Welcome
back to another episode of the ProSource podcast.
We have an exciting one for you guys planned.
Today we are talking all about bathroom remodels
and the guests we have on today could not be more perfect for it.
First, starting out is one of our trade pro members, Kristie Barnett.
She is the owner of the The Decorologist.
She is one of the most recognized and awarded home stagers in the country.
Her knowledge on color palettes and design makes her
a go to consultant in the Nashville, Tennessee area.
We then have Nicole Crowell on and she is the Western Regional sales
manager for Fleurco, a leading provider of bathroom products.
Last but certainly not least, you will get to hear from Corinthia Runge.
She is a director for national showroom sales over at Dull Tile,
one of the world's leading manufacturers of tile.
So thank you so much for tuning in today, and we'll go ahead and get
started with Kristi Barnett.
On today's
episode of the Pro Series podcast, we have Kristi Barnett here.
She is the owner of the Decorah Allergist
and she is a favorite go to consultant for Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee
homeowners who need design consultation and the perfect paint colors.
She's also an award winning expert in residential paint
color, home staging and decoration.
Thank you so much, Kristie, for being on this episode today with us.
How are you doing? I'm doing great.
How are you?
I'm doing fantastic. Thank you.
I'm really excited to have you on this episode
because today's episode is all about bathroom remodels.
The basics of bathroom, bathroom remodels, and I can't think of anyone better
but yourself to come here
and spew your knowledge and expertise on all things bathrooms.
So you work with homeowners a lot.
when you see homeowners take a look at their bathrooms,
what are some of the factors that finally encourage them
to pursue a remodel with their with their bathroom?
Wow. Well, if it's not a remodel coming into a new home
that they're just purchasing, it's usually some big life event.
So it's a lot of times it's not until their kids
leave the house, and they're empty nesters.
I have a lot of clients who are empty nesters
who finally, now that their kids are grown out of the house,
they have the time and the money to devote to their bathroom remodel.
otherwise it's when something breaks.
So with bathrooms, it's going to be when they have leaks or,
you know, something's happening and they're like, okay, this is enough.
We're ready for something new.
Yeah, yeah.
Because if they're going to, start tearing things apart,
they might as well kind of update a lot of different things, right?
Right, right.
as an experienced designer, what are some of the aspects
you look for when walking through a bathroom that needs a redesign?
Well, the first thing that I
like to talk to my clients about is what function they need their bathroom.
I mean, there's obvious functions,
but again, a lot of times I'm dealing with people who are maybe later in life
and they're, you know, kind of rethinking what they need in a bathroom.
And so maybe they're going from a garden tub,
to they want to get rid of that, and they want to just have a walk in shower.
so we talk about function and how they want to use it.
Who's going to be using it?
We talk about the style.
a lot of times they are, you know, they're not always, always already
in that style and the rest of their home, but they're moving towards a style.
So we talk about that sometimes I have to help them define
what they're moving towards.
But once we kind of figure that out, we kind of think about that.
And then of course, budget is always important
because that's going to determine how much we can do,
what kind of materials we can use and that kind of thing
for sure.
And you do consultations.
I saw you do it virtually, too.
So not just in the local Tennessee area, but.
Well, I do like video conference.
I do, and I've been doing virtual paint color consultations, exterior
and interior, interior paint color palettes, for about 15 years now.
So I've been doing that long time even like before zoom.
yeah.
But locally speaking, in terms of bathroom, specifically
bathroom design. Yeah.
All local in the Nashville and surrounding area here in Tennessee, for sure.
Yeah, yeah, I feel like it is hard to make such big, like,
decisions regarding upgrading your space over,
like what we're doing right now virtually, so I can't.
Yeah.
When you can't shop together
I mean, that's the the greatest thing about working with Prosource is being able
to bring people in and to, you know, to show them different things.
And we know we can get it,
because if you just look online and you're looking for a,
you know, you find a specific tile you love, sometimes,
you may be hunting that down for forever.
and so I like to actually go in and help them,
you know, in person with that kind of thing for sure.
For sure. That's great.
And so how much do you learn about a homeowner's style
before starting the process?
I know you mentioned
sometimes people don't even know what their style is or what they want.
What's I guess the process that you go through
when you're trying to determine that, well,
if they're, you know, first I try to figure out if they know what style
they want, or sometimes I'll talk about, what do you want to move away from?
What have you had in the past that you feel like you're kind of over that look?
Or, you know, what colors even do you want to use?
Are we looking at a pretty neutral bathroom
or are we looking at beiges, or are we looking at grays or looking in black?
And why are we looking to maybe insert some real color?
