This week, while sourcing fixtures for a bathroom project, we visited a new(ish) Ferguson’s Plumbing Showroom in our area. A day in the life of a designer is never dull! After a failed attempt to stop by our usual Ferguson’s, which had closed (the internet is not ALWAYS accurate!), we were directed by a sign on the door, to visit their shiny new showroom in another town. And shiny it was! They have always had a large display of plumbing fixtures and faucets, and an assortment of kitchen appliances, but historically, the lighting displayed is pretty minimal - not anymore! This new showroom had an incredible amount of lighting on display - it seemed like every inch of ceiling was covered in it and the wall fixtures were fairly extensive as well…that is not to say I loved all of it - some of it was in the “what were they thinking?” category - but a lot of it was really nice and they carry many of our favorite lines. Here are some of the highlights (haha see what I did there?)

Light Fixtures

While most light fixtures come in a variety of finishes, the display in the showroom was overwhelmingly silver toned finishes….maybe because most of the kitchen and bath fittings on display were also silver toned, though MIXING METALS artfully is often more interesting…or maybe whoever orders the displays just REALLY likes silver?!

Here is a video snapshot of a bit of the showroom:

Plumbing Fixture Accessories

There were of course plumbing fixtures - which is what we actually went there to specify…along with all the fittings for a luxury spa shower. Then we came across this interesting accessory - a sleek teak bathtub tray with slots to securely hold stemware so you, and apparently a friend (or maybe it’s just for someone VERY thirsty ?!), can enjoy adult beverages while relaxing in the bath!

And this was a really ingenious kitchen accessory - a drain rack by Franke, the Swiss sink manufacturer. It fits over a sink as a drainboard (or extra surface area) and rolls up for easy storage. The rubber edges keep it from slipping or scratching and the rods are stainless steel. It can also be used right on the counter as a trivet.

Showrooms are always a double-edged sword - a lot on display to see, but they can be information overload if you don’t go in knowing what you want. All in all a successful visit!