Sticks and Stones

At European Bath, Kitchen, Tile & Stone, sleek fixtures, bright tiles and green materials are tools for designing personal sanctuaries that are also good for the earth

The metamorphosis of a bucket” is how Duravit describes its ­Starck 1, the new line of toilets designed by Philippe Starck. Another line, called Starck X, “is basically just a box on the floor,” says Nena Boulanouar, director of design and sales at European Bath, Kitchen, Tile & Stone, a showroom filled with ideas and products for two of the most-used rooms in the home.

While the San Diego landscape is still predominantly made up of red tile roofs and Mediterranean exteriors, a new wave of modern is taking hold.

“I’m seeing more rectangular and less circular shapes in the bathroom,” Bou­la­nouar says. “And people are getting more creative, mixing colors you usually wouldn’t mix and creating more cutting-edge patterns.”

A fixture in Solana Beach since 2001, European Bath, Kitchen, Tile & Stone has not only seen the trends come and go, but—with brands such as Kohler, Kallista and Oceanside Glasstile—has also influenced them. These days, what excites Boulanouar and her counterparts more than the return of clean lines and Art Deco–inspired design is the industry’s push for green.

Oceanside Glasstile, for example, offers a line made from recycled glass. Encore Ceramics also has an eco-friendly line of tiles made completely of recycled materials. And Flux Studios’ Fortis Arbor line features wood tiles that look like mosaic. All are part of European’s selection of all-natural, organic products made with the environment in mind.

“You can go eco-friendly with stone, glass and ceramic tiles,” Boulanouar says. The store’s green selection includes products that can be used on fireplaces, kitchen and bath countertops, even floors and shower walls.

According to Boulanouar, today’s tile colors are brighter, countertops have sharper edges, and plumbing fixtures twist and turn in new directions. In addition to Dura­vit’s Starck line, Dornbracht has introduced products featuring “classic, clean lines that also look very modern,” she says. “Customers are asking for white, classic china sinks—a simple style that complements the brighter tiles and edgy shapes.”

With products such as sok, an overflowing bath that offers the ultimate soaking experience, European Bath, Kitchen, Tile & Stone is also helping to revive the ritual of bathing. High-tech tubs and minimalist plumbing fixtures help transform a bathroom from ordinary to a therapeutic at-home sanctuary. Working under the premise that colors enhance mood and physiology, Bain­Ultra’s chromatherapy tubs feature colored lights in purple, red, green and blue that can be turned on and off during a bath. Kohler also has introduced a shower fixture that plays light sequences such as “Sunrise,” a symphony of red, orange and yellow lights.

From plumbing and hard surfaces to luxurious towels and bed linens, European Bath, Kitchen, Tile & Stone offers products that help create modern sanctuaries at home. With an inspiring array of choices, the key is to remain true to your own style.

Left: Corsica Gold tumbled limestone bordered by a Michelle Griffoul ceramic mosaic complements a wall of glass tile from Marcato. Pedestal, vessel sink, sconces and glass tile accents all by Alchemy. Right: A stunning blend of materials, this bathroom vignette features glass tile from m2's Glashaus Series and a freestanding vanity of illuminated white quartzite with a wenge wood finish. Sconces from Ginger; sink and faucet by PS Craftsmanship.

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