So I start with that, and then sometimes I will,
I usually have on my phone some photo albums
that I've kind of put together with different tile ideas and different
layouts and, different cabinetry and things like that for bathrooms.
So we can kind of go through those and I can say,
hey, you know, what do you think about this?
This is something that's been,
you know, very, popular in, you know, in the last year for my clients.
And, that helps them.
And then oftentimes they're going to bring me pictures
from Instagram or Pinterest or something like that.
I feel like most
people will go online to find inspiration, but when it comes to actually
they want to feel the product.
Oh yeah. And purchase it right in person.
Yeah, for sure. For sure.
What impact does trends
have in formulating the new design or how a homeowner may select products?
Well, okay.
So in my from my perspective, bathrooms
are it's a little bit different than decorating in.
If it's more expensive, right,
to do a kitchen or a bathroom remodel that is more expensive than just,
freshening up your living room or getting new linens for your bedroom?
so for me, I really try to steer people
in the direction of, you know, trends, trends, or our good.
That gives us an idea of what's new and what's coming out.
But I want them to love this, like, for a long time,
not just for the next three or 4 or 5 years.
I try to steer them away from anything that looks like and be to,
you know, 2024 so that everybody, you know, five years
from now, you can look back and say, oh yeah, she did that in 2024.
So I think a lot of people make that mistake.
And so I try to steer them towards classic design, but more personalized design.
and so what I mean by that is it's, it's
some classic shapes and, and classic materials.
However, we can personalize it,
but that it looks more like them and what they want.
So it's more unique kind of look versus just what everybody else is doing.
Yeah.
So balancing timeless and not being too cookie cutter,
you want something that's very defined above that.
So going off of trends for 2024, what trends
are you seeing in bathroom design right now?
Well subway tile is still
popular, but the shapes the sizes are changing.
the use of different, you know, color grout,
you can have dark grout versus gray grout versus white grout.
It changes the whole look of the pattern and also just the changes in the patterns.
So people are taking regular size, subway tile and maybe they're,
you know, doing it vertically.
They're vertically oriented that the tile or they're doing like a
instead of like a brick lay.
They're doing a horizontal like a, a stack kind of tile.
which is more contemporary.
Look, I'm seeing lots and lots of squares.
Squares have made a big comeback in the last couple years.
And and I'm really liking that because they're very classic, too.
It's just.
But there was like 30 years we weren't seeing squares.
but now we're seeing a lot of four by 4 or 6 by six.
A lot of, square tile that is, are artisanal.
You know, it's it's very much handcrafted looking and sometimes glazed.
And you can get some really interesting
colors and color variations, even with white.
one of the biggest ones I'm seeing in the last two years
is the white square glazed tile that is varies in color.
So you don't have to match everything perfect to this particular white
subway tile.
so it's so it's easier, you know, it's a it matches
a lot, a lot of different countertops and that kind of thing.
but what I'm really seeing, which is really exciting to me that
my younger clients are not afraid of color and I'm not afraid of color.
I mean, you can see my house is very colorful.
but most of my clients, you know,
historically are very, you know, typically want a neutral palette, which is great.
they might venture into some blues or some greens, but.
But not that much outside of that until recently.
Yeah.
So a lot of the younger people are kind of embracing maximalism
or grand millennial ism or, you know, whatever you want to call that.
but it certainly kind of harkens to a time where we kind of embrace
the colors that we love.
And I love working on bathrooms like that because it does
make them really unique, and it doesn't date them to a certain period.
It's more about the homeowners personality.
So I definitely encourage that.
No, I love colors.
As a Gen Z slash, I'm like on the cusp of Gen Z and millennial.
so I feel like I have a attributes of both, but, me and my friends,
we love the pops of color what you're talking about.
But then my mom,
I notice she's a little bit more like she likes some of the greens.
Some of the Reds, right.
But more not more neutralized. Right?
Not so much like I'm trying to make a statement.
So it's interesting
to see how generations like differ, that I have a lot of thoughts on that.
And one of them is I think we tend to like whatever we grow up in.
I mean, there's always some nostalgia there, right?
But I think there's a lot of I want to do this my own way.
I want to do this a different way.
And so if you have if you grew up in a time like in my generation,
my and I'm different because I've always loved color.
But people my age, and I'm 54,
so people my age tend to, want to stay neutral
because maybe their parents had a whole lot of color,
reminds them of a certain decade because of the color combinations.
And so they they want to stay more neutral and more safe.
And then the people that are grown, like you, who grew up with parents
who were super safe and neutral or are kind of like, hey, yeah,
I really want to do something different and have some color and more personality.
