Style it Moderne ~

“Integrity and provenance are the foundations of Samuel Heath. A bedrock which has been in place since 1820 when the company first began to manufacture the finest pieces of solid brassware from its premises in Birmingham, England. The company began as a traditional brass founder and has produced over the years a vast array of products from bedsteads to high quality giftware and fireside accessories. Today however it is as a manufacturer of bathroom accessories, taps, showers and architectural hardware that Samuel Heath has built a worldwide reputation for stylish design, quality and performance.” ~quote: Samuel Heath

Although Samuel Heath is synonymous with tradition and quality, a new collection aptly named “Style Moderne” has also made a distinctive mark in the bathroom design industry.  The inspiration of the shape and lines of the Style Moderne collection are influenced by the Art Deco era.

All fittings are crafted of solid brass. This handle is coated in black chrome.

Choose from rain shower heads to hand-held sprays.

During my recent visit to the Samuel Heath showroom in England during Blog Tour in September, 2012, I had the opportunity to examine for myself the bathroom faucets and showers that have become Samuel Heath’s trademark of quality. The showroom is located in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour London. Seriously, doesn’t just the sight of these gleaming fixtures make you want to change yours all out? Or at least get a loved one to shine and polish the ones you have?

I was clearly impressed with the depth of knowledge that the staff exhibited during our visit, fielding questions  left and right from a group of 14 inquisitive bloggers.

Samuel Heath provided a delicious brunch for us. Left to right: Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Andrew Dunning, Raina Kattelson, Veronika Miller and Tim Bogan

Style of all types – something for everyone!

This black chrome is absolutely stunning!

Photos: Patti Johnson

What’s not to admire about these beautifully designed and crafted faucets and accessories? You can view Style Moderne in more detail as well as Samuel Heath’s many other lovely collections here.

This Blog Tour was made possible by sponsorship from Samuel Heath and Modenus, a designer’s resource. By participating as a Blog Tour Sponsor, they also made a quality decision. The group of bloggers consisted of interior designers, kitchen and bath designers and design bloggers, all who love the opportunity to share information about products they admire.

A Big Thank you to all of the Blog Tour Sponsors:

Thank you to our wonderful Blog Tour London 2012 Sponsors!

London Nite Hike and Mr. Steam

September 18th – 24th, 2012 was an amazing week that 14 Interior Design and Life Style bloggers from around the globe will not soon forget. Whether in Interiors, Kitchen and Bath, Furniture, Garden, Photography or even Graphic, all are of  a design discipline and all are bloggers. This trip, officially christened  “Blog Tour London” by Modenus, along with several industry sponsors, brought this diverse and energetic group of individuals from places afar off together in London. Destination: the London Design Festival. With an a full working itinerary, there were sometimes opportunities to steal a few moments for important tasks.

A little competition never hurt anyone. New friend and fellow blogger Vitania with Martha in Spitalfields Market.

There were so many spontaneously wonderful moments, it would be difficult to share them all with you. Here’s a group photo that makes me smile:

Having some fun on the way to 100% Design.

 

One of the events we took part in was a London Nite Hike sponsored by Maggie’s, a cancer caring center. You can read more about Maggie’s and their services, philosophy and outreach here.

Maggie’s Centre set out to raise £500,000 through Nite Hikes in the cities of Glasgow and London. The Blog Tour group was staying in London, so walk through London we did.

We began the hike with registration at Leadenhall Market.

What better way to experience London than on foot?

London Bridge: photo – mine

We walked as a group across town, stopping to capture the lights of the London Bridge at night followed by a walk to the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the great city.

Late night spin on the London Eye~

Looking down on London~

After a proposed 10 or 20 mile “Nite Hike” for which it rained off and on,  a steam shower to soothe our aching muscles would have been very welcome. Enter Marth Orellana, one of the tour’s sponsor representatives. Martha is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Mr. Steam who proudly shared the history of the company with me during dinner at The Gun Docklands one evening.

While enjoying my English dinner,  I sat next to Martha who shared wonderful tidbits of information about the Mr. Steam brand and steamtherapy. We all know since ancient Roman times, steam saunas or steam baths have provided both physical and emotional healing benefits to the human body and soul.

