Elegant Accents

A bathroom isn’t complete without the accessories – the towel ring by the sink, grab bar in the shower, decorative mirror, toilet paper holder and more. Each has its own specific function, but together they share an important task – to pull the bath together and make the overall look more cohesive and polished.

The wide array of products available offers designers plenty of options, both in style and finish, but the real trick is tying them together in a coordinated, balanced fashion, say manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

As the overall design of the bath becomes simpler, so follows the design of accessories and hardware. “Whether it’s traditional or contemporary styling, many homeowners are gravitating toward clean, simple lines in their décor,” says Michael Wurth, design director for Danze, in Woodridge, IL. “Newer products tend to be simpler in design, lean and slightly smaller in scale.”

Andrew Shannon, marketing specialist for Milwaukee, WI-based Graff, agrees. He sees a trend toward cleaner lines and simple designs, with sleek and more artistic elements to maximize space, with minimal interruptions.

Adrienne Morea, president and creative director for Atlas Homewares in Los Angeles, CA, says, “I don’t think homeowners want the hardware to ‘take over’ anymore. The concept of it as ‘jewelry’ is sounding passé to me…. It’s earned its own ‘life’ as great hardware with style!”

Coordinated Style

Hardware and accessories are the icing on the cake – the finishing touches that pull a whole look together. As such, these products must be coordinated throughout the bath. “As accessories, they follow the style of the overall design, be it contemporary – clean lines [with] polished chrome finishes, or traditional – ornate carvings [and] antique brass finishes,” says Raymond Lombardo of Afina Corp. in Paterson, NJ.

“I think a lot of homeowners are building a look based on one great piece they find first: for example, a fabulous bathtub or vanity. The hardware and accessories need to complement the great piece, but not steal the show. That’s why transitional works so well,” Morea says.

Noah Taft, senior v.p./Marketing and Sales for Simi Valley, CA-based California Faucets, says the faucet sets the tone of the space. “People don’t pick out a towel bar, a toilet paper holder or a mirror and then pick the main fittings; it’s the other way around,” he says. “The accessories and the hardware afford you the opportunity to make everything match.”

Lou Rohl, COO/managing partner for Rohl Luxury Faucets and Fixtures in Irvine, CA, says consumers are looking for a complete suite approach, and accessories are a major part of accomplishing that. The Perrin & Rowe Collection, for example, offers bath racks, soap trays, double tumbler holders, shaving mirrors, towel rings and more to complement the line’s faucets. “It’s our goal to make it a seamless process for consumers to get a polished look for their bath,” says Rohl.

Jaclo Industries, based in Cranford, NJ, takes a similar approach. CEO Larry Brodey says “People go with our decorative hardware because when they are looking for new fixtures to match existing ones, we offer the finish that will make all of their accessories match seamlessly.”

Along with the importance of a seamless style comes a need for flawless functionality. “[The] function of these pieces is critical,” says Wurth. He uses mirrors as an example, stating that providing storage within mirrors is a huge advantage. “Homeowners can’t get enough storage,” he says.

An often overlooked yet must-have accessory is the towel ring near the basin, Taft adds. Placement of the ring is essential to good design and functionality. “People want that near the sink,” he says. “A good design is going to have something accessible so you’re not washing your hands and walking across the bathroom to dry them.”

Design Shift