Aren’t we all feeling a bit nostalgic right now? Longing for the good old pre-pandemic days and wondering about the future? These innovative designers showcased here have captured those feelings with shapes and sounds that play on positive memories and inspire a renewed determination to pursue wellness. 

As we embark on a new kind of normal, we all share a longing for stability and a deep desire to surround ourselves with products that help nurture our basic needs for security and renewal. Our homes are essential to our well-being as we move through what has been quite a tumultuous year. In fact, they are now the hubs for our most precious needs and activities — from bathing and cooking for extended families to entire households working and learning from home. 

Home is our place for rest and relaxation and, for some, even where we vacation. The need for bath and kitchen fixtures has expanded beyond pure necessity; instead, it is driving designs meant to evoke nostalgia, reflect nature and enhance safety. With the home being the new everything, we found the following products to be especially captivating — offering something extra yet still classic and timeless.

Turn Up the Volume

We love the blend of nostalgia and wellness offered by the new Hi-Fi Thermostatic Mixers from Gessi. The precision controls are engineered to look — and feel — like a stereo system from the 1990s, with the same turning of knobs and clicking of buttons that some of us remember from a few decades ago. 

But in this case, the retro facade conceals some very cool modern-day gadgets. The system offers high-fidelity technology for water delivery, studied ergonomics and functional perfection. Users control the knobs and buttons to set and maintain their preferred water flow and temperature. 

Gessi offers a range of configurations in this collection, such as versions with hand showers, rainfall, waterfall and directional shower kits. The Hi-Fi collection is offered in Gessi’s full array of finish options to create a beautiful shower environment, with choices ranging from black, chrome and gold to antique brass and aged bronze.

Renewal at Home

What could be more restful than a comforting bath? How about a bathtub nestled in a cradle? MTI Baths developed an eye-catching cradle for several of its Boutique Collection tubs. Handcrafted of tubular steel and powder-coated in a matte black finish, the cradle fits snugly around the tub and mimics its sleek silhouette. 

Shown here is the elegat Elena tub, with its flat rim design, minimalist vibe and storm gray exterior finish. The mix of color and texture of the wood-paneled walls creates a calming effect and brings a Zen feeling to the space — soothing, yet sophisticated. Like all MTI tubs in the Boutique Collection, the Elena is crafted from its signature SculptureStone blend composed of 70 percent organic materials.

You Can Touch This!

Reducing exposure to germs is at the top of everyone’s mind these days, which may explain the rising interest in brass hardware. Brass possesses natural anti-bacterial properties that can effectively kill viruses on surfaces. Nostalgic Warehouse’s beautiful unlacquered brass finish allows these healthy benefits to work to their full advantage. 

Known as a “living finish,” the unlacquered brass will gradually change over time, developing a warm, rich patina with exposure to the elements and daily use. The living-finish option is available on all Nostalgic Warehouse interior door hardware, which is forged from solid brass for lasting beauty and reliable performance. The company is known for creating heirloom-quality hardware in a wide variety of popular styles, including Victorian, Mission and Deco.

Copper is another metal with amazing antimicrobial properties — which is just one more reason to choose copper for kitchen sinks! Lenova offers a gorgeous Copper Kitchen Collection, crafted of premium 15-gauge copper and free of lead and mercury. These lovely sinks are naturally hypoallergenic, recyclable and resistant to corrosion. Each is hammered by hand and meticulously finished by a Lenova artist. 

The living finish will age beautifully over time, resulting in a truly unique sink. The collection consists of sinks in a variety of sizes and configurations; rubber pads provide extra sound-deadening insulation.

Staycation by the Pool 

Swimming pools are the most requested home upgrade since the pandemic and a great starting point for a relaxing staycation. Easy Sanitary Solutions offers a smart option for creating a safe and beautiful pool deck with its award-winning collection of linear drains designed especially for pools and spas. The Easy Drain pool line features nearly invisible drains in a variety of sizes for both indoor and outdoor situations. 

The drains are fully watertight with an integrated wet room seal and are easy to install and maintain. Their low-profile is perfect for a barrier-free pool deck, and their sleek contemporary design is both functional and stylish. Best of all, their efficient water management systems mean a dryer pool deck, resulting in fewer slips and a more hygienic space to relax and enjoy pool life.

Also high on the must-have list for at-home holidays is a backyard barbecue. Ruvati has it covered with a new line of marine-grade stainless-steel sinks ideal for outdoor kitchens and boat decks. Built with durability in mind, the Merino Collection can withstand weather extremes and look good doing it. 

Built-in accessories and a sliding rack turn this sink into a true culinary workstation with a stainless-steel colander for washing produce, a bottom rinse grid for drying pots and pans, and a sapele wood cutting board that fits across the top of the sink to create an instant countertop. 

Merino sinks are built from quality T-316 stainless steel to resist rust and corrosion, and include SoundGuard undercoating and NoiseDefend padding. With three sizes to choose from, Merino sinks come in a commercial-grade brushed finish that is easy to clean and maintain.

Concealed Control

Barber Wilsons is proving the adage “less is more” to be true with its new Mastercraft Concealed Thermostatic Shower Control. With the usually exposed pipe and mechanics neatly hidden within the wall, this extraordinary shower system is very “now” with a clean, minimalist look — perfect for modern bathrooms. 

Thermostatic showers are in high demand now for safety reasons, particularly when it comes to multi-generational households. These systems offer precision control so the user can safely set and regulate water flow and temperature. It is a great safety feature to prevent accidental scalding, especially with children or seniors in the house. 

The Mastercraft system includes a lever handle, two-way diverter and a coordinating cross handle. All are crafted from the brand’s signature solid brass and offered in an array of finishes, including the newest options of brushed gold, satin copper, brushed copper, polished copper, matte black, matte bronze and weathered bronze.

With home being the focal point of our lives right now in so many ways, it’s more important than ever to create a living space meeting the needs of everyone in the household. And these products do so in a way that’s calming, restorative, practical and focused on wellness and safety. We appreciate the innovation demonstrated by leading manufacturers in our industry who continue to create products that enhance people’s lives and make home a special place to be.