I admit it. I’ve ogled my share of Native Trails’ (Booth S3844) hand-hammered metal tubs and basins in the past. This time around, the company has applied its exquisite craftsmanship to a series of range hoods—which makes a lot of sense. After all, beautiful, statement-making range hoods often serve as focal points in many a kitchen design. The new line offers fours sizes ranging from 36 in. to 54 in., includes a 600- or 1,200-cfm ventilation system and is equipped with variable speed motor controls and dimmable halogen lighting. As to be expected, each unit is crafted by hand and can be specified in antique copper or brushed nickel.

Dancing, food, entertainment and, of course, fantastic kitchen and bath products. What more could one ask for? As in years past, Kohler (Booth S402) put on a show to remember.

After being dazzled by a stage of energetic and vibrantly costumed dancers, HGTV’s Monica Pederson welcomed visitors to the booth before directing their attention to Kohler’s own celebrity chef show. As one of the gourmet cooks prepared a delightful breakfast treat for participants to sample, the other explained the company’s latest and greatest products including:

• A 360-degree faucet called the Purist Primary Swingspout, which offers both functional flexibility and aesthetic poise

• The two-handled High-Rise Pot Filler, which offers convenience to both sink and stove from one stationary location

• The Katalyst Spray showerhead, which uses hidden air induction to create larger water droplets with an even larger showering experience

• And the Stages sink, which comes outfitted with an integrated cutting board, Wetworks station and garnish tray

The Stages sink won a merit award in K+BB‘s 2009 Product Innovator Awards. Check out the video below.

—Angela Miller

Whether you love, loathe or just don’t mind doing laundry, you’ll appreciate the fact that Fisher & Paykel‘s (booth N6012) range of Energy Star Autowashers delivers energy and water efficiency as well as style. In addition to energy and water ratings that far exceed minimum standards (for example, the company’s AquaSmart washer earned a modified energy factor rating of 2.25, which exceeds the DOE’s 2007 standard of 1.72 by 31 percent, and has a water factor of 4.3, which exceeds the DOE 2007 minimum standard of 8.0 by more than 46 percent), select washers are equipped with allergy cycles, while all have a silver metallic decals and updated buttons, and provide an increased capacity of 4.2 cu. ft. (up from 3.7 u. ft.). What’s not to love?

—Sallie Moffat

You have to love those companies that have been committed to developing eco-friendly products even before it became chic to do so. One such company is Niagara Conservation (Booth S2063), which you may know for its Niagara Flapperless HET (High-Efficiency Toilet). This year, it is showing its Stealth System, which includes an ultra-high-efficiency toilet (UHET) that uses just 0.8 gallons of water per flush and is, of course, WaterSense-certified.

The Stealth System also includes a water-saving Tri-Max showerhead, which features—you guessed it—three flow options, as well as an aerator.

According to the company, install all three and you could save up to 40,000 gallons of water per year and $600 off your utility and water bills.

—Alice Liao