Special Section at the IDC Building
AT ULTRA DESIGN CENTER, one of the most noticeable shifts we are seeing in kitchen and bath design is the return of warmth, detail, and permanence. After years of clean-lined minimalism and matte black everything, homeowners and designers are asking for plumbing that feels more collected, more personal, and more architectural. The phrase we keep coming back to is “new traditional.”
This is not a return to heavy, old-fashioned rooms. New traditional plumbing takes classic silhouettes and reinterprets them for today’s homes. Think bridge kitchen faucets with elegant lever or cross handles, polished-nickel prep faucets, unlacquered-brass pot fillers, exposed thermostatic shower systems, wall-mounted tub fillers, and hand showers that look refined yet perform beautifully. These are fixtures that feel substantial in the hand and intentional in the room.
In newer high-end builds, we are seeing homeowners pay much closer attention to the entire plumbing package. The kitchen faucet is no longer selected at the end of the project as a simple necessity. It is being chosen alongside the stone, cabinetry, hardware, and lighting. A beautifully proportioned faucet can become the jewelry of the kitchen, especially when paired with a natural stone sink, a workstation sink, or a secondary bar or prep area.
In primary baths, the same idea applies. Homeowners are asking for spa-like comfort, but they still want character. We are seeing more interest in freestanding tubs with flooror wall-mounted fillers, showers with rainheads and handheld showers, and exposed or partially exposed systems that add a tailored, European-inspired detail. The look is elevated, but not fussy.
Finishes are part of this movement. Polished nickel remains a favorite because it feels classic, warm, and sophisticated without being too yellow. Unlacquered brass appeals to homeowners who appreciate a living finish that develops patina over time. Aged brass, soft bronze, pewter tones, and warm nickel finishes are gaining attention for bringing depth and richness to a space. Many designers are mixing finishes with greater confidence, pairing brass plumbing with darker cabinet hardware or polished-nickel fixtures with bronze lighting.
For homeowners beginning a kitchen or bath project, the best question to ask is not simply, “What finish is popular?” A better question is, “How do I want this room to feel years from now?” The right plumbing should complement the home’s architecture, work with the cabinet and hardware selections, and feel good to use every day.
We also encourage homeowners to ask about quality, valve systems, finish maintenance, lead times, and how all the visible pieces coordinate. In luxury plumbing, what is behind the wall matters just as much as what is seen in front of it. A knowledgeable showroom professional can help ensure the shower controls, trim, tub filler, lavatory faucets, kitchen faucet, and accessories all work together from both a design and a technical standpoint.
The beauty of new traditional plumbing is that it gives a home a sense of intention. It makes a kitchen or bath feel less like a showroom trend and more like a space thoughtfully built over time. At Ultra Design Center, we are seeing clients respond to that sense of permanence. They want fixtures with character, craftsmanship, and quiet confidence—pieces that look current today and will still feel beautiful years from now.
ULTRA DESIGN CENTER
IDC Building
590 Quivas St., 3rd Floor
Denver
303.71.5611
ultradesigncenter.com
The (Secret) 19th Hole
A golf simulator by day, a speakeasy by night, and the room everyone ends up in.
A HIDDEN DOOR SWINGS OPEN, and the room behind it glows. Whiskey bottles are dimly lit on their shelves. A couple of overstuffed leather chairs face a screen already queued up on the first tee. This is the best room in the house, the one nobody wants to leave.
A speakeasy, a golf simulator, and a lounge in one space. Which one depends on the night. Friends over? Play a round. Slow evening? A drink and a film. Either way, the room adapts.
The golf simulator is the real thing, not a toy that looks good in the corner. It reads your swing using the same camera-based tracking that tour pros and club fitters trust. It plays courses you would otherwise fly to. One button starts the round: the nets close, the lights drop, the door locks. Nothing to set up except your drink of choice.
Lighting is what most people get wrong. Instead of one hard overhead source, it comes in layers, with every fixture aimed by hand. The sources are hidden, so you see the glow, never the bulb. As the night goes on, the room light warms. The shades track the day too, dropping in the afternoon to keep glare off the screen and sealing the room in after dark.
If a room like this sounds like yours, Xssentials would love to build it for you. For over 35 years, we’ve helped Colorado homeowners bring lighting, shades, audio, network, and security together into one reliable, simple system.
We start by listening. Then we collaborate with your architect, builder, and designer, so the technology fits the life already happening in the house. This is what happens when thoughtful design meets proven technology.
We invite you to schedule a private consultation to explore solutions built for how you live. Thanks for considering Xssentials.
XSSENTIALS
IDC Building
590 Quivas St., 2nd Floor
Denver
(303) 410-7047
xssentials.com
Silence, Strength, and Structure
The New Era of the European Window
THE CLOSING OF A PREMIUM European tiltand-turn window is a tactile revelation. A solid handle rotates smoothly, guiding a heavy sash into place with the muted, vacuum-sealed thud of a luxury door. Instantly, the outside world vanishes as the rush of street traffic fades into silence.
In high-end modern architecture, energy efficiency is no longer treated as a hidden utility checklist. It has become part of luxury itself. Today’s premier residences demand expansive glass, minimalist lines, and uninterrupted views without sacrificing interior comfort. European uPVC tilt-and-turn systems deliver exactly that, proving that exceptional performance andexceptional design can coexist beautifully.
For decades, luxury design hesitated to embrace uPVC, associating it with the thick, glossy plastic frames of the past. European engineering has completely rewritten that narrative. Modern architectural-grade uPVC features ultra-matte, textured finishes that rival anodized metal while blending seamlessly into contemporary architecture.
Just as important, the engineering remains almost invisible. Unlike traditional operable windows with bulky overlapping frames, European profiles conceal their mechanics within the frame itself. From the exterior, an operable window appears identical to a fixed pane, allowing architects to maintain clean, uninterrupted sightlines across entire glass façades. Internal steel reinforcements also allow these systems to support exceptionally large expanses of glass while maintaining security and structural integrity.
Performance extends far beyond aesthetics. Multi-chamber uPVC frames paired with high-performance insulated glass dramatically reduce heat transfer while keeping unwanted noise outside. Rather than relying on traditional sliding seals that allow air leakage over time, tilt-and-turn windows create a compression seal around the entire frame, locking tightly into place to deliver exceptional thermal efficiency and acoustic insulation.
The result is a more comfortable way to live. Architects refer to one of the biggest advantages as “reclaiming the perimeter.” In many homes, the space beside large windows becomes uncomfortable during colder months because the glass radiates a chill. Highperformance European window systems help keep interior glass temperatures much closer to the surrounding room, allowing homeowners to fully enjoy every square foot—even directly beside expansive walls of glass.
The experience continues with the window’s versatile dual-opening design. A single handle controls two functions. In the tilt position, the top of the window opens inward several inches, creating gentle, secure ventilation that naturally circulates fresh air without harsh drafts—even during light rain. Turn the handle again, and the entire sash swings inward, transforming the window into a wide opening that strengthens the connection between indoor and outdoor living.
Ultimately, true luxury is about controlling your environment without compromising beauty. European uPVC windows welcome abundant natural light and panoramic views while quietly blocking unwanted noise, weather, and energy loss.
Bringing this level of European precision to a home requires more than exceptional products. From architectural consultation and specification through expert installation, Vista Lux Denver manages the entire process, transforming advanced engineering into an everyday luxury experience.
VISTA LUX
IDC Building
590 Quivas St., 2nd Floor
Denver
720.205.1509
720.713.8222
vistaluxdenver.com