So it's funny. Yeah, it's like it skips a generation.
The love for color maximalism.
Yeah. That's so funny. Yes.
how often do you go
and assist the homeowner in the product selection selection process?
Always. Every time. Every day.
I mean, that's why I'm there.
I'm not a, a full service, interior designer.
I don't have a firm with a lot of employees or anything like that.
It's me and an office manager and an assistant on occasion.
So, I'm basically going.
And I'm either working with a client, a client who has a contractor already
or who's already working on the remodel
or has somebody hired for that, but they need design direction
or, you know, I'm in the beginning of that process
and then we find subcontractors to do the work.
so, my goal and my purpose is to help them
make the selections so that it comes together, gives them the look they want.
That kind of takes it a little more of
I help them do it better than they could do it themselves.
and give them a more elevated look, within their budget.
I'm sure you help.
Is there, like, overwhelming feelings, too?
Because I've seen people I've tried pros talk about, you know, when homeowners
walk into the press or showroom,
it's like there's so many choices and options available.
so I'm sure having you there, it helps, like ease them
and you can direct them the right way to go.
So they're not just wandering trying to figure out what to do.
Yeah, yeah, it is overwhelming.
And if you're not familiar with the showroom,
I mean, that's what's so great about pro sources.
I'm very familiar with the showroom.
I'm very familiar with the reps.
when new stuff comes in, I kind of know about it.
So I know exactly where to go, and it makes me look like a pro, and it helps.
you know, my reps at Prosource, we just work together so well.
So yeah, that's great.
so how do you navigate potential challenges
that can arise during the product selection process?
Have you run into any situations where a homeowner has selected a product
that would not work with the current setup, or may not be possible entirely?
How do you navigate those challenges?
Trying to,
you know, steer them away from certain ways
they want to go that might not work with their current bathroom?
I think
one of the things that's important about the job that I do
is that I help, prevent problems and solve problems.
And oftentimes our spaces are very challenging to begin with.
You know, you've got an odd shaped room or small space or whatever it is.
I mean, there's no I rarely have work with a client.
It is a perfect room that we can do anything we want.
So I kind of help manage expectations about what they're able to do
with what they have.
also working within their budget is huge,
and people go and a lot of people, I'd say most people
tend to go into a bathroom remodel without even knowing what their budget is,
because they don't know how much things cost,
because it may have been 20 years since they've done anything to their bathroom.
Or maybe they bought a house that already had a bathroom done.
So they've never remodeled one themselves.
So there's some of that as managing expectations for what budget
you like, you know, that you have.
but for me, I'm always trying to help them
find something that is more budget friendly, and still get that look.
And so that's part of, I feel like it's my job to do, as far as,
other challenges, I mean, mainly it's budget challenges, really.
and so, yeah, but
finding the alternatives that give them that same or similar look for
and or and still look more expensive than it should.
Yeah.
Luckily there's a wide range of, budget options.
Oh, yeah.
And in the showroom. So that makes it pretty easy. Yeah.
you talked a little bit about working with Prosource, how great
it is to have, you know, account managers that can connect you with new products.
is there any specific other ways that you work with Prosource
that has benefited, your company and your business?
Well, I feel like the Prosource guys for me are,
you know, they're the experts in the materials, in the installation
questions and all those things because I don't I don't know how to install.
I don't I don't have all the answers to those questions.
And especially when new materials come in, I don't know,
you know, I need someone else to, to come alongside me and help
my client understand, you know, the materials,
the pros and cons of everything, the budget differences.
So when I come in, I feel like I'm bringing to the,
bringing to the table the design ideas, the creativity.
kind of a general plan.
I know what the client's budget is, so I usually give them a heads up
before I come in and say, hey, you know, this is a mid range kind of situation.
We've, or, you know, they're what's more important to them.
For example, whether it's countertop
or it's the tile or the cabinetry or whatever that is.
And then, we kind of work together, so.
Well because they, you know, they make me look good because they'll talk.
They'll say, you know.
Yes, you know, Kristie's really good at this and this,
and she can help you do this and pull all this together
and kind of give them more confidence in what I'm directing them towards because,
you know, I'm showing them a tile here and a countertop here and there.
You can just see it in their eyes are already overwhelmed by all the options.
And I have to kind of explain, why would I put these two things together?
How's that going to make the whole plan come together and and give them the look
they want?
But then the prosource reps are able to tell them the facts
and the, all the good information, that I don't have.
And so, I don't know, it's just like a perfect pairing for me.
Yeah, it's good teamwork.
It sounds like. Yes. Definitely awesome.
