try not to lick your screen

I have a plumbing fixture obsession.

There.

I said it.

All my clients and close friends know this about me.  It is devastating to me to see a great house with bad plumbing fixtures.

I think I've told yall that the cabinet hardware in my office is made of unlacquered (so it will tarnish) brass plumbing parts.

Plumbing, I really love Perrin & Rowe.  Someday when the Lord chooses to bless me with mo' money, I'll have it in my house.

I also really love it when my blog readers come out of the woodwork with sweet little emails like "I really love plumbing fixtures too"... and then when I ask for pictures I get an inbox full of this type of eye candy that nearly had me so stunned I couldn't move...

Holy bridge faucet. And it's in my finish Polished Nickel.

Does everyone realize how important the little details are?  Liza does.  This is her home... she lives near San Francisco.  I wonder if she's got a spare bedroom?  I'm already planning my next random vacation to visit a stranger.

These pictures make me want to do dishes!  And bathe!  And obsessive compulsively wash my hands over and over and over... but wait....

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better... BIN PULLS, JADEITE out the whaazzu, CUPBOARD LATCHES, and is that a Sub Z?  Liza, can you start work on Monday!??  I need you.

Honestly!?  She aproned her (honed and eased edged) countertops in marble and did full on Carrrara splash.  My heart is racing, once again.

 

If this doesn't convince you that less is more, and that a small kitchen is just as perfect (when detailed to a T)... you be crazy.

Love. True love.

This is absurd, in a most positive way.

And last but not least... my dream valve... the thermostatic shower mixer. Liza, thank you for sharing with me... I opened this email and looked at these attachments more times than I care to admit to the world.  This house needs to be published, hello magazine people... call Liza! 

Liza isn't the only blog reader out there who delights me...

In non-plumbing news... Annmarie (remember she's my random mini-blog client in Boston who I will visit later this month to talk "kitchen renovation" and shop at Brimfield til we drop) well, she finally got her stair runners installed a few weeks ago and sent me a photo.

And Alison (in Brazil!) sent me this photo of a bathroom she and her husband renovated (here in the US before they moved the Brazil)... I spy a sponge & soap holder, a Bancroft faucet, and a good ole cast iron tub. 

And last but not least, there is Courtney.  This is Courtney & JJ's bathroom faucet.  I stalked it when I went to Houston.  I took this photo less than an hour after I arrived at their house... nothing like a good first impression (a weirdo in your bathroom taking photos and talking about the lines of your faucet and that typeface on the hot & cold buttons).

I wish someone at Perrin & Rowe would contact me, because I think they need to replicate this faucet.  It is old... original to their classic little Houston bungalow.  

Thank you people for sharing with me... you bring me such delight.

Happy FRIDAY!

Comments

[Alison]

Erika:

I am so tickled to have made it to the blog - I blushed when I saw what amazing company my bathroom pic is keeping - Liza's home is Uh-MA-ZING!
Your chronicle of the weekend is just beautiful; I am continually inspired!
Bênçãos!

[Courtney]

I tried but I couldn't contain myself. I licked the screen.

[Seleta]

Thanks to buying a spec house, I just realized I am in the "Bad Plumbing Fixtures" club. [sigh]

Seems like they should make a Tshirt for that. Maybe I'll print and sell some and use the money to buy all new polished nickel fixtures for our next house.

[Kristin]

I'm a recent blog-stalker and I LOVE reading your quirky posts about plumbing fixtures. Unfortunately, I'm in the club with Seleta. Can I buy a t-shirt?

[megan]

I licked the screen as well. Everything is SO wonderful! happy weekend to you!

[Dianne]

Be still my heart!!!!! The marble with the apron got me!!!!!!!!!!

[darby]

Dear Liza, Can I come with Erika when she comes? And dear Seleta, I'd like one of those t-shirts too? Y'all would literally fall over and die if you saw one of my bathrooms and instead of lick your screen you would spit on your screen. Perhaps it would make a fantastic blog post of before and afters... unfortunatley we still have just befores. If anyone at Perrin & Rowe reads this I'd gladly be the happy recipient of any handme-outs! :) Sister, you're hilarious and I love plumbing fixtures too... maybe I need smaller and older house... less is more! Love you!

