The Ultimate Bath Showroom in Lowell, Massachusetts Gets a Facelift

One of the elements that defines a strong company from a marginal company is that the strong company continues to seek market opportunity in their chosen market even as that market bumps along the bottom and shows little signs of life.  It is safe to say, that the home building market has been savaged over the last 4 years.  Housing starts are anemic and there is still a glut of inventory that will probably take another two years to play through, but all of this data is irrelevant to a strong company.   The strong company pins it’s ears back and doubles down and decides that this is a time for opportunity.  They retrench with their suppliers/manufacturers and commit to a strategy that challenges the current market environment.  An excellent example of this synergy between wholesaler and manufacturer is taking place in Lowell, Massachusetts at the Ultimate Bath Showroom on 1035 Westford Street.

The Ultimate Bath Showroom_Lowell_Massachusetts

The Kohler Company and The Ultimate Bath Showroom are combining the branding heft of “The Bold Look of Kohler” and local knowledge of TUBS.  This showroom is easily accessible off of Route 3 and will feature decorative bath & kitchen products. Both interior designers and homeowners, who are looking to create a high end look and feel to their homes will find the product selection will match their particular sensibilities.  So, take a few moments to get a sneak peak at some of the product settings that will be offered at this exquisite new location.  The renovation is almost complete and when it is, we’d like you to join us for an evening soiree.

Bath_Tub_Lowell_MA_Ultimate_Bath_Showroom

one of the new displays

Kohler_Bathtub_Lowell_Ultimate_Bath_Showroom

Good light will always provide an excellent look and feel

Kohler_Elevance_Aging_in_Place

As more people decided to grow old in the current homes, the Kohler Elevance becomes an excellent choice for the bath upgrade.

Kohler_Lowell_Ultimate_Bath_Showroom

Brown is out, you'll have to wait to see what their new color scheme will be.

Lowell_Front_Entrance_Ultimate_Bath_Showroom

The front entrance provides a bit a home design eye candy. Wait till you see what is behind the wall.

The strong company is willing to spend a few extra dollars to establish it’s place as a market leader.  It takes guts, passion and pure determination, but the market has an extraordinary way of separating the wheat from the chaff.  Stay tuned as we show you the final results of how a strong company views the home building market.

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Is Your Man Cave Ready for the Big Game?

At this time of year, every man dreams of that one room in the house, where they can retreat to and watch their favorite sporting events.  A room that is adorned with stuff that wrecks of masculinity.  A room that says, No Girls Allowed. Of course, the room that I’m referring to is the Man Cave. That’s right.  The Man Cave.  Yes, I know that those two words might make members of the opposite cringe, but we require an exclusive room that we can call our own.  And there is no better event than the Super Bowl to let us strut our stuff.

Man Cave

The beauty of the Man Cave is that it typically reflects the personality of its owner. It can appeal to the geek.

Geek Man Cave

The Force is Strong with this one.

It can appeal to the automobile enthusiast.

Auto Enthusiast Man Cave

Get Your Motor Running, Head Out on the Highway, Looking for Adventure or Whatever Comes My Way

It can even be sophisticated.

Bully, Bully, Bully

But, there are three things that every Man Cave should have:  a urinal.  I would suggest the Steward waterless urinals from Kohler.

No More, Put the Toilet Seat Down.

There’s even a model for the meterosexuals.

Koler Steward Waterless Urinal

Sleek, Euro, Tom Brady Design

The second essential item is a kegerator. Why!!!  Because no self respecting Man Cave should have a wine cellar.  No offense, wine drinkers, but drinking a Dry Creek Vineyard 2008 Merlot just doesn’t cut it when watching football.  The Perlick 48″ free standing beer dispenser should do the trick.

Perlick 48" Cabinet Beer Dispenser

Now, That's What I'm Talking About

And finally, every Man Cave needs that kick ass Hi Def TV with a knock you from your seat sound system.  Don’t skimp out on the screen size: 50″ and above with 1080p and a Bose Cinematic Sound system.  It will be like standing on the field.

Bose Sound System

Crank It Up!!!

I can hear the Monday Night Football theme song ringing in my ears: Dunt, Dunt, Dunt, Daaa.  Sunday Night: New England Patriots vs New York Giants,  Super Bowl 46.  Fire up the finger foods, turn up the sound and lock the Man Cave door, because the game begins at 6:27 and we want no interruptions.  GO PATS!!!