How can product timeliness impact the overall timeline?
Have you ran into any specific issues with?
I know we had, with Covid there was so many like shipping delays
and all of that, I don't know, hopefully that's easing a little bit
more than it was, but maybe, maybe, it kind of depends.
I found a lot of, like, a lot of things,
also just seem to be discontinued, more frequently than they used to be.
and I feel like it's because we're in instead of, I don't know,
maybe in a way, there's there's less options or companies are deciding,
oh, we're only going to manufacture this because it sells better.
So, you know, so the hard part is when something is discontinued.
But you know what that's happened.
That's across the board in the design industry
that happens with furniture and fabrics and all the things.
so we just, you know, a lot of times what I'll do is, you know, my reps and,
we'll, we'll talk about option A and option B, so,
you know, just kind of just in case or, or you know,
you know,
they're great about letting me know immediately
whether something is going to be available or whether it's going to be
a longer timeline.
And then we just have to,
you know, my main thing is I have to kind of prep my clients beforehand.
Hey, in the current climate, you know, a lot of things can
it can be the contractor,
you know, the subcontractors that, you know, can get behind,
and maybe they don't have an end to clients, don't have an understanding that,
you know, just because you have pinned down a subcontractor
to install this tile doesn't mean you're he's going to get to you next week.
It it could be months and months.
and the same thing is true with, with, delays in the,
you know, products, but I really haven't had a ton of trouble with that.
You know, occasionally if someone is on a tight deadline
and maybe cabinets are, you know, an issue.
So my, my account manager,
guides us towards the ones that, the, the lines that prosource
carry that will get here faster and will meet those deadlines.
So we just we just work it out and try to be, flexible.
Yeah, sure, sure.
I feel like it's also common knowledge to write.
I, a lot of homeowners
know that this is possible, possibly a thing that they'll have to run into.
So that's good, right?
speaking of just the network of trade pros that Prosource has,
out of curiosity, have you met any trade pros through
Prosource that has benefited your clients or you've benefited their clients?
Kind of like a networking opportunity that you've had?
I don't know about network.
Well, you know what? I take that back.
first of all, it certainly tilers, you know, because they
they typically have a list of, you know, I mean, they don't provide tilers
or anything like that,
but they may have some subcontractors that, that they have had good reviews on.
And so they'll offer, you know, if I say, hey,
I really need a good tiler for this, who would you recommend?
And account manager will give me like three names.
And these are our best guys.
and so that's been very helpful.
And then I'll always ask for that guy,
you know, try to get my client to, to use the guys that I'm familiar with.
So that's been real helpful to me.
And, a couple of times I've had contractors like my client
will hire me, completely separate from their contractors and then their
whatever I do through Prosource and the contractor may be working
through Prosource and then, then I've gotten work later
from contractors who have referred me to other clients
who were having difficulty making decisions.
Gotcha. So.
So, yeah, I guess in that way, that certainly has benefited me.
That's cool. In terms of networking. Yeah.
What challenges can homeowners run into if they attempt to remodel
their own bathrooms?
I guess without your expertise or, anyone else's expertise,
why is it important to rely on experience design consultants like yourself?
Okay, I think most people go into a bathroom remodel
and they maybe have their heart set on one particular thing.
And so maybe it's a particular countertop material, or maybe it's a specific
tile they saw in a magazine or on Pinterest or Instagram.
and, and what I've found a lot is people,
want to fall in love with every piece of the design separately.
Yeah.
And what they don't understand is if they just find.
Oh, I love this countertop, and I love this tile,
and I love this cabinet, and I love this pool.
And then they put them together and they get a disastrous result.
and so what, what I try to do is steer them through the process
kind of step by step. So they make really good decisions.
I don't want anybody to make bad decisions.
I don't want anybody to regret the final product.
So, I feel like I can steer them that way.
So, for example, when we go in, you know,
you can't have a there used to be a star of the room, right?
You can everything can't be a star.
So, you know, if, if you have your heart set on a certain
tile or a certain look, then I will say, okay, what is the most visually
dominant thing in this room is in this particular bathroom?
Is it the floor?
Is that what we see the most of the floor tile, or is it the countertop?
Most of the time it's really not the countertop
unless they just have their heart set on, you know,
some certain courtside or something that's really expensive.
And then we have to work around that,
that, otherwise if somebody has a, you know, a
is replacing and putting a big open shower that's completely see-through,
then you're going to want to have that star be the backsplash
or the, you know, the vertical tile in that particular bathroom.
So we figure out what that is and that's what we choose first.
