Normally I think Swarovski jewels encrusted onto household appliances look tacky and ridiculous, so I'm a little surprised to hear myself saying that the Swarovski Jewels Sink collection from Antologia is actually pretty nice. Simple, tasteful, and artistic, the basic white and black sinks aren't overrun with big sparkling jewels so much as they're accented and enhanced by them. Each piece is put together by hand with Signity jewels.
Any kind of jewels on a bathroom fixture are still completely impractical and difficult to clean, of course, but these are nice to look at nevertheless.
If you just can't seem to fit enough diamonds into your life then here's a new place to put them: on your bathroom faucets. Designed by architect Nilo Gioacchini, the Oz Diamond Edition faucet consists of gold with a strip of 282 sparkling natural diamonds. For the room that just needs more bling I guess. Of course they're beautiful, and any sink with one of these faucets will also be beautiful, but diamonds in the kitchen and the bathroom? It kinda strikes me as a waste of jewels (not to mention a pain to keep clean).
It's all about "multimedia" these days with cell phones that double as mp3 players and iPods that play movies. But have you ever considered getting yourself a multimedia washbasin? It probably strikes you as ridiculous (and if it doesn't it probably should), but honestly I think it's actually a pretty cool idea. At least I think this interpretation, the Meltdown Sink by WET STUDIO, is a cool idea. The Meltdown functions as (of course) a sink, but in addition to that it has the following decidedly unique and weird (but totally fun and useful) multimedia features: • It glows from within in your choice of orange, lemon, white, or black. • The glow can be customized with a small static projection screen to display personalized messages, artwork, or anything else onto the sink's surface from within. • An internal amplified speaker system allows the sink to play your CDs and mp3s. No more ugly radio in the bathroom messing up your decor!
Not only is this faucet beautiful but it also appeals to the whimsical child inside of me that still secretly gets a kick out of using silly straws. Bright vibrant color combines with the natural beauty of glass for a unique visual impact. Standing tall above the vanity the James McKelvey collection of glass faucets feature a ribbed hand-blown design in lead-free crystal that is easy to clean and bacteria resistant. And they're not only beautiful to look at, but to use also as the water will stream down from such a high vantage point. Available in a variety of heights, colors, and single or double-twist designs, you can easily fit it into almost any color and decorating scheme.
This isn't the most practical sink I've ever seen, after all the bowl is upside down, but it does have a hidden benefit. The Concerto Major sink's bowl is upside down. The benefit of this is that when the water hits the hammered copper dome it creates a waterfall with gentle sound effects. The sink has a very natural feel with the combination of mesquite hardwood and copper. It would work well in a spa bathroom for a very zen retreat.
I think bathrooms lend themselves to a sense of peace naturally, if only because of the flowing water and solitude, but this Yin Yang Wading Pool Lavatory from Kohler takes inspiration from seashells and the Chinese symbol for harmony to enhance that feeling even further. It's extremely simple, with a shallow basin that has a slightly raised center to encourage unique water patterns as it flows towards the offset drain. It's all designed to inspire elegance and a sense of balance, which I think it does very well.
This just goes to show that anything in your house can be upgraded and used as an opportunity to express your personal style, even the drains in your sink and shower. These Luxury Venetian Jewelled Vanity Wastes can either be the perfect accent of color to an otherwise plain and simple sink or shower, or they can add even more spice to an already bold design. They're available in so many designs and colors from Murano House you're sure to find something you like -- from bright rainbow colors to simple classic Italian time pieces. Who wouldn't want a beautiful drain that also tells you the time while you're taking a shower in the morning?
You've seen what Clarke Sorensen can do with a urinal, now check out his fanciful sinks. By their very nature, pedestal sinks are graceful and elegant. But in the hands of Sorensen, the elongated shape of the base becomes a stem and the reservoir, a beautifully detailed poppy. Made from high-fire porcelain, the sinks are available in other flower designs as well as leaves and shells. Designed to sit atop a cabinet or a pedestal, the sinks can be custom-ordered to go with any color scheme. $2,800.
I've seen a lot of very pretty sinks in my surfings around the net, and I have to say this amber Rivenrock Terra Acqua Stone Vessel is one of my absolute favorites! Cut from boulders found in riverbeds in Yunnan each one is unique and beautiful in its own way. The full Montecito Stone collection includes vessels of all shapes, sizes, and colors created of stones from around the world. The Miramar basin of natural queen stone also strikes me, with varied bands of contrasting color streaking throughout. Priced at $1,195 and up.
Kohler Glass Lavatories combine the raw brilliant beauty of glass with the equally raw and brilliant beauty of water. It seems a natural pairing as light and textures are blended together using innovating techniques to create the several different glass lavatory designs available as part of Kohler's Nature's Chemistry™ collection. Pictured above is the Lavinia, and also available in the collection are the deeper Facet vessel and the rectangular Antilla. And the look is easy to customize by mixing and matching your personal choice of fixtures. $900-$2000.
For some, reading about the latest island vacation hot spots and hearing other people's opinions about how it does or doesn't meet their expectations and stack up to the competition is where it ends, but for others that's just the first step -- after reading they actually head out and go there to see for themselves. If that's you, then here's the perfect way to weigh in your own opinions on something someone else will read before they book a flight: Concierge.com's "Vote for your favorite" island getaways. You can vote for your favorites, "sink" the ones you hated, and even submit a location or two of your own. It's fast, anonymous, and free, so there's no reason you shouldn't pop over and see what's topping the list!
This Titanic lamp looks exceptionally simple and downright plain in design other than the fact that it's "sinking" right into the table like its famous namesake ship did into the sea so many years ago. It's made of lacquered wood with a cotton and steel shade, plus it does turn on to provide light so it appears more like a normal lamp that just happens to be sinking than it does some molded sculpture -- but you'll have to resist the urge to "save" it by setting it back up straight. Available in white only from Viable London.
Sarah, from Slashfood, brought the KWC Waterstation to my attention. This free-standing unit is designed so that multiple cooks can work in one area and share the same sink - all without constantly shuffling around and fighting for counter-space. It works because the sectioned, multi-layered countertop rotates, revealing colanders, sinks and even more workspace. It could work out very well in homes where more than one person at a time cooks, or if your family likes to make food preparation into a group activity. The movable cutting boards may take some getting used to, but since it takes up even less space than a conventional island, it would be a great option for slightly smaller kitchens. The units cost about $12,000.
As fun as the Soft Washbowl is, it doesn't hold a candle to the Cubetto Pedestal from Vitraform when it comes to elegance. The pedestal has both mouth-blown and cast glass components and is designed to match and support a variety of the sink basins offered by Vitraform. It is pictured with a clear glass one and a glass countertop, but Black, White Cobalt and custom colors are available. For a truly unique look, mounting some small lights behind the pedestal would give the whole installation a beautiful glow. Price: $9,800.
Made of soft polyurethane, the Soft Washbowl is an interesting counterpoint to more angular, modern sinks and hard countertops made of materials like metal and granite. The sink was designed by Hella Jongerius for droog design and measures 16" x 12" x 8". It can be attached to the wall as easily as a more conventional sink can be, and would make a nice addition to a child's bathroom due to the material and the fact that it is currently only available in bright blue. Price: $479.
As fun as the 
