If Only...

Just imagine if the current First Family exhibited the virtues ascribed to these appliances: tasteful style, helpful features, and honest value.

Keep the faith!

A Good Game, Indeed

The 'Backgammon' encaustic tiles on this backsplash knit the cabinets together with color; their pattern echos the herringbone marquetry of the floor. The color options are limited only by the proverbial imagination. pophamdesign.com

Foot Fetish

I think the Rockwell tub would be best at home in a kids' bath—but with its exaggerated forms and punchy palette, it would also be well suited to a PoMo- or Memphis-inspired interior. The feet are optional, but what would be the point of stripping away its distinguishing characteristic? Made of a stone/mineral compound, it's offered in nine standard colors, and custom hues, too. thewatermonopoly.com

Weathered—Or Not

No fancy fittings here—water for both the sink and shower flows from what are essentially stub-outs. This almost certainly creates a major splash event, but the wet-room design of this bath is built to handle just that. I'd like to revisit the space after a couple years' use, to see how the then-patinated copper alters the appearance of the room. stonewooddesign.co.uk

Super Kitchen

During last week's London Design Festival, KitchenAid revealed a series of concept kitchens. This one, by Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella, is my pick of the lot. The pole-based system could be installed in virtually any space, as it's not dependent on walls. The brass supports are fitted with tinted-glass shelves, lending a note of color to the kitchen. The name—La Super Leggera ['The Super Light']—could refer to weight, massing, or even be an artistic reference: doesn't the design bear a certain resemblance to a musical staff? kitchenaid.com

Chemical Warfare

As Agent Orange continues his charm offensive [or is it offensive charm?] with bro Rocket Man, let us look to history for lessons. This was part of the response in 1962 to the Bomb Threat du jour. I'm particularly impressed by the manufacturer's assurance, 'Comes complete with chemicals.' In the implied holocaustic scenario, wasn't there little doubt that if anything, the world would enjoy a surfeit of such substances? And note: 'Agent' inquiries were invited...orange or otherwise.

Cue the 'cue

Defying the calendar, we'll have a summer-like weekend, with temperatures close to 90ºF. Let the cookouts continue, I say! Made of Corten steel, this durable design will easily make the transition into fall [whenever it should arrive]. It's offered as a standalone model, or with one or two oak shelvesone or two oak shelves. The pedestal opens to store fuel, whether wood or briquettes. attika.ch

Streaming Surprise

From this perspective, the Vita faucet might look more like a drinking fountain, with its upward-facing angle. But the water flows down from a slit on the underside of the sleek fitting's spigot. The anodized colors make me happy, as does the spunky form—both hallmarks of the faucet's designer, Karim Rashid. cisal.it

Transitional Kitchen

Exactly what 'transition' does this kitchen represent, you may ask. Well, while the time of year would signal a seasonal change, I see this design also showing a shift in outlook—the vintage back-bars finding a new purpose as kitchen storage.

Bathroom Blues

American post-war prosperity was hitting its stride in 1961, as this ad reflects. Three happy, well-dressed kids—but not enough bathrooms. Sad! No longer was sharing deemed necessary, nor virtuous. The more, the better would become the eventual model. And a soothing Cerulean Blue made it all the more palatable.

Stone Shower

The rock-filled wire cages called gabion—typically used as retaining walls—have been the darlings of landscape architects and interior designers for several seasons, owing to their eco-friendly image and compelling materiality. I've seen them used as enclosure for outdoor showers, but this freestanding application is a first for me. In these still-steamy, waning days of summer, it's a cool idea. gartdeco.ch

Bath for Reflection

In New York, this week has come to symbolize much more than the unofficial end of summer. A quietness creeps over the city, especially in the downtown area, as people remember the day the towers fell. This contemplative space brings solid and light together in a way I find calming. johnpawson.com

Future Past

A confession: Lately, I've been finding escape—and even fulfillment—in episodes of Star Trek. A few days ago marked the anniversary of the original series' debut in 1966. This look at the galley of a later version of the USS Enterprise reveals a clean, spacious, and well-lighted prep area, as well as a predilection for cabbage.

Kitchen as Art

A more enigmatic kitchen I have yet to see! Task lighting is eschewed in favor of mysterious glows. On the far wall, panels of raw travertine slide to reveal [or conceal] a cooking alcove that's lined in luminous bronze. The thin bronze frame that cages the island barely seems capable of containing the massive block of carved Nero Marquina marble. dietervandervelpen.com

Odd Couplings

The smooth curve of the faucet and angles of the pedestal basin; the modern elements in the traditional setting. Mixing things up can be liberating. The Maccione II sink sets the tone for this bath. theinteriorgallery.com

Coming to Grips

A delightful cabinet detail, this. A small, simple finger pull is amplified by a top layer of surfacing material. The effect calls attention to the shape, depth, and strata of the drawer front, all done in a surprising way. nicolajbo.dk

Endless Summer

Cowabunga, dude—here's an outdoor shower with a decidedly Left Coast style. These are real surfboards, with hot and cold copper supply lines running inside their cores. They can be fitted with hand showers and foot rinsers [beach sand, you know], or kept to a surf-shack standard, with only a cold water spray. strandboards.com

Best of the West

Los Angeles is much in my mind and my heart these days. So I'm happy to see how one of its architectural highlights, the Harpel house by architect John Lautner, has been brought back to close to its 1956 state. Unencumbered by any hanging cabinets, the kitchen offers a fabulous view of the City of Angels.

Well, Anything is Possible

To answer the question: Yes. But I'd counter with another query—Why?

I'm off for a long [and last] holiday weekend, dear readers. Best until Tuesday!