And then I always tell my clients that every decision,
every next decision is, built on the decision before.
And so every decision informs the next decision actually.
And and if you go in that order, instead of saying, oh, I love this
tile and I love this pool and I love then you're going to have such a better result
because it's the style flows, the colors work together, and it all makes sense.
So that that's what I try to do.
That's a great way of thinking about it.
just focusing on the one star narrowed down to one star and build off of that.
That would be probably the way everything else
has to support, you know, supporting actors for the staff.
so it all works together.
Thanks for sharing that.
anything else you want to add?
Anything exciting happening on your end that you want to share?
Well, I've been to lots of bathroom remodels in the last year,
and so I've been working really, really closely.
with particularly, Andy Coomer that I work with in Nashville,
and he's just been great.
I've been working with him for, I believe, 9 or 10 years. Wow.
And so, you know,
I just encourage anybody, you know, when you have a good working
relationship with a, with a company and at a retailer like Prosource,
a wholesaler like Prosource, it's just, it just help it
it it improves your professionalism when you have those relationships.
And so you can bring a client into the
situation, and the client just feels like everybody's got their back.
Everybody knows what's going on.
Communication is, is so important.
and I think that's the number one thing is communicating not only with your client
but also with your your account representatives.
And, and it makes everything go so much more smoothly.
I couldn't agree more. That's great.
Thank you so much for joining us today. Christy.
You can find when Christy, the Decker ologist.com.
I also love the name of your business.
I think it's just like it goes together so well.
Well, I have a background in psychology,
so I did that for ten years before I got into design.
And so it kind of came out of that.
There's a lot of,
counseling and couples counseling, that goes on also with design work.
So for sure that really.
Well, what made you want to make the switch over?
I had children and had took a break, you know, had a couple of babies.
And I just, had just craving to do something creative.
And I'd always love to decorate and always love color, but,
I didn't have any training in it, so I had to kind of start over and,
you know, do all this, do all the training and learn everything that I could
and just practice and experience and just started
a whole new career kind of at 34. So.
No. yeah.
So that's what I did and never look back.
I think your psychology background, though, does probably go
into what you're doing now because you're thinking of,
you know, the colors and everything, how that affects people's minds.
I don't think I'm articulating that right.
But you know what I mean? I feel like it plays heavily.
Your visual
surroundings really affect your mood and your, you know,
sense of calm and your just satisfaction with life in general.
I mean, and some of us are more affected than others, and some
I think everyone is affected by their visual surroundings,
but they don't always realize it until it's really good.
And then they're like, oh, I get it now.
Like, this is so much better.
especially see that with men.
not to be stereotypical, but yeah, usually the woman kind of gets that,
but a lot of times the husbands maybe don't until we do it.
And as long as, you know, working with me, I try to, you know, make sure that both,
you know, if there's more than one person involved, that they're both, you know,
getting something that they want, they both feel heard.
And so it all works together, beautifully.
And then everybody's happy.
So that's that's the goal, I agree.
Thank you so much for your time today.
You have a great rest of your day.
we'll talk to you later. Yeah. Okay. Bye.
We're going to go ahead and switch things over to Nicole Krol.
from Fleurco.
if you don't mind, Nicole,
just introducing yourself and your position in the company. Hi.
Thanks for having me.
So I am the Western and Midwest regional manager with Fleurco
and, cover everything basically west of the Mississippi.
So, joined Fleurco fairly recently, in March of this year,
but have over 20 years in the kitchen and bath industry.
So work for various
plumbing manufacturers, and decorative products.
So excited to join Fleurco.
you know, one of the key things is having a catalog
that offers, you know, more than just one product category.
And Fleurco covers that, and they really, have a foothold in the market with
with great customer service, good quality, all the things that you're looking for.
So excited to be part of the team.
And today's episode is all about bathroom remodels, the bathroom.
So Fleurco is perfect for this episode.
So I appreciate you joining us today.
what are the most common issues that you've heard from homeowners
or even trade pros that are working on homeowners bathrooms
that are in need of major changes to their bathroom?
What's like some of the most common, concerns or obstacles
people are running into?
Well, right off the bat, I think for the homeowner, style update.
Right.
Everybody's scrolling on their phones these days, and whether it's Pinterest
or Instagram or house, they seen the updates and trends,
you know, more,
spend more time at home, maybe doing teams meetings and stuff like that.
And you're sitting there looking at things that need to be updated.
So that definitely,
plays into, a motivation.
to, to make an update and change.
you know, a lot of folks aging in place is, is a huge factor,
safety, you know, and on the other spectrum, maybe a,
you know, new child, would be, making some accommodations,
whether it's bathtubs, you know, threshold shower, bases.
