What red wine spill?

If you're prone to splashing your pinot, some of the newest colors in quartz countertops may be for you, and they'll be available soon. Berry and eggplant tones were introduced this week in Las Vegas at the annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (KBIS), a trade convention. Paired with cabinets in a dark-brown espresso finish, these colorful surfaces take on the rich appeal of a chocolate-covered cherry, while raspberry ripple comes to mind when they're teamed with cream-colored built-ins—another trend evident at the show. —The Editors

Koan quartz countertop from the Zen series by Silestone by Cosentino.

Mulberry Mist quartz countertop by CaesarStone

Fancy That!

It was a tiny bit insulting to overhear some aunts whispering during a family gathering at my place, "Why does she make everything so FANCY?" It's not like I've decorated my home Liberace style. In fact, my taste runs more to midcentury minimalism. As it turns out, they were referring to my habit of replacing ordinary household items with finer versions of themselves. It never occurred to me that I was being fancy (or that fancy was BAD); spiffing things up seemed as basic as brushing my teeth. Why not make the items you use and look at every day as beautiful as possible?

For example, who wants to see a jumble of vitamin bottles? It may seem like a bother to transfer vitamins from their original plastic containers to apothecary jars—preferably made of dark glass to best preserve nutrients (as you can see, I'm still looking for the perfect ones)—but, in return, for a moment's effort, you're rewarded with something lovely. And don't cotton balls look great in a big covered jar instead of their original plastic bag?

Something's Fishy in the Bathroom

View the Fish 'n Flush slide show

I've had bad luck with goldfish. Charlie lived for six years, which must be some kind of record for a pet won at a kindergarten fair. He survived two cross-country car trips in a tin canister, turned from bright orange to the lovely pinkish hue of rose gold as he aged, and met an untimely death when a cloud of bug spray that was meant for a palmetto roach drifted over his uncovered bowl. (Sorry, Charlie!) Orange Julius, a pet-store purchase, came next. I don't recall the precise details of his demise; by that time we had a cat and…wait a minute, what did happen to that fish?

Perhaps I would have taken better care of my piscine pets had I been able to keep them in a Fish 'n Flush. In fact, I'm sure I would have. For one thing, I would have sunk about $299 into the toilet-tank kit, an investment sure to capture my attention. And for another, I would have spent more time in their company, perhaps even reading them One Fish, Two Fish.

Splish-Splash, the Latest Showers and Baths

I trace my love of spa-like bathrooms to those 1970s Calgon commercials, in which a woman escapes all of her problems by soaking in a sudsy bath. (Take me away, indeed!) If you too find few things more relaxing than submerging yourself in a whirlpool tub and letting the jets knead the muscles in your back, or standing under a multihead shower fixture as water spills over you, then these new ablution options will wash away your aches and pains. —Julie Taraska, Articles Editor

The New Look of Vanities

Gone are the days of boring bath furnishings. Give your powder room some character and style with these four combination wash basin and base cabinets. We promise they'll make you look good. —Nicole Sforza, Deputy Articles Editor

	Kohler Mersing This Malaysian-inspired model will add flavor to your bathroom. Bamboo and Burmese Mahogany are hand-scored to achieve the piece's rich, textured finish, while the soft-close hinges ensure that the two doors won't slam. Matching mirror included. $1,850. kohler.com.
	Vanity Flair Artistry Collection Splurge on this curvy Art Deco–look unit made from walnut and maple; it's available in more than 40 finishes. As shown, $13,265; without wood top, $11,675. 770-479-4108, vanityflair.net
	Walker Zanger Zen A meld of Arts and Crafts and Asian influences, this teak vanity features a hammered-copper basin, a limestone top, and two doors with reed inserts. $3,560. 877-611-0199, walkerzanger.com.
	Bristol and Bath Double Open Teak Vanity Put this teak baby in your bathroom or out on the porch—it can withstand the elements. The unit is available with an open bottom section, shown, or with one of five door styles. $1,840. 610-962-9329, bristolbath.com.

 

Touch of Glass

To add shimmering interest to this South Carolina kitchen, designer Linda H. McClain, CKD, of Signature Kitchens in Charleston (signaturekitchens.net), specified a 1-inch-thick glass breakfast bar. The blue-green tones of the glass coordinate attractively with Blue King granite countertops and slate floor tiles elsewhere in the room. Photograph: J. Savage Gibson.

We've seen natural stone, synthetic stone, metal, wood, and even paper countertops. So what's the next big thing? According to many high-end architects and kitchen and bath designers, it's glass. “People are getting bored with the same old materials,” says designer Robert Schwartz of St. Charles of New York in New York City (stcharlesofnewyork.com). “For about the same price as better granite or marble, glass offers a crisp, soft contemporary alternative.”

Crystallized glass can be molded into any shape and comes in long sheets sized like granite, so you can get a big island without a lot of seaming. The polished, opaque surface is also heat and stain resistant. “You can put hot pots right on it, and it's impervious to oils, wine, lemons, and red wine,” says Schwartz.