Color, Crystals, and Conservations, Oh My!

Las Vegas, Nevada. Pretty much everyone has heard the phrase what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but this is the first day of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) where manufacturers from around the globe show off their latest and greatest. Everyone exhibiting here hopes that what they showcase in Vegas ends up in homes from California to China. Walking through acres of displays highlighting everything homeowners need to appoint their kitchens and baths can be thrilling and a little daunting, so I focused on fixtures such as faucets and showerheads. Although it's tempting to tell you about the etched glass range hood that can be customized with your puppy's portrait! Read on to see a sampling of the coolest new ways to get water. --Shelley D. Hutchins

Glam Life
One new line of bathroom fixtures will be staying in Vegas as part of a 76-acre, multi-billion dollar development going on called City Center. Renowned architect Cesar Pelli is designing one of the hi-rise buildings and designers from Delta took inspiration form his clean contemporary style when they were asked to create the bath fixtures for this not-so-small project. The City Center series will also be available to consumers. Delta, www.deltafaucets.com.

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away
Brizo knows that consumers want luxury in the shower, but they also feel that water conservation is a big issue and it's only going to get bigger. H2O Kinetics is their new technology for getting clients the feel of water pouring down on them while using around 36 percent less water. H2O Kinetics controls droplet size, shape and velocity to deliver a decadent bathing experience while being mindful of a healthy planet. Shown is the RSVP shower head ( comes in ceiling or wall mount options) which is just one style that has been introduced with H2O Kinetics. Brizo, www.brizo.com.

Water Colors
Hansa is bringing color into the bath. Specifically into the shower. Several new showerheads from the German company integrate color directly into the water stream while one groovy addition comes in vivid hues that will definitely give bathers a bright wake-up call. HansaColour (seen here) has a ring of colored light in the center of the water stream that can be changed from green to blue to pink at the touch of a button or set to slowly rotate through the spectrum. HansaClear also lights up the shower droplets but through a clear flat showerhead that glows with colorful light. Hansa2Day showerheads don't light up, but they do come in cool shades like bright red or yellow with the added bonus of a waterfall-like flow of water that fall over the top of the showerhead simultaneously with the regular shower flow from below. Hansa, www.hansa.com.

Flex It
The Ono Highflex from KWC features a flexible gooseneck for a new twist in kitchen faucet design. The high arc of the facuet is entirely flexible for easy to manouver spray control. Plus, it just looks cool. KWC, www.kwc.ch.

Everything that Glitters
The ultra-sleek fixture company, Grohe, has added a touch of tradition and a bit of brilliance to their new lines. The Kensington collection of bathroom fixtures features Swarovski crystals set in polished chrome for a sparkling addition to the bathing ritual. Grohe, www.grohe.com.