For durable leather floors, Cowden Bell uses hand-dyed and stamped leather from the densest part of the hide. Bell's rustic Moroccan Center tiles in any of seven colors patinate like old saddles. Standard-size squares and rectangles measure from 2 to 16 inches. 8120 NE 33rd Drive, Portland, OR 97211; 800-278-8453; annsacks.com.

Axor, part of Hansgrohe Worldwide, once again demonstrated the out-of-the-box thinking that keeps them miles ahead of the bathroom-design game with their exhibit "Axor WaterDream." Part of this year's FuoriSalone, which accompanies Milan's Salone Internazionale del Mobile, it examined the potential of the modern bathroom as a distinct architectural vision through a series of vignettes by Jean-Marie Massaud, Patricia Urquiola, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. "It was about creating opportunity for free dialogue, as opposed to simply developing new products and simulating future environments," says brand manager Philippe Grohe. Massaud's all-white scene was made for lingering. Beneath a convex ceiling, he placed oversize pillows and a table around the synthetic-resin surround of an oval two-person tub; a slice of a fireplace provided additional heat to the romantic milieu. Urquiola presented a different sense of play. Amid an enchanted forest of showers, mechanical birds chirped in reaction to shifting light levels. The contribution by the Bouroullec brothers stood in sharp contrast to the other vignettes. Rather like a mathematical equation, they set against a chalkboard groupings of bathroom levers and handles within a series of frames, achieving a stark intimacy with the objects.

"Four million years ago, you were bacteria," stated Philippe Starck at the unveiling of the Duravit headquarters in Hornberg, Germany, last December. He designed the five-story, steel-clad building in collaboration with Wöhrle+Wöhrle Architekten, a local firm, and among its many highlights is his 23-foot-high toilet, which stands proud behind a clear-glass facade. A cylindrical, double-height shaft draws cool air and natural light into the 100,000-square-foot interior, a mix of office and showroom space.

Amid the countless fully functioning vignettes is Sieger Design's Happy D collection of ceramic tubs, basins, and vanities, as well as Starck's newest bath collection, the ceramic Starck X.

Born of a partnership between Duravit and Hansgrohe, Starck X heralds a minimalist, geometric aesthetic. Basins are cylindrical. Bidets are fitted with noise-reduction gaskets and elongated outer pipes. European-style toilets append to vertical or horizontal outlets. Sink finishes include chrome, platinum, and sunny yellow. Why X? Says the Frenchman, "Because it's pure Starck—nothing to see, nothing to say, impossible to make less." circle 312

efficient, design-savvy young demographic of apartment dwellers and homeowners. The collection of some 30 fixtures, faucets, and accessories includes this floor-mounted tub faucet. All are brass and can be finished in polished chrome or matte platinum.  1700 Executive Drive South, Suite 600, Duluth, GA 30096; 800-774-1181; dornbracht.com.

A watched pot boils in a flash with the 15-inch-wide Induction cooktop. The two heating zones each produce 1,800 watts of energy. If additional power is needed, the rear zone can pull energy from the front, raising its capacity to 2,200 watts. The unused surface never heats, so spills don't burn and you don't scrub. P.O. Box 44848, Madison, WI 53744; 800-332-9513; wolfappliance.com.

Despite its ovoid shape, the Bento plate is named after the Japanese box. What is consistent is the concept of separating foods within defined spaces so flavors don't mingle. Rounding out the porcelain collection is a party plate, bowl, salad plate, and two-tiered server. 5 Vaughn Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540; 877-505-5350; villeroy-boch.com.

Cleaning up is just a squirt away with the SD550A soap and lotion dispenser. The solid-brass, 8-inch-tall accessory has a 3 1/2-inch-long spout and a rubber base to keep it in place. Among finishes are polished chrome, satin nickel, and Inca brass. 1559 Sunland Lane, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; 800-777-9762; rohlhome.com.

Got a flavor for the '50's? The Streamline fittings and fixtures collection overflows with retro vibes. The hood ornament of a 1957 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 inspired the shape of the tub filler, the tail fins of a 1958 Pontiac that of the handles. Missile-shape cross handles and fin levers appoint the baked-clay sink, offered in 24- or 42-inch widths in Cotton Candy Pink, Peppermint Park Green, Betty Blue, Vespa Cream, Lemon Curd Yellow, black, and white glazes. All fittings are made of brass with chrome, nickel, gold, or satin-nickel finishes. The line includes a baked-clay toilet and an acrylic bathtub in 5- or 6-foot lengths. 16 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10013; 718-302-5292; lefroybrooks.com.

Geometric shapes and a living-room aesthetic inform the collections of Ceramica Flaminia, which has been producing sanitaryware since 1955. In 1997, under the art direction of Giulio Cappellini, the company designed Acquagrande, a member of the early generation of square washbasins. Making a splash at this year's Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan was the Work in Progress line, designed around the concept that each item can either stand alone or be a part of a sculptural ensemble united by rigorous geometric shapes. Witness Miniwash, a petite wall-mounted washbasin with an integrated back. With a 71/2-inch-high backsplash and offered in 15-inch-square, 19-by-14-inch, and 10-by-16-inch sizes, the fixture is available in Blue Indigo, Chestnut, Milky White, Anthracite, Edelweiss, white, black, and sand. The Panca Miami vanity has a 71-by-22-inch wood slab atop a stainless-steel post and is offered in light and dark oak and zebrano finishes. For the sensual IO, an ovoid form slices through a rectangular or square lacquered oak shelf. The tub is Pietraluce resin, and the sink is ceramic. The oak comes in white, black, marine blue, beige, sand, and red finishes. 54,630 S.S. Flaminia Km., 01033 Civita Castallana (VT) Italy; 39-0761-542030; ceramicaflaminia.it.

