At the International Home Builder Show in Las Vegas last week — as I toured kitchen and bath-oriented booths — it occurred to me that plumbing fixtures have come a long way in both design and description. Three companies caught my eye and ear with innovative and appealing products. Take Danze’s 3-inch, Parma Three-Function Showerhead.

Sleek and versatile, it combines regular shower flow, massage (pulsating spray) and what’s called “aerated drench.” It seems to me that an aerated drench is just what is required before or after long hours of walking the show floor with 60,000 other visitors. (And one day everyone received an aerated drench, otherwise known as a torrential downpour/gullywasher, as we returned to our hotels.) Danze is known for its innovative modern — even sculptural — showerheads, like the 8-inch Sunray,

with its radiating arms, or the Danze 305 Low Flow,

resembling a flying saucer, that uses only 1.5 gallons per minute.

High tech and high touch are united in Delta’s new Pilar™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Touch₂O™ Technology, which won various industry awards in 2009.

Touch anywhere on the faucet and water turns on or off, which is pretty cool; they call it “Proximity Sensing Technology” which could be another way of saying “Let’s shake hands” or simply, “skin.” I also like how Delta describes the unit’s pull down sprayer as a “wand” with “MagnaTite™ Docking” to keep it securely in place. Harry Potter, time to climb off the broom and wash the Dementors’ dishes! Another Delta product of interest is their Zero Threshold Shower Base, consisting of a grill over a “trench grate” (drain grill) instead of a lip, allowing barrier-free

entry that’s also wheelchair accessible. Its prosaic and rather plainly described — though I like the use of  “trench” — but very useful.

The Kohler booth is usually the largest at the show and this year was no exception, with seemingly hundreds of products on display; gushing, spraying, bubbling water everywhere; and enthusiastic and knowing descriptions of flushing efficiency. Though, no doubt in deference to the economy, this year there were no acrobatic or singing acts. Kohler is extremely good at what they do and has been doing it as a private company for 130 years. They pretty much reinvented the modern vanity. I like their newest versions — part of the Persuade line (a very effective, not so subliminal message!)

with its simple lines, space for soap and a water glass on the rim, and drawers that flank and hide the drainpipe or trap. A simpler model in the same line

turns the trap into a handsome object in its own right. For smaller bathrooms where creating an airy feel is especially important, this unit would be ideal. The full Persuade line

includes three vanities and a dual flush toilet.

House Calls

Big news at the show was the fact that for the first time in the 27-year history of The New American Home program, the annual idea house was not completed in time for touring. The builder’s financing fell through. (Frankly, knowing how complicated such projects are, I’m surprised something like this hasn’t happened before.) However I attended a useful press conference showcasing the house’s key sponsors and suppliers. New to me was the eco-friendly building system using Apex Blocks from Lacuna Inc. The blocks are made of 100% post-industrial/consumer expanded polystyrene (EPS) and cement and do not contain formaldehyde, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), or known carcinogens. Here’s how the block system works:

Foundation with rebar.

Stack.

Form the corners; frame window and door openings.

Place horizontal rebar, then attach roof ledgers.

Pump in the concrete.  Cut grooves for electrical and plumbing. Smooth the surface and add stucco or other siding material. It’s a fascinating building system that resembles RASTRA block.

Window Watch

There appears to be more choice in sliding and accordion doors — a market that Nanawall revolutionized some years ago. Marvin’s new Lift and Slide examples

virtually disappear into the wall.  The new S1E Eco Screen by Centor

offers retractable insect screening and solar control.

I attended Sarah Susanka’s informative seminar on remodeling where she talked about features that bring value and personality to a home without adding a lot of cost, like varied ceiling heights to make a room seem more spacious, and window seats to create cozy retreats within a small space — which are good things to look for as you explore new home plans as well. I also saw her elegant round-within-a-square window

designed for Marvin Windows and Doors. It recalls features of her Not So Big House designs, like our Plan 454-3,

with its rounded window

in the master bathroom.

The parking lot at the show usually has a range of model homes to tour and I thought the prefabricated Osprey,

by Eco Cottages was newsworthy: 513 square feet

with living area, galley kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, for a basic house price of $60,000 — though the example shown here had Gaggenau kitchen appliances

(including a sexy floating Lift Oven with trays that rise and fall at the push of a button) worth $35,000.  In short, the show was worth a trip through the storm.

