Before the hard work of laying tile and installing a tub, mounting fixtures and hanging mirrors in the design or remodeling of a bathroom comes the fun part — the planning.
Homeowners on a quest for bath ideas might want to check out the newly opened showroom in the . The company relocated from Cherry Creek North to be closer to other like-minded businesses and clients, according to Barbara Sallick, the company’s co-founder and senior vice president of design.
While known for the type of high-end fixtures, tile and tubs that find their way into glossy magazine layouts, the Connecticut-based company has recently added the Waterworks Studio line of products in a price range more suited to first-time homeowners. Sallick was eager to show off those designs as well as the new Denver showroom, one of 14 the company has in the United States.
The Denver site was designed with Colorado in mind, so there is emphasis on natural colors, textures and materials, Sallick said.
The Waterworks aesthetic often references such schools as Bauhaus with simple lines and minimal detail. Among the design elements that look fresh right now, according to Sallick, are:
• Soft green concrete wall tile that is “honed,” or polished, but to a matte rather than shiny surface. (It’s also American-made and comes in a variety of colors and patterns.)
• Custom touches such as a mosaic marble tile pattern in the shower, designed by John Young.
• “Clay paper” tile, which has subtle nature designs on ceramic, resembling wallpaper.
• Washstands are a new-old fixture, and an alternative to the pedestal sink. When they have a towel bar and storage room below, they pack even more functionality.
• Tile in horizontal, rather than square, cuts, laid in horizontal “subway” patterns.
• Lighting fixtures that have a classic but vintage feel, such as the Hamilton, a cylindrical one-arm sconce.
• Decorative tile in smaller areas as an accent.
The Waterworks showroom also features kitchen fixtures and sells everything from soap dishes to towels, which adds to the one-stop shopping experience.
Shoppers are free to browse the showroom on their own, or with a designer, said manager Brooke Erkal. “Uusally on bigger projects, people are working with a designer, but we are certainly happy to talk them through the process,” she said.
Waterworks Showroom, 601 S. Broadway, Suite X; 303-394-2940. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on Saturdays.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