Never be short on kitchen storage with Vico Magistretti's Libreria. The matte-lacquer MDF shelves require no screws. The 12-inch-deep modular unit comes in 61-, 80-, and 101-inch heights and 42-, 80-, 101-, 121-, 140-, and 157-inch widths. Colors include white, black, orange, blue, and red, with other Schiffini colors as custom. 23 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-334-4544; vivendumusa.com.

Kitchen cabinets become an art installation with Picture Line, a digital four-color process that prints images directly onto cabinet fronts. Choose from more than 150 stock patterns and images or provide your own. The process allows for small illustrations on part of a cabinet to a full mural. One Design Center Place, Suite 635, Boston, MA 02210; 617-896-2700; alno.com.

Get clean amid clean design with the all-brass WaterTile body sprayers. Set almost flush to the wall or ceiling, the spray's direction is adjusted by simply angling the tile. Tile comes in 3- or 5-inch-square sizes, with either 22 or 54 nozzle holes, in polished or brushed chrome, nickel, brushed-bronze, and French-gold finishes. A wall-mounted showerhead is offered. 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI 53044; 920-457-4441; kohler.com.

Shahram Nazar and Heidy Garay accented the dark Tibetan wool of their custom Deco Chic carpet with contrasting lines of silk yarn. For a traditional handcrafted finish, the company also washes and finishes this handspun, 100-knot carpet the old-fashioned way at the Tibetano factory . . . in Katmandu. 1 Grand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631; 800-995-5784; tibetano.com.

No Parameters carpet tiles team an undecorated texture, a tone-on-tone geographic, and a sophisticated stria. The four patterns coordinate, and each comes in six colorways. Solution-dyed nylon yarns ensure top performance. 500 Town Park Lane, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30144; 800-544-6637; bigelowcommercial.com.

The 14-inch diameter SIU 404 island-style vent hood is a seamless stainless-steel cylinder. It contains an anodized-aluminum filter, a 50-watt halogen lamp, and a quiet 600 CFM motor that sucks, cleans, and filters air. The unit's four speeds are controlled by a wireless remote. A ductless version is offered. 1051 Clinton Street, Buffalo, NY 14206; 866-528-4987; siriushoods.com.

Surround yourself—and your showerhead—in luxury with the Krystal ELS. Not only is the limited-edition 12-inch head decked in Swarovski crystals, but each of its 270 spray channels is also illuminated by fiber-optic cables, an adjustable color wheel, and a 75-watt halogen lamp. Finishes are chrome and polished gold.  665 North Baldwin Park Boulevard, City of Industry, CA 91746; 800-423-9485; ondineshowers.com.

The 23-piece .25 collection offers tub fillers, lavatory faucets, and showerhead combinations. Accessories include two wall valve-trim choices, towel bars, a robe hook, and a paper holder. Finishes are standard or matte nickel and chrome. 60 Backus Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810; 800-899-6757; waterworks.com.

The BreakThru sink cleverly hides the drainpipe from every angle. The 22-inch-long, 4-inch-deep concrete basin is anchored in a rolled-steel base that's been powder-coated to prevent rust. The bowl is available in the manufacturer's standard 40 concrete colors. 133A Copeland Street, Petaluma, CA 94952; 877-283-2400; sonomastone.com.

Relax from ruling your Camelot with the 72-inch-long Guinevere Airbath. Its 16 jets target the body's pressure points while warm air pushes through the water, creating millions of massaging bubbles. Colored lights in seven hues further engage the senses. Made of cast acrylic, the tub is offered in two tones of white. 1155 Southern Road, Morrow, GA 30260; 800-350-8686; totousa.com.

Romano Adolini's XES collection of toilets, bidets, and sinks is sculpted to blocky proportions. The white vitreous-china toilet and bidet are available in floor or wall-hung options; the sink can be affixed to the wall or counter. Zona Industriale, Pantalone 01030 Corchiano, VT Italy; 39-076-157-3134; galassiacer.it.

Thomas Sandell's Orca is a whale of a washbasin. The smooth molded-Corian fixture is 25 1/2 inches long and 16 inches wide with a 6-inch depth. 13 Via Volta, 20019 Settimo, Milan, Italy; 39-02-335-5981; rapsel.it.

The single-handle Camerist faucet features a 10-inch-tall arched spout that makes it easy to fill even the tallest of lobster pots. It's available in chrome and the company's stainless LifeShine, in kitchen and bar versions, and with a companion side spray. 25300 Al Moen Drive, North Olmsted, OH 44070; 800-289-6636; moen.com.

The Successi handle collection pulls you in several aesthetic directions. The 7-inch-long A824-CH is one of 24 designs. All feature radiused corners and come in a matte-black, brushed-nickel, polished-chrome, or matte-chrome finishe. 326 Mira Loma Avenue, Glendale CA 91204; 800-799-6755; atlas-homewares.com.

The Quadrante kitchen system cooks up slim lines. Cabinet structures are aluminum, matte and glossy lacquer, veneer, or laminate. Doors are framed in aluminum or wood and filled with aluminum, wood, lacquer, or crystal glass. Shelves are silver etched glass, the hardware is aluminum, and countertop finishes include granite, hardwood, and stainless steel. 149 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010; 212-673-7106; dadaweb.it.

Victor Hoernig's pivoting forged-brass towel hook is part of the manufacturer's Frame collection. It's offered in polished-chrome or satin-nickel finishes, with a hook depth of either 5 or 61/2 inches. 460-N Greenway Industrial Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708; 800-842-4872; motiv.us.