New Product Preview: Zucchetti Closer

An eclectic concept by Diego Grandi for an unusual showerhead.

CLOSER will be a big-appeal design object, both poetic and essential, a more dynamic reworking of the traditional idea of the showerhead for total relaxation designed to suit the individual.    

“Extremely flexible, adjustable and extendible, inspired by the famous “Zucchetti  - Domatori d’acqua (water masters)” TV advert, my aim with CLOSER is to reinvent the shower as a moment of personalised, regenerating, relaxing wellbeing.” Diego Grandi

            

A wall-mounted horizontal/vertical swivel system allows the jet of water to be pointed in different directions.      

   

Simple and intuitive to use, CLOSER will let the water flow freely all over the body, massaging gently or firmly, to regenerate body and mind or give a blast of energy.

via Zucchetti

Top 10... New Products

Axor Starck V basin mixer, Studio Bagno Unit 60 basin

Kaldewei Asymmetric Duo bath, Hansgrohe Select S120 handshower

Brodware Yokato wall basin set, Menu Flip Around stool

Zucchetti Savoy basin set, Victoria & Albert Amiata bath
Brodware City Plus shower set, DCS Scarpa rails in white 

Top 10... Basin mixers

Basin tapware is considered the 'jewellery' of basins, so choosing something fabulous is always important.

We've put together our current top 10 based on design, quality and overall greatness. 

Zucchetti Isystick, Axor Citterio

Astra Walker Metropolis, Paco Jaanson Only One

Paco Jaanson Batlo, Zucchetti Bellagio

Vola HV1, Brodware City Que

Sussex Voda, Gessi iSpa  

Inspiration: Design through time... Part 1

We have the pleasure of dealing with a great variety of homes built in many different time periods here at Candana. From luxurious Art Deco apartments in Bellevue Hill to the grand Victorian terraces of Paddington, we constantly face the challenge of modernising these spaces while paying homage to the time period they were built in.

Luckily nowadays there are many products that have been inspired by these era's and the trick to getting the balance right is mixing enough of the old with the new.

We've chosen some of our favourite bathroom time periods and used them as inspiration for a more updated look. You won't find any salmon or turquoise suites here, just some contemporary bathrooms with a nod to their respective time periods.

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First up we have the roaring 20's!
Design at this time was glamorous and sophisticated, geometric and angular.

We were inspired by the lines of the Art Deco movement and the simple, yet effective monochrome colour schemes of the time. The focus on cars, cruise liners and skyscrapers influenced the heavy use of chrome and metal finishes. 

Devon & Devon Elite tiles

Zucchetti Bellagio bath set

Devon & Devon Blues console

Duravit 1930's bathtub

Devon & Devon Vogue mirror

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

Surpirse Inspiration: NY Snaps

Wall mixer & spout: Astra Walker Icon, black

Bath tub: Victoria & Albert Ios 

Basin: Gessi Goccia vessel

Tiles: Random Stone Cattedrale

Shower: Astra Walker Icon ceiling shower, black

Hooks: Frost Lulu 5-pack, black

Wall mixer & spout: Zucchetti Isy

Toilet: Duravit Happy D.2 back to wall suite

Bin: Outliving Cherry bin

Basin: Flaminia Doppio Zero

Basin mixer: Vola HV1, yellow

Basin: Aeri basin

Hall stand: Frost Wishbone hall stand, white

Bath tub: Axor Urquiola bath

Candana's Top Picks... Part 6

For the last instalment of our top picks, I have put together my personal favourite pieces.

This was very difficult because my favourites change almost weekly (just like my hair style/colour!). 

I advise my clients to embrace colour and have fun with their bathrooms. Personal style doesn't date, so don't feel obliged to follow trends!

1. Popham tiles

2. Kaldewei Conoduo freestanding bath, matt black

3. Zucchetti Isy basin mixer, white

4. Frost Camouflage hooks

5. Vola Round series waste bin

6. Omvivo Lilli basin with charcoal softskin

Surprise Inspiration... Fashion Week Australia 2012

Last week, fashionistas from far and wide gathered in Sydney to see what was new and upcoming in the world of fashion. 

 The Australian sense of style and fashion is fun, fresh and never too serious. So why not carry those trends into your home? Especially the bathroom, where you spend a fair bit of time.

 Pastels, neon accents and Pantone's colour of 2012 Tangerine were all on display, so here are a few examples of how you can translate fashion trends into your bathroom and be totally styling, darling! 

 Romance Was Born

Urban Basin by Roca

Gail Sorronda

Isy Stick basin mixer by Zucchetti

Gary Bigeni

Vola HV1 

Flaminia bathroom

Kirrily Johnston

Miss Unkon

C-Design basin by Omvivo

Faraway bathoom by Kos

Puravida by Hansgrohe