And lastly, unfortunately, it comes into fixing a plumbing problem.
So, a leak is a motivator to make some changes.
sometimes a lot bigger than some of us would like.
But you have stuff, you know, valves that can leak, tiles,
unfortunately, you know, are not the grout lines are not made to last forever.
you know, older trends were the smaller tiles.
And so that, you know,
as areas to potentially leak over years if it's not maintained.
So I think those are the top three.
motivators, to jump in and,
and do a, remodel in the bathroom.
Yes. Yeah.
The leaks are the less fun part, the part that nobody really wants to deal with.
But maybe changing and updating the the style of your bathroom, because
that's the place where most of your guests are going to be at some at some point.
Right.
It's like the kitchen and the bathroom living areas are like the most trash.
And that's hurting that.
You know, most people don't realize, I mean,
you spend a lot of time in the bathroom and that's,
you know, that's where I know we'll talk about it a little bit more.
But, you know, the spa like feel and that's the trend that,
that, you know, the industry is going toward.
you just spend a lot of time there.
So you want it to be a comfort.
you know, Oasis of sorts.
yes. Yeah.
I feel like one of the best compliments to get when you have guests over
is when they come out of the bathroom, they're like, wow, I love, like,
your bathroom decor or, wow, your bathroom smells nice.
Or just, you know, little things like that.
It's like, oh, wow, somebody actually noticed
that I put this kind of work into it. Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
And that's something,
you know, it can be minor update or it can be a complete overhaul too.
So there's there's even a little, minor, you know, updates that you can do
to really update the space and just, modernize it, get it more on trend.
No more of the green toilets or the, avocado bathtubs and all of that.
Good stuff.
Yeah, we just did an episode, over cabinet hardware.
And I think how a lot of people update their bathrooms is
just switching out the knobs and pulls.
That's like a very easy DIY thing you can do.
I know my mom is always changing that up and finding
very, very interesting knobs and pulls and I'm like,
that looks a little crazy, but luckily you could easily change it back out
when you change your mind in like two weeks, right?
Hundred percent.
And that's, you know, the, the hardware and then also the faucets.
Right. And shower and that kind of stuff.
That's all easy to update.
you know, for the most part a do it yourself activity.
I'll share two YouTube videos to kind of help you out with that one.
But that's, that's, minor, adjustments
that you can make that really create a new space for you.
Yeah. Awesome.
how do you think industry trends
have impacted for Ko's products and designs?
So go really focuses
on the trends and upcoming designs.
And so there's an entire product team that's already developing
products for, you know, 2025, 2026,
a lot of European influence, of course, over here in the US. and
the big trends right now are
in fixtures and it's, it's everything is matte black and gold.
Gone are the days of oil rub bronze.
And so you're seeing those pops of of the black and the gold.
And so we've added to our shower, to our collection, multiple finish offerings.
So instead of thinking, you know, for us known for their shower doors, just a
chrome or brushed nickel type finish, now we do offer the updated gold and black.
So you know that along.
It's a shift to the warmer, more neutral tones in the bathroom.
And so we've we've responded by adding a small class to one of our collections.
And so that gives, the homeowner more opportunity to be creative
and designer, to be creative and keep up with the trends.
Another design trend that we're seeing is larger beers in the bathroom.
So what that does for you, it can make the bathroom look larger.
So we've developed mirrors all the way up to 72 by 36.
And with the matching coordinating matte black and gold trims.
So now you can coordinate throughout, cohesively.
with that, that particular finish, another new trend
that we see is oblong mirrors and unique shaped mirrors.
So gone are the days of just the traditional square.
And so we've added to the collection oblong
shape mirrors that can be installed horizontal or vertical.
So that gives endless opportunities for design
and talking again on connected devices.
And you know, everybody's scrolling.
so one of the things that we've incorporated in our medicine
cabinets are the USB and usb-C port.
And so an outlet in our Luna collection of mirrors.
So you can always be charging that that phone
or that device, you know, and be ready to go.
So, there's a lot of trends that we, we keep up with.
and it's particularly in the finish and trim industry,
I mean, staying on top of design is critical to move forward, for sure.
Have you heard from, I guess, Trade Pro's installers
that homeowners are looking for that, like USB connector.
And that's maybe feedback that they hear that they pass along to Fleurco
or what I guess feedback are you getting from trade pros
that have turned your guys's direction into doing a certain like feature?
Adding something to the Fleurco-brand well trained professionals
are always looking to have a product that's easy to navigate, right?