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New bath trends for 2012

Okay, so as the calendar rolled into 2012, I had the lingering feeling that this could possibly be our last year on mother earth, since the Mayan calendar predicts that on December 21, 2012, the world will succumb to a smorgasbord of cataclysmic astronomical events.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe for one minute that a civilization that existed over 1200 years ago, could predict the demise of man kind.  Heck , they conducted their bathroom business in a hole with no running water and no mirrors.

There is no question that we need to amend some of our behavior to sustain this planet and it would seem that the bath & plumbing industry is doing it’s part.  Sustainability remains the mantra for many bath & plumbing manufacturers.  Many toilet manufacturers are pushing their low flush toilets.  Gerber has the Avalanche Elongated two piece model.  Kohler carries a number of lines: Archer,  Cimarron, Devonshire and the upline Escale.  All of these lines can be seen on Kohler’s user friendly website: Kohler Watersense Toilets.   Even the high end manufacturers, like Kallista are understanding that sustainability is good business.

Kallista Kennebec Two Piece High Efficiency Toilet

Kallista - Kennebec Two Piece High Efficiency Toilet

Another emerging trend is digital shower systems.  The advances in this technology give us greater control over water temperature and volume, thus helping to conserve water, energy and money.  Moen has created the ioDigital system.  It is a simple technology that gives you the consistent bathing experience day in and day out.  Kohler was also innovating in this area.  Their DTV system brings the notion of showering to a whole new level. Rub a dub dub, so much for the tub.

Finally, the trend that we are most excited about is that the customers, who are coming into our showrooms are asking for plumbing products that are “Made in the USA.” We have gone through a long, difficult economic period and people want to see job creation and job creation comes from buying American. Often times, the homeowner doesn’t know what is American and what isn’t, so please take the time to ask our knowledgeable showroom reps. We work with some of the finest American bath & plumbing manufacturers.

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TUBS goes to Quebec City

Sarah Matthews, one of TUBS’ showroom consultants recently traveled to Canada to visit the fine folks at Bain Ultra.  Sarah is an interior designer, who works out of the Manchester, NH showroom.  She is also a blogger, you can find her work at  http://www.monacointeriors.blogspot.com/.
1. Who is Bain Ultra?
A specialty company creating therapeutic air jet baths and products that focus on the total well-being of the customer.
Bain Ultra

2. Why would you sell Bain over other Air Tub manufacturers?
Bain Ultra only creates thermomasseur and soaker tubs and have been in business for 30 years creating these tubs exclusively, so it is the whole focus of the company and has been perfected.

3. Where did you stay  while training at Bain Ultra?
Just outside Quebec City at the Chateau Bonne Entente Hotel.
Chateau Bonne Entente Quebec City Canada
4. How was the plant tour and what did you learn from the tour?
The tour was excellent! We got to see the creation and process of building these specialty tubs including quality control and technical procedures. They took us through step by step from beginning to end of the tub’s creation to exiting the warehouse for shipment.

5. Why does Bain Ultra treat you to a spa day and what did you take away from the spa day?
Bain Ultra provides this for us so we, as consultants, can experience total well-being and relaxation as an extension and understanding of their products and overall company philosophy.
6. What other parts of the training did you enjoy and how will this help you sell more of the products?
Bain Ultra provided excellent training for aromatherapy, color psychology, psychology covering stress and different methods to deal with it and the overall Bain Ultra philosophy, which is integral to how the product is presented, described and sold. In order to sell the air jet and soaker tubs, the consultant must have a thorough understanding of the products as well as the company’s unique vision and interpretation of living a life that is well balanced with an ability to provide oneself with an outlet to let go of the stress of daily living with a home spa.
Bain Ultra Soaker Tub - Tekura

Tekura Morphosys 7242 Woodwhite

7. How did you enjoy Quebec City?
This was my first trip to Canada and I was extremely impressed and loved it! The scenery is great, especially the old town of Quebec, the people are very friendly and I can’t wait to go back!
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Five Benefits from Steam and other Therapies

1. Respiratory Benefits: Doctors have recommended breathing steam to help with conditions, like asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis.  Steam can help clear allergens and mucus from your lungs.  Breathing passages are soothed because of increased moisture content in your lungs, throat and nose.

2. Skin Benefits:  Heavy sweating cleanses your skin more thoroughly than soap and water.  It opens your pores to flush out deep seated dirt and grime.  Steam is very beneficial in the treatment of acne.

3. Pain Relief:  Heat has been known to be effective against joint and muscular pain.  It causes your blood vessels to expand, which increases blood circulation.  The increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue.  By taking a 10-15 minute steam bath after exercise, you can speed up the healing of the damaged muscle tissue.

4. Stress reduction:  By adding sound, aromas and light with steam, blood pressure can be reduced and the body can experience a sense of well being.

