Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A mysterious sink


Since I moved to North America it always amazed me that many times I have seen, especially in brand new houses, two sinks in a bathroom, taking lots of space, and for me totally useless since I would not want to be seen by anyone while in my private sanctuary…especially when I wake up in the morning making faces to the mirror while I brush my teeth…but… no trace of a bidet. You can read the whole story of how, when, where the mysterious sink was invented, HERE.


mansarda_05 

equilibri_10
The images above show that even in a small bathroom there is often space for a bidet.  In many countries of Continental Europe and Latin America a home would not be called “home” if it did not have a bidet installed and a bathroom would not be considered such without one.


Duravit, SensoWash by Starck 

A new concept emerged not long ago of a toilet with a bidet incorporated, used mostly in affluent Asian countries and starting to appeal recently to Americans. It consists in a water system going through the seat of a toilet, whose temperature can also be regulated by a remote control.
Without entering in details…water is better than just plain paper, which is better than a plantain leaf! So we have already two degrees of separation from barbaric customs, if we add a mild soap…well… I leave it to your imagination how fresh you would feel, in your best days and also in your worst ones.


Join di Pozzi Ginori by Antonio Citterio and Sergio Brioschi


Cersaie
Have you ever seen a toilet with four legs?  These are from the line Cow by Artceram, easy to clean underneath, like the suspended ones.


22_b_ristrutturare-bagno
New request from the market is the increased height, since in affluent countries the average human height is growing and it is obviously more ergonomic to sit higher.


Ceramica Cielo
A fairly new line is Le Giare by Ceramica Cielo, looking like a sculpture and following the perfect shape of an egg, symbol of harmony and life.

I have heard that North Americans are one of the top producers of bidets, but weird as it is, they mostly export them. I like to encourage more people to use this mysterious sink in their houses when renovating.
I always insist on installing one and I survive the jokes of the plumbers with silence and a smile on my face knowing that my clients will be happily thanking me later!

Welcome to the world of bidets, used by millions  who will
never settle for a bathroom without one.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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9 comments:

Jimmy The Undercover Designer said...

And once you use them you wonder how you ever lived without them !!!

Squeak said...

When I was 17 (40 years ago), my high school's band and choir went to Germany and The Netherlands. Our first night in Europe was in a hostel near Amsterdam's Red Light District.

I'd never even heard of a bidet, let alone seen one. So when my female classmates and I saw bidets in the hostel bathroom, we thought they were for washing our hair! No wonder the European students staying at the hostel were laughing at us!

I crack up even now thinking about how ridiculous we must have looked!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this humorous post. I enjoyed it very much. Love to look at new designs also.
Greetings from Munich....

peggy braswell said...

I always specify a bidet in the US. More than often,the home owner says no. Why is that? xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

A CRITIC'S EYE said...

Actually douchettes seem to be more practical ( one does not have to move from one to the other) and take less room in bathrooms than bidets, especially when space is limited.

G S Sirotnik said...

Thank you, Albarosa, for this soul-cleansing post. I shall definitely install this virtuous device (the Japanese sort, as room permits) as soon as I'm feeling more flush - with funds, that is.

Claudia Juestel said...

I am so with you Albarosa. Although bidets have not been as common in Austria when I grew up I always liked them when visiting Italy.

I love the sculpturous collection by Le Giare by Ceramica Cielo. Italians make the best bathroom fixtures. But quite a few time I have come across some spectacular piece and could not find it here in the US. I hope more will be available here soon.

Cheers,

Claudia

Maisie said...

After me and my husband returned from our trip to Europe (we live in the US of A), we immediately bought a bidet. Not as fancy as the ones you have pictured though, but it does the same job and quite economical. Here it is in case you and your readers would care to know http://products.mercola.com/toilet-bidet/

plumbing bathroom said...

They are great choice for use in homes and offices. They can be used by all family members including kids, elders, men and women. They are medically recommended for those who suffering from certain medical conditions such as stomach upset, hemorrhoids, piles, itching, urinary tract problems, pregnancy, menstruation, obesity, palsy and many other health problems.

 
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