Germany 2014: Part 2

Hansgrohe Aquademie in Schiltach 

 Showerworld entrance

 Showerworld dressing room

 Axor Front shower in Showerworld

 Axor Nendo Lampshower in Showerworld

 Axor Massuad in Showerworld

 Showerworld

 Some of our group in Schiltach

 Schiltach

 Shower displays in the Aquademie

 Puravida display in the Aquademie

 Puravida display in the Aquademie

 Axor Citterio display in the Aquademie

 Axor Citterio display in the Aquademie

 Axor Urquiola & Nendo display in the Aquademie

 Axor Massuad display in the Aquademie

 Axor Starck Organic display in the Aquademie

 Axor Urquiola display in the Aquademie

Axor Urquiola display in the Aquademie

Axor Starck Organic display in the Aquademie

 Axor Starck Organic display in the Aquademie

 Hansgrohe 'Select' display in the Aquademie

After spending 3 fabulous nights in Munster with Kaldewei it was time to move onto the Black Forest to visit Hansgrohe and Duravit. 

We travelled 6 long hours on a bus with a pleasant, unscheduled stop over in Cologne for lunch and the next day woke to the most beautiful view I could ever have imagined. It is clear to me why the Germans focus so much on sustainability and being green, because they are completely engulfed in this amazing environment that needs to be maintained.

Hans Grohe was inspired by the Black Forest surroundings and had a passion for water which encouraged his manufacture of tin showers in 1901, that's over 110 years ago!

Even today the Hansgrohe company is still owned by the Grohe family.

Our first day at Hansgrohe included a 'Shower World' experience. When initially reading this on the itinerary I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive. However, upon entering this area my doubts were completely squashed. The rooms were set up like some of the most luxurious bathrooms I've seen and we were lucky enough to test them all out.

My excitement at finding the brand new Nendo LampShower was visible, I think I may have squealed with joy.

We even got to try the AXOR Shower Heaven which is a massive 1m x 1m square ceiling shower panel with lights and different spray settings plus the set-up included body jets. This experience was out of this world, I can't emphasis enough how amazing it feels to be standing under a shower that pumps out 33 litres per minute. Maybe standing under a waterfall would come close.

I would also like to mention at this stage that all of the water in 'Shower World' is 100% recycled and used to flush the toilets throughout the Hansgrohe Aquademie.

After 'Shower World' and product training by very professional and knowledgeable Hansgrohe staff we ventured out into the factories. Hansgrohe are the complete embodiment of a 'green company', not only are their products water and energy saving with a long service life but they make an effort to use renewable energies within the company, sophisticated recycling systems and heat recovery in production. And walking through the factory you could not see one person slacking off or without a huge smile on their face. The workers are passionate about the company and love their jobs.

All Schiltach residents will know at least one person who works or has worked at Hansgrohe. This company has been a wonderful source of employment and economy for this stunning little town. 

During training we were lucky enough to be shown some new products including the very cool Axor Starck V and new Select range. Select is going to change the way we control our showers, it is a revolutionary push button system that I think will be everywhere in the years to come. Can't wait to get these products in Aus!

During the 10 day trip we sampled some of the most delicious food and beer Germany has to offer. One the most memorable was visiting one of the 5th oldest farm houses in the Black Forest, Klausenbauernhof to make our own Flammkuchen (Black Forest pizza-style cake) in their wood fired oven.

Hansgrohe also organised for us to do a day trip across the border into Strasbourg, France.

We spent the day doing a walking tour through the town, eating delicious French/German food and managed to squeeze in a little bit of shopping, of course! It was great to see during the 'free-time' almost every public bathroom had Hansgrohe tapware!

Klausenbauernhof farm house, Black Forest 

Klausenbauernhof farm house, Black Forest 

 Learning a bit about the Klausenbauernhof farm house, Black Forest 

Making a Flammkuchen

 Making a Flammkuchen

 Enjoying our Flammkuchen, inside the Klausenbauernhof farm house

 Hansgrohe History in the Aquademie

 Axor Starck bathrooms in the Aquademie

 Axor Starck V during training

  The actual view from my hotel room window, Black Forest

 Strasbourg, France train station

Strasbourg, France train station

 Strasbourg, France

 Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg, France cathedral

Strasbourg, France cathedral

Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Walking tour of Strasbourg, France

Lunch in Strasbourg, France

Outdoor basin in the Black Forest

Photos © kaety/Candana

Game Of Thrones

Considered by many people to be the taboo subject of bathrooms, choosing the right toilet will probably be the most important choice you may have to make when renovating or building a bathroom.