[Liz]

I'm reeling too much from all the gorgeousness to lick my screen, but I may later!

Liza - your kitchen is amazing! How many sqaure feet is your kitchen? I'm looking at remodeling mine soon and am not blessed with much space, about 170 sq ft. Yours is inspiring!

Erika - thanks for sharing all that beauty! I read your blog regularly and enjoy it so much. I love it when you talk plumbing fixtures (and appliances and kitchens too!).

[Paloma of La Dolce Vita]

Holy smokes! It is all too good. It's just too GOOD!

Erika, I've said this before, but your taste is impeccable.

[Jenn]

dangit, now I'm convinced I NEED a sponge holder ...

and who is this Liza and WHY is her house not published?!

[lucky]

wow - that was such an education! i had no idea that plumbing could be so riveting! i have such a different appreciation for it now! thanks - for making me even pickier in my design choices - my husband will love you for that :)

[Annmarie]

Oh my stars!! Me and my stripes are humbled to be blogged in such company! Deeeee-lish! E, let's just make my kitchen look like Liza's, and spend another day at Brimfield, yes?

[The Lil Bee]

Completely drooling over the jadeite, and I love that hot/cold valve...SO cool!! These are awesome.

[Jessica]

oh my.... I too love plumbing fixtures but unfortunately am in the group that has the bad ones. I would love any of the ones in the pictures! Love that kitchen and I wish my bathrooms were as cute as those...

[patricia]

Is there a club for fixturaholics! I've got it bad.
Oh, I love that kitchen and thse bathrooms and that runner....
Carpet is now included in "fixtures."

[MaryBeth]

Not that I don't love the bath fixtures. I have Perrin and Rowe, Rohl and great Herbeau (sp?) but what really caught my eye was the runner. My favorite color blue but I spotted a tiny little stripe of pink and just fell in love. MB

[Sarah's Fab Day]

Erika - I'm beyond obsessed with your hardware that you made from plumbing fixtures, they are stunning. You should sell them I'd be in line to buy (or even the instructions).

[maison21]

erika- i'm in line right behind sarah's fab day for an instructional how-to about replicating your delicious cabinet handles. do you take paypal? or should i send a check?

[sarah]

Where did you find that rug? I love it!!

[Blocked drains]

“Wow,” it is actually nice to read a post from someone that knows a subject well and is able to get their direct across.I am really looking forward to your next post.

[Kelly LeGard]

Where is this rug from? What is the material? This is EXACTLY the kind of runner I want!

[BecomePlumber]

stunning bathroom, i only spend 15 mins a day in the bathroom but its one of those rooms that has to be perfect!

[Carpet Cleaning San Diego]

The designs are exquisite, perfectly arranged. Also the faucet is very much perfect with the color. How I wish I can have a lovely carpet, I really love the color.

[Shower Stalls]

I like your plumbing fixtures I think they go well with the decor.

[Cheap Computer Canada]

I dint lick it, instead i kinda drooled over it :P

[plumbing supplies]

To householders and persons about to build a house I would give the general advice to have only few plumbing fixtures, as few as they can possibly get along with, but to have these of the very best quality and fitted up in the very best manner.

[Central Heating Leeds]

Quality beats quantity everday of the week. great pictures and inspirations. Still dont understand why you guys call taps faucets

[Saleenadavid]

You are so generous! I just love finding beautiful and artistic freebies like this. They really brighten up my day, thank you!

[trade plumbing supplies]

Wow.. This is great! I agree.. Another significant part of the house and any approach should always be dependent on the actual utility of the space and the level of comfort which may be attained without compromise on convenience. Anyway, thanks and I definitely visit here more often.

[kennedy tool boxes]

Those are simply awesome, thank you for sharing !

Licked the screen..........

[Irvine]

Yeah those are simply awesome, two thumbs up :).... wanted my home to be like that

[Wade]

It’s just mind blowing, the collections are fantastic. I am sure that you have bought all those from a branded company. You have a very good taste, even I feel that the bath taps should be beautiful always. According to me, it shows our dignity.

[michelle]

Now I know what I am missing out on! Is it wrong to want a faucet or a sink for Christmas? Nothing else!

[John Kelly]

Thanks for sharing your taste I really like it. I would like to use some of them.
Great pictures and info.

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