Up until now, the ‘70s have been the no-fly zone of modern design inspiration. While you can find plenty of bathroom fixtures, tiles and furniture that recall eras ranging from 19th century Victorian to 1920s art deco to mid-century mod, the 1970s have been largely avoided. And there’s a good reason for that: ‘70s interior design could be dreadful, especially in the bathroom. Shag carpeting? Wall-to-wall mirrors with etched murals? Foil wallpaper? Oh, boy.

But where others fear to tread, Walker-Zanger bravely steps forward with its new Vibe Mosaics Collection. For use as either flooring or walls, these porcelain and ceramic tiles take the geometric designs and colors of the ‘70s and give them a fresh feel. Make no doubt, these are bold designs intended for bold homeowners, but I’ll bet they’ll stay in fashion much longer than their predecessors.

www.walkerzanger.com

While you can see bathroom vanities in every possible shape and size at KBIS, these units by Majestic Gemstone are true one-of-a-kind wonders. They’re made from inlaid semi-precious stones and fossils, cut so thin as to be translucent. Lit from within, the gems cast a soft glow, revealing intricate crystalline patterns. Each one is genuinely unique. If you want to bring a natural look into your bathroom in a modern style, this is the way to do it!

www.majestic-gemstone.com

I like retro design when it’s executed with a little artful restraint, and these new drawer pulls from Amerock have a 1950s atomic-age vibe without going over the top. They feel like true artifacts from the era, not imitations that look like caricatures. So if you’re putting together your mid-century kitchen, take a look at these pieces of cabinet hardware.

www.amerock.com

Touting itself as the first producer of “green” bathroom vanities, Waterfall Bathroom Furniture introduced its debut product line today — and they’re definitely luscious vanities whether you’re in the market for eco-friendly furniture or not. Designed by Lucy Price, the contemporary pieces come in 11 fun colors that can either meld with your current palette (Putty or Robin’s Egg) or truly pop out (China Red). Waterfall vanities are made with FSC-certified formaldehyde-free MDF, water-based paints and quartz countertops. So if you want to go green and stay in style, these new vanities are worth investigating.

www.waterfallbath.com

One of my first stops of the day: the Delta/Brizo booth. From the faucets displayed on the booth’s walls, it’s easy to spot design trends (high-arc, bridge and wall-mount are hot) and finishes (I saw a lot of polished chrome and oil-rubbed bronze). I was especially interested in their hands-free technology, which is both eco-friendly and universal design-friendly.

Brizo’s Pascal Culinary Faucet

Motion and touch sensors let you turn on this kitchen faucet in a variety of ways. You can tap it with your fingertips, pull out the spout or simply put your hands under it. Sensors react according to the type of motion, so if you want to wash your hands, the water flows but if you accidentally drop something in the sink, it doesn’t. I like the high arc (perfect for washing big pots) and the sleek design.

Delta’s e-Flow Faucet for Baths

This cute hands-free faucet for the bathroom lets you adjust the water temperature with a twist of the top handle. Customize its look by choosing from six colorful handles (great for kids’ baths).

Okay, we’ve finally hit the floor and walked a few miles in giant circles, so let’s see what cool things we’ve found so far…

TOTO, the Japanese company probably best known in the U.S. market for its power-flush toilets, is displaying a Zen-inspired bathroom suite that looks soothing even from a distance. The tops of the Ryohan sink and toilet look similar to the circular grooves of a Zen sand garden — which will make you either want to stop and meditate the cosmos or immediately run your fingers over the surface. Or maybe both. The Ryohan faucet is a hands-free unit equipped with an EcoPower sensor that’s actually powered by flowing water, resulting in fewer battery replacements.

www.totousa.com

The 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show is just a few hours away from opening its doors, and I already have experienced extreme product lust: VitrA’s Istanbul collection. We were able to get a sneak preview of the Central Hall yesterday, walking the show floor to gather last-minute ideas for the 50 online video reports we’ll be shooting this week. Although there was a lot of setting-up still to do, the VitrA booth glimmered like an oasis of mod ‘60s shapes that simultaneously combine the company’s Turkish heritage with an organic feel –- very unique and cool as heck. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, he intends the Istanbul line to be a homage to the city that “remembers that past and imagines the future.” And it does! Take a gander:

Unfortunately, I can probably only afford the toilet brush holder. But it’s a great toilet brush holder.

VitrA USA

More on the way after the show opens!

To be honest, kitchens and baths are not exactly the first things that come to mind when planning a trip to Vegas. (In my case, it’s usually, “Where are the penny slots?”) But for three days this week, Las Vegas will become the undisputed Kitchen and Bath Capital of the World. That’s because the National Kitchen and Bath Association is holding its annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference here — which means 40,000 industry professionals from all over the world will descend on the Las Vegas Convention Center to see what’s new.

Of course, there will be lots of speeches, roundtable discussions and schmoozing going on, but we’re here for the goodies — there will be over 900 companies here showing off their latest products and design concepts. The manufacturers range from household names like Kohler or American Standard to the more exotic, like Jiu Jiang Caiyi Hardware Product Co Ltd. (There is a large contingent of Chinese companies at the show this year.) So our mission will be to wade into this giant pavilion of brand-new kitchen and bath products and pull out the coolest new items for you to see.

While the show doesn’t actually start until Tuesday, we’ll be getting a sneak preview this afternoon when we take a walking tour of the convention floor as the exhibitors set up their booths. Then, over the rest of the week, Kelley and I will be writing, taking photos and even shooting some video to give you an inside look at all the latest products and design trends that will be hitting the market throughout the year. If you’re planning on making any kitchen or bath purchases or remodels any time soon, then stay tuned!

In the meantime, if there are any particular things you’d like us to investigate at the show, then let us know — we might just see the perfect item you’re looking for.