5. Boosts the immune system:  By increasing metabolism and circulation and eliminating toxins, the body can work harder to fight off illness and disease.

Mr. Steam - Steam Therapy

Mr. Steam exposed lo-wm2

Although steam has it’s inherent benefits, there are other therapies that can do the body well.  Aromatherapy, chromatherapy, sound therapy and light therapy.  Most of these are incorporated in the steam therapy and each can beneficial effects. Aromatherapy is the use of pure essences of aromatic plants, flowers, and resins that stimulate the sense of smell and are absorbed directly through the skin, allowing the whole body to benefit therapeutically. These essences are used in concentrated form, mainly in essential oils.

The colors of the spectrum (ROY G BIV) can stimulate their own responses.  Chromatherapy is the term for a branch of holistic healing that utilizes color to achieve optimal health. Its practitioners believe that colored rays have an effect on the body: when a color is seen, it can have an emotional impact – but there may be an even more powerful physical reaction. When rays shine close to the body, they penetrate it, travel through it, causing changes in cells, blood vessels, and the nervous system.

Kohler Chromatherapy

Kohler Chromatherapy Tub

Our Friends at Bain Ultra tell us that our brain waves are broken down into 4 rhythmic stages: Beta Waves, Alpha Waves, Theta Waves and Delta Waves.  Music uses frequencies to emit sounds. These frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz).

  • Beta waves, which range from 13 Hz to 30 Hz and are associated with daily activities. – Alpha waves, which range from 8 Hz to 12 Hz and are associated with awareness, calmness and daydreaming. – Theta waves, which range from 4Hz to 7 Hz and are associated with sleep and meditation.
  • Delta waves, which are up to 3 Hz and are associated with deep sleep,unconsciousness and two thirds of our sleep time.

Finally, there is light therapy and this is important as we move into the winter months. Here’s why:  the amount of light reaching your eyeball from  interior lighting is far less than the amount from the real thing.  So unless you are outside much of the day in the winter, you are relying on electric light for your photons (in summer, there is so much light, most people get enough, even if they are indoors during their work hours).  Light therapy helps to fight against winter depression.

Bain Ultra Temazkal

Bain Ultra Insperience

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Kohler Enameled Cast Iron – Timeless and Enduring

I grew up in a house that was built around the turn of the century.  Not the 21st century, but the 20th century. That was about a hundred and twelve years ago.  I would wager a guess that this house will probably be standing well into this century. This was a time when the craftsmanship that went into building a house had no rival.  Beyond the custom molding that accented every room and the rooms that felt like caverns, my favorite feature was in the bathroom.   Most every bathroom in the house was equipped with an enameled clawfooted bath tubs.  As as kid, these tubs felt like your own personal swimming pool.  They were huge.

Clawfoot Tub

Vintage Clawfoot Tub

The early manufacturers of these tubs were American Standard, Crane, Mott & Kohler.   What makes the Kohler emaneled tub interesting is the fact that the original purpose wasn’t for use by humans, but as troughs for livestock.  John Michael Kohler, the company’s founder decided to coat the trough with enamel and as the saying goes, ‘The rest is history.’

Kohler has maintained it’s manufacturing plants on the shores of Lake Michigan for over 140 years.  They continue to make tubs, but they have diversified into kitchen sinks.

Kohler Whitehaven

Whitehaven™ Self-Trimming™ Apron Front Single Basin Sink with Tall Apron - K-6489

Kohler Langlade

Langlade® Smart Divide® self-rimming kitchen sink - K-6626-1

Kohler Hartland

Hartland™ self-rimming kitchen sink with single-hole faucet drilling - K-5818-1

Kohler is the largest private held manufacturing business in the United States.  It is a brand that has stood the test of time and continues to produce quality products, where the stamp ‘Made in the USA’  is backed up everyday.  Take a moment to learn more about their history.   Kohler Enameled Cast Iron

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Decorative Plumbing & Hardware: What Does It Mean?

Let’s start with ‘decorative.’   As an adjective, decorative is defined as serving to make something more attractive; ornamental.  In fact, decorative can be placed in front of a lot of words and it totally changes their perspective, decorative candles, decorative concrete, decorative shelves.  By themselves, these words are ordinary, but insert the word ‘decorative’ and suddenly, they can invoke inspiration.  We expect to see more style or a unique design or more features that give an item more pizazz.   In some cases, this notion of decorative can be window dressing, but as it applies to plumbing & hardware,  the proof is in the picture.