And so I think the overall arching like theme,
have a good website, have good customer service.
Yeah.
just, you know, back to the basics, which it is basic, but it's amazing
how many people don't pay attention to that portion of it.
So good literature.
You know, one of the key factors and benefits
that circle offers is a no hassle.
policy.
So if something's missing or you might have thrown it out
or, needs replacement, when you get the product, we take care of it.
And so that is, next level of customer support.
on that and absolutely from the trade professional here
goes something back to, like shower pants.
Right.
So, they have the different tile flanges and it just depends like the two sided
three sided and something as simple as,
having those pre-installed when you ship the shower pan.
that's something that saves the installer, I don't know, 20 minutes maybe.
but it is a nice added feature.
that, that we give them to choose just to make the job a little bit
easier, you know, always listening to any sort of feedback on that.
And that's the key to, to being a good partner with the trade
professionals and why they want to stick with using your products.
Freestanding tubs have often been thought of as an item of luxury,
and definitely still is, right.
But however it's become more achievable in recent years and homes
across the country, what has helped freestanding tubs become more
of an attainable option while maintaining its luxury status, look
and feel still actually national Kitchen and Bath Association, in their 2024 report
cited soaking and freestanding tubs are set to be the highlight
of bathroom design in 2024, so that's what touches on it, right? So
so now, it is a bit more of an investment on the freestanding tub side, but
when you use it
as a design element in your bathroom, it really
it it makes sense for that, for that portion, you know, there's,
there's so many different materials
on the market that different manufacturers offer.
you know, acrylic is going to be your entry level,
which is still a beautiful tub.
and long lasting and heat retention and just beautiful overall.
And then you get into, I mean, solid surface.
I, I've seen solid wood tubs, which is a very unique and very expensive, option.
Yes, but that's out there, cast iron.
So there are so many different, material options.
What that translates into, is cost along with weight and design options.
Color options.
I mean, there are companies that can do the entire Pantone color book of your tub.
So whatever, whatever you would like, it is an option.
And going back to as the design elements, traditional
built in tubs need to be installed alongside a bathroom wall or corner.
So a freestanding
tub gives you the flexibility to place your tub
virtually anywhere in the room you'd like.
And just overall, the esthetic, you know, appear
larger in the space than what you actually have.
So they definitely are popular.
They do increase value, of course, in the home.
So for resale, when looking at that, so there's a whole bathroom remodel, right.
So that's always a nice, benefit.
But we just launched our solid surface
tub collection, and so that's been really exciting.
I would say that that's the bigger trend.
is the solid surface coming out again?
Just the, the design element.
And it's it's truly a solid feel with the stone.
It's a, it's a limestone derivative.
If you go on to a showroom,
they offer you to, take off your shoes and hop in the tub.
Do it.
You want to make sure when you're committing
that it's something that's comfortable.
So, you know, whether you're tall or short, you definitely want to give it
a test run before you, before you commit to the freestanding tub. Yes.
It would be shocking if somebody didn't do that with how expensive they can be.
That's like the
first time you're buying it where people, you know, they're like, oh, lay down.
And you're like, everybody's looking at me, I don't know.
Yeah.
And then you have other people that are like, well,
how many people have laid down on that?
Exactly, exactly. Yeah.
But you definitely have to try it.
And I feel like with freestanding tubs, it can either make or break the space.
I've seen.
I've seen it where it's like people don't place it in the right spot in the room.
Yeah,
but if you place it in the right spot and it goes well with everything else,
it definitely like looks very nice and very luxurious.
Well, and one of the other design trends that we're seeing is, you know,
with this beautiful freestanding tub, where do you put yourself?
Where do you put your shampoo?
Where do you put. Yeah.
What are you doing?
And so you see in these shower rooms all these beautiful trays, which again
beautiful, but I don't, you know,
do you really want to keep your stuff setting out on the tray.
And is that convenient when you get up and get down and, and all of that.
So transitions are actually,
making a bit of a comeback as well.
so designers are really focusing on storage areas,
near the tub or tubs again.
Now with the floor coach job, we have the ledge on the side,
that is built in.
So it does offer a spot to place the product because,
you know, again, that's one thing, you know, soaking in a beautiful, warm
bath and then you have to reach over the side
and grab your soap or your bowl or whatever.
So that's another element as well.
How has Fleurco assisted trade pros and shower placement and a bathroom.
Is there any ways that Fleurco
has made that adjustment more seamless without compromising quality?
We talked a little bit about you know, the freestanding tubs and and that.
But when it comes to showers that could be something
that people are wondering too when they're remodeling a bathroom.
Absolutely.
