Collection by Miyoko Ohtake

KBIS 2011: Part 2

Our second update from the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the 2011 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show includes outdoor kitchens, hybrid gas-charcoal grills, and a $6,400 toilet that will open when you enter the bathroom, warm your feet while you sit, and play your iPod through its built-in speakers.

LG Hausys (whose name comes from "haus systems") showed its line of quartz and acrylics. Here, its HI-MACS surface is displayed as a backlit wall panel and also as a freestanding tub.
LG Hausys (whose name comes from "haus systems") showed its line of quartz and acrylics. Here, its HI-MACS surface is displayed as a backlit wall panel and also as a freestanding tub.
Having heard lots about Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet we were psyched to finally see some of its products in person. The prides of the company are its outdoor pizza oven (shown here) and its heavy-duty grills, which are now all hybrid gas-charcoal grills meaning you can turn on the gas for quick weekday grilling or light the charcoal for weekend grilling and smoking. Kalamazoo makes all of its grills in Michigan and refrigerators in Milwaukee. The new outdoor dishwasher was built in collaboration with a company in Sweden.
Having heard lots about Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet we were psyched to finally see some of its products in person. The prides of the company are its outdoor pizza oven (shown here) and its heavy-duty grills, which are now all hybrid gas-charcoal grills meaning you can turn on the gas for quick weekday grilling or light the charcoal for weekend grilling and smoking. Kalamazoo makes all of its grills in Michigan and refrigerators in Milwaukee. The new outdoor dishwasher was built in collaboration with a company in Sweden.
Cambria, a maker of quartz surfaces, produces all of its slabs in Minnesota and sources its material from North America. At the show, it introduced 12 new colors in its Waterstone Collection.
Cambria, a maker of quartz surfaces, produces all of its slabs in Minnesota and sources its material from North America. At the show, it introduced 12 new colors in its Waterstone Collection.
El Dorado Stone was again at the show, displaying its outdoor kitchen. The company makes, among other products, modular concrete cabinet boxes that can be custom arranged for a specific space. Bricks are added to the outside of the boxes to create the cohesive look you see here.
El Dorado Stone was again at the show, displaying its outdoor kitchen. The company makes, among other products, modular concrete cabinet boxes that can be custom arranged for a specific space. Bricks are added to the outside of the boxes to create the cohesive look you see here.
El Dorado Stone collaborates with grill maker Lynx, whose product is shown here.
El Dorado Stone collaborates with grill maker Lynx, whose product is shown here.
Danze had several modern faucets that were new at the shower. Shown here are the Reef (left) and Amalfi (right) designs.
Danze had several modern faucets that were new at the shower. Shown here are the Reef (left) and Amalfi (right) designs.
While American-based companies were touting their U.S. made wares, Chinese company VAMA caught our eye with its cabinetry that highlighted interesting wood grains.
While American-based companies were touting their U.S. made wares, Chinese company VAMA caught our eye with its cabinetry that highlighted interesting wood grains.
The show stopper was undeniably the Numi toilet from Kohler. The $6,400, remote-controlled toilet opens with a sensor, warms your tush and your feet while you sit, and will even play your iPod through the built-in speakers. Interested in low-flow flushes? The Numi can be set so that if you sit on it for less than a minute, it automatically flushes with the low-flow setting, and if you're there for longer than a minute, it will flush with the regular setting.
The show stopper was undeniably the Numi toilet from Kohler. The $6,400, remote-controlled toilet opens with a sensor, warms your tush and your feet while you sit, and will even play your iPod through the built-in speakers. Interested in low-flow flushes? The Numi can be set so that if you sit on it for less than a minute, it automatically flushes with the low-flow setting, and if you're there for longer than a minute, it will flush with the regular setting.
The Numi remote would be attached to the wall near the toilet and it lets you, among other tasks, control the bidet, adjust the LED lighting at the back, and tune the built-in radio. The toilet (and the Marmol Radziner structure that holds several working display models) will be at Dwell on Design in June.
The Numi remote would be attached to the wall near the toilet and it lets you, among other tasks, control the bidet, adjust the LED lighting at the back, and tune the built-in radio. The toilet (and the Marmol Radziner structure that holds several working display models) will be at Dwell on Design in June.