The Corduroy Collection

Sun Valley Bronze Corduroy Collection CS-1918HH 3 1/2" x 18" Corduroy Collection Entry Set

Colonial Bronze

Native Trails - Bordeaux Wall Mount

Graff Faucets

Graff Faucets - Qubic

Rocky Mountain Hardware

Rocky Mountain Hardware Lago-Cove-Lago Combination Sink - SK513

Icera Toilets

Icera One Piece Toilet

Stone Forest Pedestal Sink

Stone Forest - Veneto Pedestal Sink

These products epitomizes why decorative works.  The craftsmanship and design that goes into these products is passionate and pure.   These products are created for inspiration and those people, who seek out these products for their home will live in the comfort.

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Zero Net Energy is the Direction for Building

There is no question that over the last five years, every homeowner has become conscious of ways to minimize their carbon footprint.  This can happen on many levels from bolstering the energy efficiencies in old homes to building a new home with adherence to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standard.  LEED is acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it was established over ten years to provide building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

LEED Certification

The LEED standards have been adopted by many architects and builders as a commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.  Commitment is the optimum word here, because embracing this standard requires a great deal of education and time.  It is the benchmark for energy conscious home building and can require significant upfront costs, but the net cost of owning a LEED-certified home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home thanks to cumulative energy and water savings.

Another popular concept for building is ‘Zero Net Energy’.  A Net Zero building produces as much energy or more energy and power than it consumes, with the excess power that the home produces capable of being delivered to the electric grid.  Two of our manufacturing partners,  Mitsubishi Electrics and Kohler Co. have been riding this trend and producing products that our focused on the ‘Net Zero’ energy.  Kohler Co. is a three-time recipient of EPA WaterSense awards, including the 2009 and 2008 WaterSense Manufacturing Partner of the Year.  Mitsubishi is a global leader in sustainability products from photovoltaics to their VRF(Variable Refrigerant Flow) HVAC systems.

Mitsubishi Variable Refrigerant Flow

Of course, the ‘Net Zero’ energy process works better for new homes, those of us, who live in older homes, we must work harder to reduce our carbon footprint.   Here are 9 proven methods for accomplishing this from the same people that gave the us the LEED’s certification:  http://greenhomeguide.com/know-how/article/9-ways-to-make-your-home-more-energy-efficient

Whether it new construction or remodeling an older dwelling, we must commit ourselves to seeking viable alternatives to our dependency on fossil fuels and unsustainable building practices.  It is good for the earth and good for our future.

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Aging in Place: The Dilemma for Baby Boomers

The dilemma for baby boomers is two fold: 1) many boomers have either one or two surviving parents and 2) they themselves are starting to reach the age, where they have to make some decision about their own future.  The population of Americans age 65 and older
is expected to double in the next 25 years due to increased life expectancy and the aging of the baby boomers.  Now, it is safe to say that this generation is not going to sit by and watch the years drift by.  They are going to be as active as possible and because of this, their homes will need to be set up so that they can age in place.

The rooms that will need the most modifications when aging in place will be the kitchen and the bathroom.  To increase safety and accessibility in your master bathroom, you should consider making the following home modifications:

  • Building a roll-in shower with multiple showerheads (height adjustable handheld showerhead and fixed)
  • Lowering the bathroom sink and making sure there’s proper knee clearance
  • Installing an elevated toilet
  • Installing grab bars
Kohler Aging in Place

Aging in Place by Kohler

The kitchen needs to be the most versatile room in the house.  This is even more important when preparing the kitchen for aging in place.  Here are a few things to consider:

  • Ensuring there’s ample maneuvering space
  • Varying the height of countertops
  • Installing a sink with knee clearance
  • Installing a raised dishwasher
  • Lowering cooking surfaces
  • Mounting a wall oven or microwave at reachable heights
  • Making sure there’s an abundance of storage space within reach
  • Providing a desk/work area with knee clearance
Kitchen aging in place

An example of an aging in place kitchen

Aging in place requires a great deal of thought and planning.  It is not a process that can be coordinated after one gets sick or once, people are to rooted in their home to justify the interruption of a home renovation project.  There are excellent resources available to baby boomers, here are a couple:   http://www.ageinplace.org/http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/ and http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/

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Thoughts From The Field: Geoff Martin – President of Cedar Mill Group

One of the hardest hit industries over the past couple of years has been the housing industry.  There are parts of the country, where home prices are down as much as 40% from their peaks in 2006 & 2007.

In order to survive this difficult period , local builders have had to show a certain amount of resilience to keep their businesses afloat.  Cedar Mill Group, which is lead by President, Geoff Martin and Director of Operations, Brett Cusick have certainly felt the pains of this downturn, but their determination and attention to details has let them lived to see another day or in their case, ‘lived to build another house.’

