It’s that magical time of year. The International Builders and the Kitchen and Bath shows are just weeks away in Las Vegas. There are only a few convention centers in the U.S. large enough to house all of the exhibitors.

Several manufacturers spend vast sums of money on their presence at the shows. One is Kohler. Its booth is an oasis of eye candy if you’re entranced by anything to do with plumbing fixtures. I’ve been a master plumber for over 40 years and have installed hundreds of Kohler fixtures. I always enjoy viewing the magnificent and elegant designs they debut at the show.

This is not to take away anything from the efforts of other major brands like Moen, Delta and American Standard. I happen to use a stunning Moen kitchen faucet each day at home to wash dishes.

This column is not a soft advertisement for manufacturers. It’s about how you can use some of their most unique products to set your home apart. Allow me to share a few stories that might inspire you.

Several years ago, one company introduced a bathroom vanity faucet that looked like it was made in a rainforest. The spout appeared to be created from a stalk of bamboo. The handles were shaped like small bamboo stalks. My wife fell in love with it. I ordered one and installed it in our basement half bathroom. This faucet is still made today.

The theme of the bathroom was tropical. We found two wallpapers and a matching border that made it look like you were inside a grass hut with no glass. The openings gave you a view of the beach just beyond the palm tree line. The bamboo faucet sent water into a repurposed used copper basin. I drilled a drain hole into it, creating a vessel sink that recessed into a stunning piece of brown variegated marble. You can use different faucets to create countless themes in your home.

My daughter did a similar thing in the half bath of her new home. The interior of her home is very contemporary. It has no woodwork surrounding the doors or windows. The wall board goes straight down to the tile floors.

To extend this minimalist feel into her half bath, she found an antique wall-hung corner sink carved from a thick piece of marble. The artist created a scalloped, curved front making the sink appear to be a giant seashell.

I installed hidden L-brackets that were bolted to the sides of the wall studs. These extended out of the wall, and the sink rested on them. The sink appeared to float in midair. The crowning touch was a single-handle wall faucet with a long gooseneck spout. Everyone who sees this sink marvels at it.

Do you think you could enlist the lowly ho-hum toilet to help create an illusion in a bathroom? My son is doing it now. He and I were forced to use a wall-hung toilet in a basement bathroom at his home. It’s a futuristic china fixture with smooth sides. The water tank is hidden behind the tile wall. There’s a simple touch pad to activate the flushing action.

Are you planning to create a deluxe shower in your home? Did you know you can install multiple shower heads to create a true rain downpour, if that’s what you’re after? You can even include speakers that surround you with the sound of a rainstorm. The shower heads can be both in the walls or in the shower ceiling. Should you wish to do this, be sure you or your plumber does the math so you have plenty of water supplying your virtual reality shower experience.

You don’t have to have press credentials like I have to see all of these wonderful new products. At the end of February, YouTube will be flooded with thousands of videos shot at the show by members of the press. Search for IBS or KBIS 2025 videos.