Calling home acquires new meaning with an application by Our Home Spaces, which turns an iPhone into an energy monitor and thermostat.

It allows you to turn the furnace and the water heater on and off from wherever you happen to be. The system works with Proliphix thermostats. It was one of many products shown at this year’s West Coast Green environmental showcase, which  took place on the two main piers at San Francisco’s picturesque Fort Mason. A novel 200 foot-long bamboo trellis demonstration garden by Design Ecology — resembling a line of teepee frames –

connected the exhibit halls and served as the emblem of the show.

The walkway’s native and drought-tolerant plant habitat, shown above in a schematic, illustrated key storm water filtration strategies: landscape buffer, hanging gardens as pre-filtration, and in-situ water treatment. Plans for a floating exhibit did not work out this year but I think a modern demonstration houseboat with a living roof would be a great draw in the future — call it the SS Green Living!

Here are some other new home products that stood out.  Nick Lee (Houseplans.com Services, Inc. Chief of Design) also toured the show and contributed several discoveries.

Green Lights. This trumpet vine-shaped LED (light emitting diode) pendant light system

is from Energy Savings Technology, LLC, a small Northern California company. The shape is a classic but using it to surround an LED light is new. The company also offers a sleek tube shaped light

for installations over a counter or dining table. According to engineer-founder Gerhard Hoog  these lights provide either warm or neutral white light and up to 80% power savings compared to halogen spots or flood lights. They are fully dimmable.

Renaissance in Wood. That new hardwood floor you have been considering (actually I have been dreaming of replacing the dark brown tile in my kitchen with wood) might be older than you think. Recycled wood for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry is an expanding category at the show, with several companies represented. Wood Anchor, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, specializes in reclaiming and reusing wood from urban elm trees (victims of Dutch elm disease) and demolished grain elevators to produce flooring

as shown above, and they’re always looking for more. As their website says: “Will Work For Wood.” I coveted their stools

reclaimed from old timbers. Earth Forest Products, based in California, reclaims wood from barns, warehouses, and other buildings and also uses wood resulting from re-forestation projects as well as from FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) forests. I liked their “wood sample tree”

shown here. An innovative new wood flooring product was literally uncorked at the show: it’s made from slices of wine corks.

These Showercork™ mosaic tiles by Sustainable Floors have a resilient cushiony feel. They come in 12- by 24-inch by 1/4 inch-thick sheets

and are installed over a mastic, then grouted and sealed with a urethane finish like ceramic tile.

Mediterranean Energy. Solar panel technology is evolving toward flexible systems that form the roof itself and are not simply attached to it. The Solé Power Tile™

by SRS Energy is designed for Mediterranean style roofs and effectively mimics curved clay tiles.

Fresh Air. With new homes becoming air-tight thanks to more efficient insulation and building systems, poor indoor air quality can be a problem. Enter the electric Lifebreath Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV),

which moves stale, contaminated, warm air from the house to outdoors and draws fresh oxygen-laden air from outside and distributes it throughout the house.

The two air streams pass on either side of an aluminum heat-exchange core that transfers heat from outgoing to incoming air. So on cold days warmth is retained as the air gets refreshed.

Green Days on The Capitol Steps

Take a look at this year’s Solar Decathlon on The Mall in Washington, D. C., ending this week.

Sponsored by the Department of Energy (photo above by Stefano Paltera for DOE), this international competition among college teams to design, build, and operate highly energy-efficient, completely solar-powered houses has resulted in an especially innovative crop of designs. It’s a veritable world’s fair of green architecture. Here are some highlights (photos by Jim Tetro, US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon).

Team Spain — photovoltaic walls and sun-tracking roof:

Team Germany — louvers of integrated thin-film copper indium selenide cells (CIGS):

Cornell University – corrugated drum shapes and solar panels:

Team California — solar power and maximized indoor-outdoor living:

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Midwest farmhouse forms and recycled barn wood:

The Ohio State University– recycled wood and solar collectors:

Rice University — growing walls:

This year winning teams will be awarded $100,000 over two years to support the Solar Decathlon’s research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. Check out the Solar Decathlon website for in-depth coverage. What a great way to use the nation’s outdoor living room below the Capitol! Members of Congress strolled this “solar subdivision” on their front lawn with evident interest.