Ancient Roman Steam Bath Image via Google

As Mr. Steam, the expert on the subject, states:

“Making wellness a way of life™… For thousands of years, different cultures used the healing power of steam to soothe their bodies and cleanse their minds. Today, Steamtherapy© rewards you after a workout, relieving tired muscles as warmth penetrates your body. It’s part of an at-home beauty regime; warm moisture opens your pores, leaving your skin softer and more supple. Steamtherapy is a possible natural detox, and may remove bodily impurities. It may help enhance your breathing exercises, leaving you with a sense of wellness. Use Steamtherapy to allow scent and color to evoke moods and heighten your emotions.What is involved with installing a steam shower in a residential bathroom? While it is preferable to install the unit and required plumbing during construction, it can absolutely be done during a bath renovation” ~ Mr.Steam

His and Hers towel warmers, a luxurious way to go ~ photo courtesy of Mr. Steam

Example of a residential unit in cut-away. Notice glass enclosure, photo courtesy of Mr. Steam

For the eco-conscious consumer, Mr. Steam offers a model that only uses one very eco friendly gallon of water per session. The average steam session is approximately 15-20 minutes. Who knew luxury could be so green?!

There are obvious requirements for installing such a unit in your home, such as that the shower enclosure must be completely sealed off, without an open area above the shower door.  I can personally attest to owning a steam unit and the benefits of it. Installation may require a licensed plumber and correct plumbing fixtures and fittings, which can vary from application to application.  Since local building codes may differ as well be sure to contact a qualified designer or contractor.

About Mr. Steam
Making Wellness a Way of Life®, Mr. Steam® provides the finest quality steam showers and towel warmers for residential and commercial use. Mr. Steam products help support a healthy lifestyle with innovative accessories, including AromaSteam™ aromatic oils system, ChromaSteam™ mood lighting system, in-shower Musictherapy® speakers, and in-shower seating to enhance the steam bathing experience. For more information, please visit www.mrsteam.com or on Facebook.~

Thank you to our generous Blog Tour London Sponsors!

Thank you to our wonderful Blog Tour London 2012 Sponsors!

And So To Bed…

Recently, on a certain tour of London sponsored by Modenus, (a designer’s resource) I had the incredible opportunity to sample the finest beds in Britain!

And So To Bed has recently opened their beautiful expansive 7,000 sf new Flagship showroom located at  591 Kings Road in London.

What an ingenious idea, to have a soft, medium and firm mattress all next to each other so one can try them out without getting up and moving across the room, thus forgetting how the last one felt! How many designers can fit onto this triple mattress?  Well, this certainly wasn’t everyone as some were still upstairs (that’s right) a two-story showroom, sampling the tea and biscuits with jam. (I’m the blonde on the right.)

Here at And So To Bed, they build a serious mattress which is why they are the leading luxury mattress company in Britain. No foam in the construction, nothing that will wear out. These are all organic and filled with sheep’s wool, horse hair, and 2 rows of individually wrapped stainless steel Vi-Spring springs in the mattress. It’s like having two mattresses; everything is doubled. You also have a varied selection of lovely  covers to choose from as well as different degrees of firmness. These mattresses are a practical yet wonderful investment. What’s more important than a good night’s sleep? Well if you sleep (or try to) on a poor quality bed, you know what I’m talking about.

“The bed may be centre stage, but it needs a supporting cast to show it off. And So To Bed makes stylish bedside tables, armoires, chests and dressing tables –as well as many smaller accessories including chairs, mirrors, stools and lamps.”

Just one of the beautiful beds of the multiple collections, the  Nautilus Silver Leaf Sleigh Bed is one of my favorites.

“Our luxurious bed collection is inspired by historical designs from chic French styles and pure Victorian beds to four posters fit for a castle.”

Every man’s home is his Castle, right? So what are you waiting for, give me a call and I’ll hook you up with a beautiful bed and great night’s sleep!

And yes, upstairs, tea was being served London style, just for us….Excuse me ladies, ahem, another cup please…

 Thank you to our wonderful sponsors of #BlogTourLdn, we had a wonderful time and made wonderful friendships!

Quotes: And So To Bed
Photo of Nautilus Silver Leaf Bed; courtesy of And So To Bed
All other photos: Patti Johnson, all rights reserved.