Ann Sacks: The New Home Source Interview

Hua stoneware tiles from Ann Sacks’ Robert Kuo Chinois collection adds both elegance and quirkiness to any wall. The line of stoneware, like all Ann Sacks tiles, are produced on site at the company’s Portland factory.

What started as a 1980s Mexican Talavera tile trivet company — run out of the Portland bungalow of designer Ann Sacks — has morphed into one of the country’s premier tile and stone companies.

Its many product lines include dynamic innovations such as three-dimensional surfaces and extend into plumbing fixtures and bathroom furnishings.

While Ann Sacks the designer is no longer with the company, having been bought out by Kohler in 1989, the company still carries her name with pride and is as influential as ever in the world of interior design. NewHomeSource checks in with Ted Chappell, who’s been president of Ann Sacks since 2013, to find out what’s ahead for the company that seems to make everyone “ooh” and “ahh”:

Name: Ted Chappell

Position: President of Ann Sacks, where he’s responsible for the company’s strategic direction and daily operations.

Lives in: Portland, Ore.

Hometown: “I’m originally a Jersey boy who grew up across the river from Manhattan, but my family and I are loving the Pacific Northwest right now.”

NewHomeSource: Ann Sacks has grown from a tile company to one that designs everything from plumbing to bath furnishings. How did you know it was time to expand?

Chappel: We expanded into plumbing and bath accessories when we realized many of our clients weren’t just looking for surface solutions (like tile), but whole bath solutions. We are fortunate to have (bathroom and kitchen product company) Kallista as a sister company within the Kohler Decorative Products Group with whom we could partner.

NHS: When glass tile became a bonafide trend, Ann Sacks was among the first to bring it to market. Now it’s everywhere. How has the product changed over the years?

Chappel: Ann Sacks has always been a leader in glass tile and it remains an important product category for us.On the high end of the spectrum, we drive innovation with new designs, such as the glass-encased fruit paper product we launched at this year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) called Market. Using the same Egyptian technique used to make papyrus, the earliest forms of paper, Market features tissue-thin pieces of fresh produce between layers of glass.

At the lower end, we look at differentiating by texture and color and capitalizing on the latest glass technology. This has been a successful formula for us.

NHS: What do you consider to be Ann Sack’s signature? What do you do better than anyone else?

Chappel: We’re best known for our ceramic tile, which we’re proud to boast is still “handmade in Portland, Ore.” This is an important part of our heritage, which our loyal clients have embraced over the years. In fact, when designers visit our factory in Portland, they have an opportunity to make their own custom tile. Last year, for example, we partnered with designer Robert Kuo on a new line of stoneware called Chinois, which we, of course, produce on site.

NHS: Your new, Moroccan-influenced collection with designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard was a hit at KBIS. What made you want to work with Martyn? 

Chappel: Martyn has an amazing design flare and aesthetic, which filled a void in our current product portfolio. He was an absolute pleasure and inspiration to work with on a collection of encaustic ceramic and glass tile because he’s both talented and charismatic and that comes through in his designs. (To see artisans at work on Bullard’s Hermitage mirrored glass collection, visit http://vimeo.com/88463156.)

NHS: What inspires you? How much do you look to consumers to drive product design? 

Chappel: Our design inspiration often comes from fashion, architecture or travel. With 17 showrooms across the country and one in London, we’re also able to collect feedback directly from customers, whether that’s a small, specific request or an idea for a potential new product line. They are an amazing source of market data.

NHS: What do you consider the biggest mistake people make when selecting tile?

Chappel: We always caution our clients not to “overcomplicate” or mix too many colors, mediums and textures.

NHS: What can we look forward to from Ann Sacks in the coming year?

Chappel: We’re expanding our influence beyond the bathroom into all areas of the house, especially kitchens, fireplaces and patios. We’re also developing products specifically for the commercial and hospitality markets.

NHS: Can you share any design blogs, shows or magazines you follow? How do you stay atop the trends — or ahead of them?

Chappel: We read every design and shelter magazine you can imagine!

NHS: Describe your design style in one word.

Chappel: How about 10 words: Clean, simple and maybe a bit of East meets West!

By Ana Connery

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Classic Style, Clean Lines and Hands-Free

The Latest Trends in Faucets and Fixtures

A pull-down faucet from Delta Faucet's Fuse Collection, Kohler's Moxie showerhead and Pfister's Glenfield faucet are just a few examples of the latest trends in faucets and fixtures.

Economics, my dear Watson. Think the economy only has an effect on your wallet? Think again – and look to your kitchens and baths as proof.

After weathering tough economic times, it seems Americans have a new appreciation for more practical kitchens and baths.

“Simplicity and classic minimalism is in for faucets and fixtures,” says New York City interior designer Robin Wilson. “This may be indicative of the economic times, as fewer consumers want to utilize their budget for something that will go out of style in a few years.”

Sean Murphy, a home improvement expert with Build.com, agrees. Consumers are demanding products that are smaller, practical and efficient products that makes their life easier. “Convenience is a growing trend, especially in the kitchen,” he says. Enter the hands-free faucet to fit that niche. Hands-free faucets are gaining popularity, Murphy says, because kitchen tasks are made easier by allowing users to simply touch the faucet to activate water flow, or in the case of Kohler’s Sensate and Moen’s MotionSense faucets, there’s no need to touch the faucet at all. Sensors in the faucets detect motion to activate and shut off water flow.

Save Water, Save Money

While hands-free faucets may make filling large pots of water easier, consumers are attracted to them for more than convenience. “Our customers are gravitating toward (touch-free faucets) because they are cleaner and help save water,” says John A. Petrie, president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and owner of MH Custom Cabinetry in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

As water prices increase nationwide, so has demand for water-saving – and, thus, money-saving – products. That’s something today’s kitchen and bath manufacturers are savvy to, says Bob Rodenbeck, director of research and development for Delta Faucet Company in Indianapolis, Ind. He says manufacturers are creating water-efficient products that meet consumers’ needs, without requiring consumers to change their habits.

As a result, the days of water-saving dribbling faucets and showerheads are over – many manufacturers now use aeration or air induction technologies that increases air flow while reducing water flow, which means no loss in water pressure. One such example of aerator tech is Pfister’s Glenfield faucet, which features a Triflow Aerator with an Eco Setting that uses 50 percent less water.

We Want Pretty, Yet Easy to Maintain

While stainless steel continues to be a popular finish for faucets and fixtures, Petrie says brushed chrome and nickel and bronze-like finishes are quickly becoming favorites. Such finishes are “especially desirable because they don’t show many marks – fingerprint, water spots – so they’re easy to live with and are family friendly. People are attracted to those types of finishes because they are just easier to care for.” He also adds that contemporary, sleek, European-style faucets and fixtures are replacing straight lines and bold angles.

Houston interior designer Pamela O’Brien says less is definitely in. “Once upon a time, there were separate hot and cold handles and sometimes even a soap dispenser,” says O’Brien, of Pamela Hope Designs. Now customers are requesting single-handle faucets and pull-down sprayheads to help reduce clutter and the amount of time it takes to clean them. “People want something easy – if something is beautiful but hard to maintain, they get frustrated and are not happy with it in the long run.”

In addition to making faucets and fixtures easier to maintain, customers are adding flair to the kitchen and bath without going over the top or spending too much money. They’re doing that by getting bold with color, says Travis Rotelli, senior interior designer at the Kohler Design Center in Kohler, Wis. “This year, there’s been a reintroduction of color in the kitchen and bathroom space. Using color in these rooms can introduce a wow factor that is budget friendly.” Delta Faucet’s Fuse Kitchen Collection, for example, includes a split-finish pull-down faucet that combines a stainless steel finish with a choice of red, black or white.

Kitchens and Bathrooms Go Digital

As more people use smartphones and similar technology, staying connected – even while in the kitchen or bathroom – will become more common. “As technology continues to infiltrate virtually every aspect of our lives, and every nook and cranny of our home, manufacturers will be challenged to develop solutions that make the tech invasion as seamless – and stylish – as possible,” says Ji Kim, director of global design for Moen.

Expect to see more tech in your kitchens and bathrooms, like the Kohler’s Moxie, a Bluetooth-enabled showerhead that allows users to stream music or news while showering.

By Patricia L. Garcia

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