Planters With Punch. The decorative garden container is evolving: it’s not just about terra cotta anymore. Concrete is coming on as strong in the garden as it is in the kitchen and bathroom, which we saw in the last posting. I’m a fan of the geometric concrete planters by Kornegay, from Phoenix, like their Quartz Series, below:

These hefty faceted containers range from 24 to 43 inches-wide and up to 45 inches-high. The shapes and the integrally colored sunset hues make them dramatic, creating strong focal points on any patio. Or how about Kornegay’s Ribbed Series,

whose repeating circular outlines catch the light, irresistibly drawing the eye.

The company’s newest designs are somewhat more subdued, like the Masaru line,

but are no less elegant and would work well in areas where an understated look is desired.

Or how about a planter that multitasks? Like this one from California’s Obleeek, which is made of lightweight concrete so it’s easier to ship:

It doubles as an end table. And you can have it with a bamboo top,

which adds warmth and style. This example would work well indoors.

Beyond concrete is the rise of  powder-coated aluminum, like these Skittle-colored “Pods” for indoor and outdoor use from Pad Outdoor.

Bet you can’t fill just one!

Fountains of Couth. A recirculating fountain can transform a dry gravel yard into a small oasis, and it doesn’t have to use a lot of water. Here’s an example from sculptor Peter Hanson that animates a small terrace.

It can be enjoyed from inside the house as well as as on the patio itself. Peter’s sculpting is almost invisible — he works with the natural shape of the stone to carve out the basin, making it look as though it was once part of a mountain riverbed. The boulder sits on a bed of pebbles above a pan that collects the overflow for a pump to recirculate.

Peter installed the fountain in Sunset’s Monterey Bay Idea House, where he worked with architect Thomas Bateman Hood and landscape architect Bernard Trainor.

Another example, this time from Stone Forest, known for their carved stone sinks,

sculpts the surface of the stone into delicate ripples, enhancing the fluid effect.

Open Air Cooking. If you can’t stand the heat, then cook outside the kitchen — of course a simple barbecue will suffice, but a generous counter with a built-in grill and perhaps even some built-in seating makes everything better, like this design

by Hood, with landscaping by Trainor. The simple bench seat makes this a true outdoor room. Or here’s a cooking counter and bench covered with milk-chocolate-and-butterscotch-hued Heath Tile

and designed by Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic, who have brilliantly revived their mid-century modern Heath Ceramics factory — and recently opened an outlet in Los Angeles. (The big news this week is their invitation to the National Design Awards ceremony at The White House. Bravo Cathy and Robin!)

For house plans with grilling porches and other outdoor rooms as part of the layout click on our Outdoor Living and Porchtime collections. Here’s plan 460-3, with the amenities clearly drawn in —

grill in the foreground, planters at right. You just add water.

Building a home that’s certified by LEED (the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system) — is a complex process, so a house plan that already takes LEED standards into account gives you a big head start on the road to green. Enter developer Alexander Maurer, founder of Marken Projects in Vancouver, BC, and architect Silvia Steurer and their new Marken LEED Demonstration Home. It’s the latest addition to our Only at Houseplans.com Studio Collection. Note the photovoltaic panels on the lower roof:

The sleek contemporary home is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature in winter and summer without active heating and cooling, which means it uses much less energy than a conventional structure.

In this elevation showing the carport side, you can see the sod roof over the main part of the house. The latter is designed for six inches of soil — appropriate for native grasses and wildflowers. According to Alex: “The owner decides how much green roof he or she needs and wants.” Built compactly using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) with larch 2-by-2 slat siding, the design includes many other green features including a heat recovery ventilating system (which Alex calls the heart of the design), high-efficiency filter for healthy air, triple pane windows, solar thermal water heating, rainwater collection,  and greywater recycling.

The open plan includes a generous covered outdoor living area near the kitchen and a porch running the length of the house. Sliding doors open living room, dining area, and kitchen to the porch so the house can expand easily in good weather. The design draws inspiration from work by contemporary Austrian architect Matthias Schindegger of Maschin Arhitektur, like his Ettel Haus  below,

with its simple rectilinear shape, long balcony, covered breezeway, and horizontal slat siding and rail. Here’s another view along the balcony (photos by Peter Jakadofsky).

The Austrian connection is no accident: both Alex and Silvia came to Vancouver from the Innsbruck region and are working with Matthias on various projects.

