Collection of contemporary lights, Hinkley’s Lighting Factory

Bathrooms
“Showers with a view” are one of the new trends in bathroom design, says Lon Libsack, owner of Tempe-based Shower & Bath Connection. This look is accomplished by creating a glass partition between the shower and an outside atrium, so clients create the look and feel of being outside.
“Another new idea with showers is the installation of slotted wood floors in the shower,” Libsack says, adding that the removable feature creates the look and feel of a spa. “People like to walk into a bath and feel as if they have arrived at a five-star resort.”
Meanwhile, lighter colored, easy-to-use cabinetry also is very popular. In-cabinetry electrical wiring allows clients to use and store hairdryers and curling irons without plugging anything in above the counter.
While this trend combines form and function, Libsack sometimes steers clients away from bathroom fads he calls “six-month bottle rockets.” For example, Libsack rarely installs the once popular pedestal sinks anymore. The stand-alone, look-at-me type of sink has beauty but no storage. Similarly, he predicts a short lifespan for Japanese soaking tubs.
“Manufacturers are still trying to market them, but when you have a 40-by-40 tub, that’s going to fall away,” he says.

Countertops made from post-consumer scraps, metals and even compressed, dense recycled paper are making a splash.

Lighting
When it comes to lighting, Mediterranean and Old World is in, says Michael Jackson, owner of Phoenix-based  Hinkley’s Lighting Factory.
“It’s a simpler iron, not so busy with straight lines that don’t take over the whole room,” he says. To that end, gold and gaudy is out. “I don’t think we’ll see polished brass come back in for a long time.  What we are seeing is brushed brass and gold leaf making a resurgence into the world of color and texture,” he says.
Both applications create a centuries-old French or European look, which everyone is going for, he says.
Well, maybe not everyone. In fact, what has Jackson buzzing – other than wattage from the 1,800 lamps on display in his Downtown store’s new contemporary Studio Hinkley’s – is the surge in lighting sales there.
“Contemporary is very hot,” he says. “In fact, contemporary, which has been a weak part of the Arizona market, is becoming stronger and stronger every year.”
Contemporary, hand-blown Murano textures and silver or bronze fixtures appeal to both the younger crowd and big-city transplants dressing up their lofts, Jackson says.