Not only does this essential object need to be aesthetically pleasing, it is important to have a toilet which is easy to clean, designed well internally for optimum flushing and quite importantly must be comfortable.

We may use the bathroom every day but we use the toilet multiple times each day, the average person spends three whole years of their life sitting on the toilet so you'd want to make sure you've got a good one.

There are many things to consider when choosing the right pan for you, the market is flooded with toilets. So using our expert opinion, we thought we'd put together our top 5 and explain exactly why it is worth choosing one of these.

1. Starck 3 by Duravit

Originally designed in 2002 by world renowned designer Philippe Starck, this is still one of, if not the most, popular toilets we supply. 'Frequently copied but never matched' the Starck 3 range is and remains the measure of all things when it comes to design, variety and price.

Geberit internals, clean lines and a contemporary feel will ensure these toilets will be around for a long time.

2. Subway by Villeroy & Boch
The primary competition to the Starck 3, the Subway suite is our most popular range by ceramic mega house Villeroy & Boch. Most people have heard of V&B from their range of tableware and most are surprised to hear this company have been making ceramics for more than three centuries. So it's pretty safe to say V&B know a thing or two about sanitaryware.
 The Subway is the brands most sleek and minimal designed toilet suite and is available with 'CeramicPlus', a special process that gives the surface a permanent high quality finish and offers optimum hygiene and less cleaning time.

3. Q by Studio Bagno

It's quite difficult to find a bathroom product that is Australian designed, in fact you could probably count Australian-designed sanitary-ware on one hand it is so rare.

Q back to wall suite is a design commissioned by Studio Bagno from Mark Armstrong, one of Australia's foremost industrial designers. This is an Australian design icon with superior hydraulic characteristics in the pan design to ensure optimum four star performance.

4. Darling New by Duravit

Designed by Sieger Design (and as its name suggests) Darling New is the newest range by Duravit and set to be a Duravit classic – top end design without a top end price tag. The new range offers harmonious circular forms and an exquisite shape. Darling New is the modern version of a bathroom classic – versatile, stylish and affordable.

5. PuraVida by Duravit

The brainchild of Phoenix Design, the design of this extraordinary complete range makes minimalism approachable by giving it a new feminine touch. All lines are exceptionally soft and give the range a sense of effortless motion. PuraVida’s graceful appearance, inviting surfaces and subtle luxury make the collection ideal for people who are not interested in prestige but in contemporary forms, enjoyment and joie de vivre.

ICFF New York 2013

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair is a yearly trade fair held in the big apple, NYC. And this year Candana went a long to check out what was happening in design in one of the most prominent design capitals of the world.

'The ICFF hosts more than 500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries in 11 categories from furniture to materials to kitchen and bath to fabricators.

North America’s premier showcase for contemporary design, the ICFF annually lures those in determined pursuit of design’s timely truths and latest trends to an encyclopedic exhibition of up-to-the-moment offerings, as well as a series of fascinating, fun, edifying programs, and a packed schedule of exhibits and features.'

One of the great things about this fair was that you were greeted most of the time by the actual designers/owners of the companies exhibiting. 

The passion in their product was evident and it was great meeting some of the local NY designers and manufacturers.

On the first day of the fair, I ran into none other than one of the most prolific designers of our generation, Karim Rashid. It's pretty hard to miss him, towering over me at over 6ft and wearing an all white suit with the exception of a pink shirt and matching shoes. He is the definition of an eccentric designer. If you know me, you'll know that I am a huge fan of his work and was completely starstruck. Definitely one of the highlights of the fair.

Another highlight was sitting in on a talk with world renowned architects Claesson Koivisto Rune. I've admired their work for many years and was extremely lucky to listen to their thought process and have them talk us through some of their projects.   

Back to the fair. One of the biggest trends I spotted was minimalism.

Modern lines, block colours and clean shapes were in abundance. Very chic, very New York.

From furniture to jewellery, there was a heavy use of luxe metals such as gold, brass and copper which was also carried through to the bathroom finishes. Samuel Heath's new art deco inspired range 'Style Moderne' was on display in a lovely range of finishes, the antique gold my personal favourite.

The other obvious trend was the use of bright colour. Cerulean armchairs, lime green bath tubs and tapware powder coated in every colour imaginable were on display.

Bathroom favourites were also on show, Philippe Starck's new Axor Organic range was on display (working model and all!). The lovely Devon & Devon range as well as amazing new bathtubs by Victoria & Albert. 

ICFF is the 'couture fashion show' of interior design and I felt extremely privileged to visit one of the most influential fairs within this industry.



All photos by Candana