In other green-oriented news, I encourage you to attend Sunset Magazine’s Celebration Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. The event — held at the company’s extraordinary Cliff May (building) and Thomas Church (garden) designed campus — brings the pages of the magazine to life with gardening, cooking, and design  demonstrations. I got a preview of the novel Sunset Idea Cottage made from two of Modern Cabana’s prefabricated units. All the wood is FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council). Here’s a shot of it with Modern Cabana co-owner Nick Damner on the ladder making some final adjustments.

Two Modern Cabana structures — a 12 by 25-foot kitchen/living unit and a 10 by 16-foot sleeping unit — are joined by a deck designed by Sunset building guru Peter Whiteley. The cottage is a variation on the “Getaway That Grows” mentioned in the last posting.

It’s cool, contemporary, and crisp, even in this premature view! The furniture is by CB2.

Take-away ideas include what I would call “wall planter trays” from Flora Grubb Gardens, shown below,

(note the wire hangers at the top) and a shade-and-outdoor lighting-structure made by Peter out of woven willow branches (from The Willow Farm) and light strings, below:

Many thousands of visitors will throng the event so get there early, and be sure to meet Honey and Ophelia, Sunset’s celebrity chickens who were part of a story called “The One Block Diet” developed by Food Editor Margo True and her team. The story recently won a prestigious James Beard Journalism Award.

Everyone’s clucking about it and some are still wearing their medals.

There, now you see why the title of this posting included eggs. And because I’m just a ham.

With all eyes on new beginnings in Washington I started thinking about what an Obama house of the future might be — aside from the White House that is. It could be their vacation house. I note that their Chicago home is a handsome Georgian Revival structure: sturdy, traditional, generous, and neighborly in the straightforward way it fronts the street with ample windows, a porch, and simple classical proportions. But a Michelle and Barack House of Tomorrow might be something different. I think it would be warm and welcoming, a place of great conversation and connection between multiple generations, with areas to come together for intellectual discourse and play, and places apart for relaxing and recharging alone or with family. In short, a house of ideas and inspiration. Here are some of the features I would include, which are actually what any well designed home should provide.

Tansparency, Natural Light, and Connections to Nature

Thoughtfully oriented and carefully sized windows, as in this house in Wyoming by Arizona architect Will Bruder + Partners, make a house both a welcome to the world and a refuge from it.

The window wall brings the forest into the house during the day and then at dusk reverses the process, turning the house into a beacon. The design is really a two-way lens-in-the-landscape. (The image is from Sunset.)

Skylights are equally important. They help balance the light and give a lift to smaller spaces that might otherwise be dark and cramped. The master bathroom shown  below, by San Francisco architect Malcolm Davis, and masterfully photographed by Joe Fletcher, is a particularly beautiful example.

Here the skylight is artfully positioned along the top of the wall — not in the center of the room — so the eye is led up the vertical surface and into the sky as light bounces deep into the corners of the room.

Or consider a wonderfully luminous kitchen by San Francisco architect Mary Griffin of Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects, where the entire ceiling is a field of daylight, thanks to the use of translucent Kalwall panels.

The counter of green granite lends a cool tactile quality that seems to solidify the color of the light, making an eloquent counterweight — literally! — for the floating scrim of the ceiling. (Image is from architect’s website.)

Large openings between rooms along with inventive material choices — as illustrated here in a kitchen-family room by Balance Associates Architects of Seattle — make a big difference.

(The image is from the architect’s website.) Both spaces share the daylight but are visually distinct; each is open but well-defined. The stone-faced exterior wall extends into the family room through three stacked windows beside the fireplace, giving it an outdoor feeling and making it feel separate from the kitchen even though it’s only steps away. I can see a space like this giving the First Family a relaxed way to entertain family and friends — though I’m not sure they would need the furniture’s color scheme.

Perhaps the Obamas would like to include a little whimsy; say a hint of Hawaii and shave-ice and water sport in the choice of counter material.

Why not use a well lacquered surfboard, as in this remodeled house by Fernau + Hartman Architects of Berkeley, CA. (The image is from Sunset.)

And a spacious porch, breezeway, or lanai for easy indoor-outdoor living would be essential. Houseplan.com 433-4, shown below, is a perfect example.

And the plan would fit a family of four very well, with each floor connecting to a wide porch – an ideal spot for enjoying that shave-ice.

Here’s the upper floor:

It would suit most balmy climates, from Florida to Hawaii. We might even give them a discount!  Here at Houseplans.com we dwell in possibility, to steal a line from Emily Dickinson. And we are excited about the future.