Recently, we had the opportunity to ask Geoff his perspective on  building a house and the building industry.

1)  Through the mid 2000′s, the trend seemed to be that ‘bigger was better’, is that still the case?

Not so much.  The emphasis has been on creating family spaces that have lots of detail, with much more emphasis on features and quality as opposed to creating a lot more space.  Many of our customers have decided to stay where they are and remodel their existing homes.  They like their neighborhoods and they just want to make their homes more comfortable and up to date.

2)  As a homeowner is getting ready to start a remodeling project, what are the most important things for them to consider?

Choose your builder early in the process!  Choose someone you are totally comfortable with.  Make sure that you check their references, talk with some of their customers and take some time to check out their work.  They are going to be in your home on a daily basis for the duration of your project, so you need to be certain that you can communicate your needs.

Start a project notebook—cut out pictures of things you like, even if it’s just one little part of the picture, and make notes about what it is that appeals to you in that picture.  Prioritize the items or features that are most important—the ‘must haves’ for your project.

Determine a realistic budget for your project and share that with your builder so they can help you design to that budget instead of over-designing or under-designing.

Cedar Mill Group - Kitchen before shot

Kitchen before renovation

Cedar Mill Group

Kitchen before renovation

3) How does Cedar Mill Group work with subcontractors and suppliers to keep a project on time and on budget?

We schedule a meeting to bring our subcontractors to your home during the design phase.  We do this for two main reasons: first, they often have ideas that can contribute to the design, and second, having seen the actual conditions, they provide us with a fixed price and a detailed scope of work for your project.

We also have a Production Coordinator who works together with you to visit suppliers, look at products and help make selections.  This allows us to determine lead times so we’re not waiting for product once a project starts, and pricing so we can provide a fixed-price contract.

4)  How do you think that a bath & plumbing showroom helps your project?

Seeing and touching the actual products makes all the difference in the world, and when you walk into an Ultimate Bath showroom, it’s like walking into a world of possibilities!  Faucets and sinks and bathroom vignettes, the latest in bath and shower technology, water conserving fixtures, colors, finishes, you name it—and a totally knowledgeable staff to explain all the details—this is a powerful tool to help customers choose exactly what they really want.

Cedar Mill Group

Kitchen after renovation

Cedar Mill Group

Kitchen after renovation

5)  What are some of your favorite products or brands to work with?

We love working with Kohler products—the quality and value are always consistent, and the personal service at the Granite Group is fantastic!  Pella windows and doors is another great high quality brand.  Solid surface countertops like Corian®, quartz and granite for kitchens and baths.  Radiant heat for tile floors.  There really are so many great choices out there now—you can have almost anything you want.

6) How has the green movement affected builders?

The ‘green movement’ is such a broad term and can have many implications.  At the end of the day, much of what is considered ‘green’ is really common sense.  For example, can any of the materials in a project be re-used, recycled or donated?  One of our customers updated a 20 year old kitchen and donated their old cherry cabinets to the Boys & Girls Club for their teen center renovation.

One area of ‘green’ that has had, and will continue to have, a big impact is energy conservation.  And again, much of this is common sense, like giving extra attention to air sealing around doors and windows, using the latest insulation products and technologies, or buying high efficiency appliances.  These are simple ways to use less energy, which is definitely ‘green’, and also save the customer some ‘green’.

One common misconception is that ‘green’ has to cost more.  While it is true that some products and technologies may be more expensive, at least initially, often times the pay-back period is relatively short.  We recently installed a geothermal system in a home—this home will never need any fossil fuels for heating or cooling, and with the current tax incentives and utility company rebates, will pay for itself in less than 7 years.

I believe the ‘green’ movement is here to stay, and will continue to expand and evolve.

7) What trends do you see into 2012 and beyond?

I have seen a significant trend toward bathroom and kitchen remodeling, master suite additions and remodeling, and a renewed interest in 3 and 4 season porches and outdoor living spaces like patios.

I have also seen a trend of extended families moving in together—aging parents needing more care, or a young family needing some help to establish a strong financial base, or a relative who doesn’t want to live alone.

One other trend we have seen consistently is the desire to make exteriors as maintenance free as possible—vinyl or cement siding, composite decking and railings, Azek™ trim, etc.

This concludes this edition of ‘Thoughts From the Field.”  We would like to thank Geoff Martin from Cedar Mill Group.  Go to his website to see more of his work and learn about his team:  Cedar Mill Group.

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