibility of a fixed shower head as well as a hand-held all in one!
For the faucet (the trim kit) there are many options that American Standard offers. The best part of specifying the trim kit on it's own is that you can pick the style that works best for your bathroom. Here are a few that caught my eye!
Have you ever had a shower head where you would like to change the water flow but the shower head was either too high to change or the mechanism to change the water flow is too hard to move? The Spectra+ eTouch showerhead features industry-first technology allowing users to change spray patterns with a touch of the fixture itself, or on the convenient remote. Yes - you heard that right! A remote control in the shower! Shut.up!
I'll be honest: when we were getting the tour and shown this remote, I thought:
How freaking lazy are people? Who the hell needs a remote for the shower?
As I listened to the explanation of this technology, it became clear to me how silly I was with my initial thoughts. I should know better than to judge prior to knowing all of the information (insert #nojudging here)! Here are some features and who may benefit from this technology:
The entire time we were having our tour, I thought of the many property investors that I work with as well as clients who are on a tighter budget. All of American Standard's options would be a great addition, in my opinion, for your upcoming bathroom renovation. The 3 reasons you'll love these shower faucets:
