Professional Advice: The Pre-Reno Purge

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So you’re about to embark on a kitchen renovation. You’ve met with your kitchen designer (or consulted your favourite kitchen blog), selected your appliances and have all other materials chosen and ordered. You’ve even made cooking arrangements for the duration of the project and have moved your furniture into a Pod. But have you purged?

One of the biggest concerns I hear when re-designing a client’s kitchen is whether or not they’ll have enough room for all their place-settings, cutlery and kitchen gadgets. Current cabinetry is much more efficient in how it uses space, so finding room for everything is rarely a problem.

But rather than assuming there’s room for it all, redoing your kitchen gives you a terrific excuse to go through the contents of your kitchen and figure out what is truly essential, and what is best for the Good-Will store. You have to empty out the contents of your cabinets anyway, so why not use that opportunity to give your kitchen a good purge?

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Be honest about the purge as well. Sure that fondue set was a lovely gift from your Great-Aunt fifteen years ago, and yes it is in good condition. But when was the last time you used it? Do you really need 3 turkey basters? How much Tupperware does a family of four really need?

Of course there’s no hard and fast rule for the purge, but I follow my own version of the 5 second rule: If I can’t think of the last time I used something within 5 seconds it goes into the “purge” box. Some of the items in the box are still useful (just not used) and are packed into a box and stored until they are needed. The rest are given to charity or are recycled.

I’m not trying to turn your kitchen remodel into an episode of Hoarders. But when you’re updating your kitchen cabinets, it makes sense to update the contents.

Cooking Up a Storm With GE Monogram

I've recently returned from four days at the GE Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, KY.  As it turns out, this is both a good and a bad thing.  The bad part is that I'm no longer in the company of a terrific group of designer, bloggers and  all around great people.  I've learned about some really well-designed appliances (more on them in a future post) and even had the chance to cook on them.  The good?  I am no longer being tempted by large amounts of great food.

I'm not kidding about this.  True, we were at the Monogram Experience Center (MEC for short) to learn about GE's high-end line of appliances.  But to truly appreciate Monogram, the MEC staff feels you need to cook with it.  The teaching kitchen at the MEC houses six smaller kitchens: five for small groups of participants, and one main kitchen for Chef Joe and Chef Brian.  These guys were amazing and really brought a lot of passion to what might have been a stoic couple of days of technical talk.

Training days were divided into product knowledge sessions, followed by the opportunity to put that knowledge into practice.  So after we learned about the Advantium Speed Oven for example, we went into the kitchen to actually cook with it.  From a designer's point of view, this is a really clever strategy. I now have specific knowledge about a very useful appliance I can share with my clients.  Win-win!


We cooked all our meals during our stay with the exception of our first dinner which was expertly prepared by Chef Joe & Chef Brian.

Cabia with a Salad of Cucumber & Celery
Curry Aioli

Capriole Farms Goat Cheese Cheesecake

Compared to other cooking classes I've taken, this was pretty simple stuff.  Everything was prepped and measured for us, so we essentially were just assembling our meals.  This is not a criticism.  In fact the amount of work the kitchen staff put into getting our "meez" together allowed us to focus on the appliances which, in fairness, is why we were there.

Grilled Chicken w/ Dirty Rice & Arugula Salad

Orecchiette w/ Sundried Tomato Pesto & Mushrooms

The finale of our time at the MEC was an "Iron Chef" competition.  Our team ( Nick, Brenda, Lori , Tara and yours truly) had 50 minutes to create a "meal" that featured the theme ingredient:  lemons.  Here was our entry:

From left to right: Baked Apple Panacake w/ Lemon & Cinnamon, Cranberry,
Chocolate and Pecan Scone, Chicken & Bacon Chowder, Blueberry Lemonade.

So now I diet.  Thanks to Michelle, Nancy, Paula and all the trainers at the MEC for an amazing few days.

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*My trip and expenses are paid for by GE but my words, opinions, tweets, quips, etc. are nothing but my own.

I Still Remember LEGO - Episode II

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Wouldn't this be the coolest room ever?  It would certainly make it easier to keep all your LEGO bricks in one place.  This application simply uses the 32 x 32 stub base plate (10" x 10") adhered to the wall.  If green isn't your thing, the base plate also comes in blue.

Source: OhDeeDoh, Design Milk

Using Your iPad in the Kitchen

I've discussed technology and the kitchen before, and with the introduction of the iPad into our lives it's only going to become more and more commonplace.  But if you're anything like my, food and technology is a recipe for disaster (I once dropped my iPhone into a bowl of soup.  True story.).  The folks at Chef Sleeve must have heard about people like my, and have introduced a simple but effective solution to the problem.  Bob gives us a demo: 

Chef Sleeve is available from their web site.

WIP - False Creek Remodel - Part 4

When I decided to do document remodels "as they happened" I knew I was opening myself up to the possibility of showing mistakes to the world.  The fact is, "things" happen.  What you want to pay attention to is how they are handled.  But before I discuss the "thing" that happened, I'll show you the light at the end of the tunnel ...

This is where we are today.  It's drywall time! Framing is finished, plumbing rough-ins complete and the electrical ... wow.  The electrical.  I knew we were going to need a lot of wring in this job, but 1400' (450 metres) of cable!  That's a LOT of wire being pulled.  Not surprising really when you consider that we were moving the kitchen approximately 10' from its original location.  Another consideration for this project is the fact it uses steel framing.  That means we needed shielded cable shielded cable which is considerably more expensive than Lumex (Romex) house wiring.  Thankfully I've worked in apartments in this area before and knew what to expect.  Still ... 1400'!

This is probably my favourite part of the remodel.  Yes, the kitchen will be amazing, but the new shower is 48" wide by 36" deep ... and we managed to raise the ceiling.  You can't really tell by this picture, but the new shower feels cavernous.  There will be a hand-held shower head and a frame-less glass shower door.  In the bulkhead above the shower we even have managed to fit a water-proof shower light.

And now, the "thing".

I received a phone call from the customer at about 7am last Friday morning.  One of the pipes in the bathroom had burst and there was water throughout the suite, the hallway and unfortunately a neighbouring suite.  The restoration company had been called and was on the way, the electrician had already shut of the electricity in the suite, and the contractor and plumber were on the way to help with the clean-up.

My father always told me that true character is shown during adversity.  The trades responded quickly and professionally, and the customer is keeping this incident in perspective. I know he's not happy about what has happened.  Nor is the neighbour.  Nor am I.  But when we spoke that morning he commented on how fortunate it was that it happened before the drywall had been completed.  I added that it was fortunate the hardwood flooring wasn't installed.  Silver linings are helpful at times like this.

The neighbours had no silver lining and have been inconvenienced while repairs are done to their suite.  If the restoration contractors do as good a job on the neighbouring suite as they did on my client's, they'll be good as new in no time.  That doesn't eliminate the inconvenience, but hopefully they'll take comfort in knowing the job is being handled properly.  Not to make light of the situation, but this is why you should always use a qualified remodelling contractor, and have contracts in place.

Next up in the False Creek Remodel:  The Cabinets arrive!

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WIP: False Creek Remodel is an actual remodel project of mine that I'm blogging in real time.  To see all the entries in this series just click the FOLLOW ME buttons at the top right of this page.  If there's any part of the project you're interested in, leave me a note in the comments section.

Experiencing GE Monogram & Louisville, KY

Photo: GE Monogram Experience Center

Keeping a blog has its perks.  At the beginning of the year the fine folk at Brizo invited me and 18 other bloggers and designers to New York to learn about their products.  This week my jet-setting self is off to Louisville, Kentucky courtesy* of GE Monogram.  We'll settle in for 2 days of learning and cooking at the GE Monogram Experience Center, and will be staying at the very cool 21C Museum Hotel.  In between ... well this IS the land of bourbon, bats and barbeque right?  Our schedule is tight, but some of the group I met in New York are planning a get-away to seek out some of those famous Kentucky ribs and Mint Julips.

Photo: 21C Museum Hotel

I'll be updating via Twitter during my stay.  You can follow me at @ArneSalvesen or via the #GEJune hashtag.  Blog posts for Useful Spaces will come as time permits (Translation: Between BBQ visits)

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*My trip and expenses are paid for by GE but my words, opinions, tweets, quips, etc. are nothing but my own.

The Toastman Cometh

I thought this was a suitable toast ... er ... post for a Saturday.

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This is Maurice Bennett aka "The Toastman."  Maurice creates art by using flame as his paintbrush.  He's used burnt items in his work before, but it's his latest medium that's been gaining Maurice the most attention.  His latest medium?  Toast.

Photo Source

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How does Maurice achieve this effect?  I was hoping for a huge toaster-like contraption.  Regrettably it's nothing quite so complicated.

Check out all of Maurice's work on his web site.

Food Fridays: Pronto in the Cambie Village

The Cambie Village is the stretch of Cambie Street between Broadway and 16th, and while the concept may be a marketing creation by the local merchants, it is a very appropriate title.  Similar to The Heights (near my home), The Village (where our showroom is located) has a real neighbourhood feel to it.  During the Canada-Line construction, the Village businesses pulled together and started helping each other out.  Today the neighbourhood feeling is getting stronger as new businesses open, adding to the flavour and diversity of the area.

The area definitely got much tastier with the opening of Pronto Caffe, just across the street from the Park Theatre.  Pronto is a brand new restaurant that seems to have pulled its design inspiration from a combination of 50's  features diner and Vespa.  Sit down with a glass of Valpolicella and you'll half expect Marcello Mastroianni to join you in your booth.

Pronto's speciality is the heavenly creation known as porchetta.  Porchetta is Italian roast pork, stuffed with herbs and roasted for about 4 hours on the premises. You'll notice the heavenly aroma the moment you walk in the door.  The result is an incredibly flavourful roast pork.

Pronto offers porchetta sandwiches and dinners, served with fresh and seasonal sides like roasted potatoes. They also offer a range of other sides (like sauted kale) traditional dishes (panini, pasta, etc.) and even offers some vegetarian options.  Several people came in for take-out while I was there, so once the weather improves you may want to consider a porchetta picnic!

The atmosphere is casual and friendly – a great place to for a satisfying pre-movie snack.  Personally, if they keep serving me cracklin's (left) I may buy myself a Vespa and move in!

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Pronto Caffe
3473 Cabie Street
Vancouver, BC
604-722-9331

Quotes v. Estimates (Or: Are You Sure About That?)

As you start gathering prices for your kitchen or bathroom project, you'll come across both quotes and estimates for the work.  There's a big difference between the two:

Estimating is equivalent to guessing.  It's like saying "We don't know exactly what the project will cost, but here's our best guess.  Oh, and by the way, if we're wrong we'll be adding to your final bill."

Quoting is different.  Quoting is offering a specific price that will be charged for the work in question.  It's based on facts and experience, and a mistake in the quote comes out of the contractor's pocket, not the client's.

I quote whenever possible.  The kitchen I design for you will have specific cabinets, handles, countertop and installation requirements where we can be almost 100% certain of the cost.  Even with renovation elements like plumbing, lighting and painting, I can quote with relative certainty.  All items included will be listed on the quote, and items we haven't specifically chosen (e.g. handles, countertop material, etc.) will be listed with the allowance I've included.  The final price may or may not change depending on what you select and how it compares to the allowance.

There are some instances where estimating is required.  Areas where the work to be done is not visually apparent (e.g. behind walls yet to be removed) will be estimated based on what my trades and I know for certain.  These items will be identified and the amount I've allocated will be noted. Once my trades can get in and actually see what needs to be done I can quote on the work.

In order to properly compare competing prices, it's important for you to know what you're comparing.  When doing so, remember that it takes an expert to stand behind their price.

Source:  James Dibben (Blue Collar Coaching)

WIP - False Creek Remodel - Part 3

It's nowhere near as bad as it looks.

I says these words to virtually every customer at this point of a remodel.  The room has been gutted, wires and plumbing exposed and any "problems" we have to deal with are exposed for the world to see.  And it looks a mess.

This is where we were at at the beginning of the week at the False Creek Remodel.  The plumbing was where we thought it was, and also where we didn't think it was.  The wires you see in the photo on the left are actually lengths of conduit (metal pipe through which wires are run) that don't fit into our new plan.  Fortunately, because of some through planning, we have planned for all of this.

This is what the room looks like now.  All the unnecessary conduit has been cleared out, the PEX has been cleared out where we removed walls, and the new walls and drops have been framed in.  It's starting to look like the Sketchup models we looked at in the last post.  The short little wall in the middle of the room is a "pony" wall that will have the cooktop on the far side, and a raised eating bar (and wine racks) on the near side.

The PEX that needed to be cleared out also needed to be re-routed through the walls and drops we've created in the new layout.  My plumber has his work cut out for him.  Lots of PEX, plus a re-designed bathroom to plumb.  He's currently working in the new shower we've created.  There was a brief moment where the drain assembly wasn't cooperating and it was looking like we were going to have to bring out the jack-hammer.  Fortunately brute force prevailed and we avoided having to deal with a mile of red tape.

These are the drops that are allowing us to re-route all the plumbing and electrical in the suite.  Much like the "shroud" that surrounds the fridge and wall oven, I've tried to use the drops as part of the design.  The last thing I want in any design is to have to frame in something that doesn't look like it belongs.  The drops will help define the kitchen space, which hides their true purpose of housing all our mechanical services.

I haven't discussed the front hall closet yet.  It was originally two separate closets which looked very disjointed and only allowed for a stacking washer & dryer.  By combining the two closets into one wider and deeper closet (we'll add sliding doors later) we have a more useful space, and have enough room for a side-by-side arrangement for the washer dryer.

I mentioned earlier about finding potential problems once the walls had been opened up.  This is one such "problem".  It's a drain stack from the deck for the suite above ours ... and it's NOT moving.  So, the wall we had hoped to completely remove becomes a post.  It's not the end of the world (which is why we didn't think to check this wall before we started) and the new post will help frame the living space beyond.

The electrical and plumbing will be finished by the end of the week and with some luck the ducting for the new hood fan will be installed.  We'll look at that more closely in Part 4, and look at the suite as we start to close in the walls with drywall.

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WIP: False Creek Remodel is an actual remodel project of mine that I'm blogging in real time.  To see all the entries in this series just click the FOLLOW ME buttons at the top right of this page.  If there's any part of the project you're interested in, leave me a note in the comments section.

Crystal Clear Bathtub

I thought I’d seen it all in terms of bathroom luxury and, dare I say it, excess with the NUMI toilet from Kohler. But since then I’ve had my eyes opened to the fact that $6,500 for a toilet is small change in the plumbing world.

This bathtub (named Crystal Bathtub – low originality points there) has been hand-crafted by Baldi out of a single block of pure white crystal. Crystal Bathtub is 2 meters in length and 55cm in height, and will set you back a mere $790,000.  It's a perfect place to soak away all the stress from counting all your money.

The original block of crystal weighed in right around 10 tons, so I'd expect the Crystal Tub will need some reinforcement in the flooring members.  Make sure your staff look after that.  And while they're at it, be sure to find a tub filler more suitable for a tub of this grandeur.  Just a though.

Source:  DigsDigs.com

Resources: Kelly's Kitchen Sync

I "met" Kelly Morisseau almost 2 years ago via her blog Kitchen Sync.  Her forthright advice on kitchen design and remodelling was very much in line with my way of thinking, and Kitchen Sync gave me inspiration for what I wanted Useful Spaces to become.  It's been on my Blog Roll ever since and is a regular read for me.

So you can imagine my dismay (tongue planted firmly in my cheek) when Kelly announced the release of her book, "Kelly's Kitchen Sync".  She's managed to take her 25 years of kitchen design experience and format it into an easy to follow 210 pages.  How am I supposed to keep up with this??

Unlike the majority of design books out there, Kelly's Kitchen Sync features very few photographs, which as it turns out is a very good thing.  This isn't a "look how pretty these kitchens are" book.  Rather, it's a "this is the best way to make your kitchen functional and beautiful and not pull all your hair out while doing it" book.  The pictures it does feature are there to illustrate a point.  The rest of the book is a collection of experience-filled advice.  My favorite of the lot?  Kelly's mantra:

Not all products work well in every kitchen. 

Not all products are compatible with each other

This theme (my version is "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should") is repeated throughout the book in different ways, and it nicely sums up the secret to a successful kitchen project.  There is a plethora of kitchen choices available today (materials, finishes, appliances, etc) and they can lead you into trouble if you don't take the time to address the details.  Whether you plan on doing that yourself or hiring a professional Kelly helps you identify what those details are, and how to recognize potential trouble.  

Kelly's Kitchen Sync is divided into four sections.  The first part deals with the expectation vs. reality aspect of remodelling, and leads into the second part which deals with figuring out how to put things into motion to realize that reality.  The third section is where her tricks of the trade can be found.  Ever hear of a faucet wedgie?  You will here, and learn how to avoid them.  The final section of the book addresses how to put the first 3 parts together, and how to do your own review once your kitchen is finished. 

What's appealing about this book is how it can work for so many different types of clients.  Whether you're a "Reluctant Remodeller" or a "Enthusiastic DIY-er", there's is something you can learn.  I've been reading it for the past few days and I'm still coming across ideas I'll put into practice.  This is a definite "must include" in any Design library.

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Kelly’s Kitchen Sync: Insider Kitchen Design and Remodeling Tips from an awardwinning kitchen expert

Publisher: Springline Media, May 2011
222 pages
Retail price: $ 19.95 (U.S. and Canada)
ISBN # 978-0-9828732-0-5
Available at Amazon.com, BN.com (Barnes & Noble), and Amazon.ca

Teach Your Children Well

I was speaking with a friend of mine who was bemoaning the fact she was running late, and she was going to have to pick up take-out for dinner AGAIN. When I suggested her kids (12 & 14) could make dinner she looked at me like I was insane. “They’re too young and besides, they don’t know how,” was her answer.

I'm the last person to tell anyone how to raise their kids, but this one seems like a no-brainer. It used to be that cooking was taught by one generation to the next.  Recipes were passed through the family like an inheritance.  Today the only thing we seem to teach is how to use the microwave to make popcorn.  If you don’t teach your kids how to cook, then who will? (Is Home-Economics even taught in school anymore?) And it’s not just about having somebody else make dinner (even though that’s really great). There are a whole slew of reasons to bring your kids into the kitchen.

Cooking is essential for good health. When the kids finally leave home, unless they know the basics, they’ll be ordering in food or going out to eat most nights. This will drain their wallets (meaning they’ll be calling YOU for a loan) and add to their waistline (restaurant food is considerably more caloric than home cooking). If they know how to make a simple chicken stock they’ll be eating well (think soups, stir-fry’s, braised veggies, etc.) and their food budget will last much longer.

Cooking requires planning and problem solving. Menus, shopping lists, prepping food for a recipe (mis-en-place for you foodies) … this all takes thoughtful preparation and budgeting.  If your child knows how to shop, prepare and cook a pot of chilli, how much of a stretch is it to plan for other areas of life? And if there are no kidney beans for the chilli (we're not making Texas chilli folks), are Pinto beans a suitable substitute (yes).  Add to that the sense of responsibility your child is learning when planning a meal. These are all good things.

Cooking is a social activity… or at least it’s best when it is. Some of the best moments I’ve spent with my sons have been in the kitchen prepping pork butts for the smoker or shopping at the local farmers market and making dinner out of what looked good. Even teaching them how to properly use a knife and chop vegetables can save you prep time, and give you and your kids some quality time together.  And while I'm at it, eating together is important too.  Turn off the television and have a real dinner, at least once a week.  You'll be amazed at how much your kids have to say, especially when they helped cook the meal.

I’m not suggesting everyone needs to send their kids to culinary school (although that option does have some side benefits). Rather, bring them into the kitchen (without their cell phones!) and teach them how to peel carrots, kneed bread or do whatever part of whatever you’re cooking you think they can handle. As their skill improves you can give them more to do and soon you can have them getting most, if not all of the evening meal ready before you get home. Think about the time that will save. More importantly, think about the gift you’ll be giving your kids.

Be a parent.  Get cooking.

WIP - False Creek Remodel - Part 2

With demolition at the False Creek Remodel project under way, I thought I'd use the Sketchup model I created of the suite to illustrate what we're going to be doing.  Sketchup is one of the most powerful design tools I use.  It gives me the ability to model things before they are built which helps the client (and me!) clearly understand the design.

The new design takes 3 separate spaces and combines them into one.  The breakfast room in the previous design wasn't being fully utilized and the bigger kitchen was desperately needed (The framing plan was revealed in the previous post if you're interested).  Since this is a concrete building I expected lots of plumbing stacks and electrical conduit to be hidden in the walls.  Some pre-design exploration by the customer revealed much of what we needed to know, and the design was modified to accommodate these obstacles.  Of course other challenges will be found along the way, but knowing the big ones up front allows me to save the client money and keep the job on schedule.

BEFORE

This is the wall from the previous post where we located the PEX.  As you can see from the Sketchup model, that wall is being removed, so relocating the PEX is somewhat essential.  To the left of the cabinetry there is an extended closet that contains the laundry (the reason for the plumbing in that wall) and linen storage.  Cabinetry along this wall features a small organization centre (phone, notes, etc.) that also contains a recycling bin pull-out.  Next is a Miele Wall Oven & Speed Oven combination, a pull-out pantry and a Miele Fridge.

You may also have noticed there is a wall on the left of the oven cabinet.  The wall is part of a "shroud" that surrounds this section of cabinetry.  This "shroud" was created partly for design reasons and partly out of necessity (read on!).

BEFORE

The photo above shows the original sink location.  In the almost 20 years I've been designing kitchens, the sink, or more specifically relocating the sink has caused me more grief than any other area of the kitchen.  Well, maybe ventilation has a place in there as well ... but more on that later.

In the BEFORE shot, you'll notice a sink centred beneath a pass-through.  Water has to drain somewhere, so I know there's a drain-stack (also know as a "vent-stack") in the vicinity.  With the design I had created I was praying it wasn't to the right.  Fortunately the stack was on the left of the opening, but unfortunately it was about 18" out from the wall.  If this were a single family residence we could explore relocating this stack, but since we're in a condo and a concrete one at that, moving the stack is not something we want to explore.

This is where the "shroud" comes in.  Because I knew the stack couldn't be relocated I knew I had to design around it.  I could have simply let a shallow wall there an built cabinetry around it.  This is what I refer to as "accidental" design ... as in "Oooops, we didn't plan for this so let's do the best we can."  It looks sloppy.  However, by creating a shroud around the wall oven and fridge I've created a design element that just happens to also contain the stack.  The difference is subtle, but makes a profound difference in the final design.

BEFORE

The BEFORE photo shows the entrance into the underutilized breakfast room.  The new design uses this area for the bulk of the kitchen work area.  The sink and cooktop are here, as is a new vent hood and eating bar.  Notice also the wine storage which serves double duty as bar supports.

The ventilation is going to present some challenges primarily because of  (I know this is getting redundant) the concrete construction.  We're going to have to build a new drop ceiling to hide the duct and make it look like part of the existing construction.  Deliberate design remember?

The photo on the left shows some of the pre-reno exploration the customer and I did to see what was really in the drops.  This way we were able to see which ones could be removed (none).  While I'm not a big fan of them, in this case the drop ceilings will work in our favour. With the new design we've lost a number of walls, and with them, places to run wiring and plumbing.  The drop ceilings will become the new conduits through which our services will be distributed throughout the kitchen.

Next up:  Framing, and Rough-Ins

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WIP: False Creek Remodel is an actual remodel project of mine that I'm blogging in real time.  To see all the entries in this series just click the FOLLOW ME buttons at the top right of this page.  If there's any part of the project you're interested in, leave me a note in the comments section.

Does The Flux Capacitor ... Flüx?

In the spirit of the IKEA Stonhenge I offer you DJILORIANN:

Source: CollegeHumour

Intimate Shower Head (Or: O'Keeffe Did It On Purpose)

Photo:  ArtHistoryGuide.com

American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was known for her use of vibrant colours, her ability to turn everyday images into abstracts … and the fact that some of her work resembled vaginas.

O’Keefe insisted she was not trying to symbolize the intimate female form in her works, but to this day her paintings are iconic in feminist circles because they do, intentionally or not..

I’m not educated in the world of art, but I know what I like, and I like O’Keeffe’s work. I find it really hard to believe however that she didn’t look at Red Canna while she was painting it and think “My goodness! This looks like a vagina.”


Unintentional? Perhaps. Provocative? Likely.

Photo: Trendir

I’m going to apply the same line of thinking to this new shower “head” from Italian plumbing fixture manufacturer, Zazzeri. Designed by Danielle Bedini to resemble a “crack in the ceiling” it cleverly blurs the line between structure and fixture.

The interior grill is available in 3 finishes (gold, black & stainless) and the LED lights behind the grill allow you to customise your shower experience.  The exterior is made from Corian; a perfect material for the shape of the shower head.  You really get the sense that the water is bursting through the ceiling ...

... and it looks like a vagina.

Photo: Trendir

Like the O’Keeffe painting, I’d be willing to concede that this was an unintentional design “double-entendre” … except that the shower head is called “The Virgin.” Honestly, I couldn’t make this stuff up.

Source: Trendir