So a lot of people are a little fearful of shower doors.
it's a little bit of the unknown.
so that goes from everything from, you know, homeowners choosing
to showroom associates and designers.
Fleurco has really made it easy.
And this is something that's happened over the past couple of years.
And the way we've done that is, the product binder, that we've produced.
So it spells it out, for your different collections,
whether it's a bypass, sliding door
pivot door, a walk in or a corner application.
So the way we have it, we have a broken out by a chart
and it takes you to the little tabs, and then you figure out
if it's just a shower, only if it's tub only.
And if you need a tub with it, we give you options.
If you need a shower pan with it, we give you options there.
So really make it easier to figure out.
And the way that's helpful too is you might have one idea
in your in your head on what you're going to, put in place.
But then when you look at it, it might not always work.
Good example is having a fixed door on, a shower, enclosure.
And it's on the side where your handle to turn the water on and off is.
Well, if you can't slide that open and closed, you're leaning
in on the opposite side of the shower and having to reach in.
Turn it on. Hope you don't get sprayed.
Which is unlikely.
And just, you know, creates, you know, a situation that maybe you didn't think of.
And so, that application and then also toilet placement, right.
Who wants to crawl over a tub? And I, I've seen
I stayed in plenty of hotels where the design is just terrible.
And it bothers me every time.
Like I'm sure they had the best of intentions,
but climbing over the toilet to get into the shower because of a small space.
So you know, the point being with with the floor options,
it's a whole collection of options.
So there's different applications, and when you see the different options,
it helps you think when you're designing
to figure out, hey, this would make sense for that.
You know, we need two sliding doors, not one fixed panel,
because that's not going to work with where the toilet is,
where the handle is to turn the shower on and off.
So, that kind of stuff.
And then our website is extremely user friendly as well.
So dropdown boxes that really guide you to, I mean, you have your measurements
and then just guide you directly to what products would work for
you and then get to the fun part, like what design can I do?
Can I do the matte black trim?
You know, is that the kind of application that works?
You know, do I want the smoked glass, that type of stuff?
That's really something that that sort of stands out in the market with
is, trying to make it very simple for someone
to figure out what shower door they would need.
I like that there's a guide to
because when you are doing a bathroom remodel, you're probably thinking
about so many different things.
But like you said, the shower door placement could be so overlooked
because you have your mind going in so many different other directions.
and then you don't realize till you know it's done.
You have this beautiful bathroom and you're going to get in and wait a minute.
Oh, I forgot to think about this important part of the bathroom.
But, you know, at least for the hardware, it looks good.
Yeah. You're right. Looks good. Yeah.
Faucet replacement.
We've talked about, you know,
those little things of refreshing up the bathroom a little bit.
how vital would you say faucet, tub and showerhead replacements
are to adding those finishing touches during a bathroom remodel?
That is the entry level, right?
So if your budget is smaller, you could absolutely do that
and go and update your space.
So like what we were talking about before with the cabinet hardware.
Right.
So any of that is, is little items
that are do it yourself that you can add
when you are doing a complete remodel, though, it is important to update,
if you're doing a warm tone, neutral natural spa like Oasis
and you know, you have a purpley oil rub bronze finish leftover.
Yeah.
How do they say it's the jewelry?
Right in the. Yeah.
So you don't want to leave that out.
And, you know, truly with those items there are
completely different price levels.
So just depending I mean, you can go thousands of dollars
for a showerhead up to $100 for a showerhead,
you know, function design, longevity, product life, all of that.
You know, that's going to obviously play into, you know, quality.
But if you're looking for just an update
and again, that's something easy to change out.
So in the showroom, some of the trends with the pops of color. Right.
So I know there are a couple companies out there that have different
colored faucets.
So, you know, if you want to play with that
for a year or two years, and then that's something you're like, oh,
I can't stand looking at the screen faucet anymore.
you know, it's something easy to change out.
I think it's an easy starting point and also a critical
to finishing point on a larger bathroom remodel.
From a style perspective, how important has it been for Fleurco
to create versatile and specialized products for specific looks?
So that absolutely plays in the product mix.
And that's that's very important to floor.
we are a company that does business in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
So our corporate headquarters are actually based in Montreal.
you know, that plays into very different styles across the country.
So what is popular in New York is not popular in Arizona
or California or vice versa, you know?
So, and also building codes play into items as well
when when you're doing product
design, those vary across the country, some stricter, some not.
And so, you know,
that's something that plays into product development, you know, from style.
That's something that we have to keep on tap.
You know,
there are so certain parts of the country that are maybe slower adopting a trend
and hang on to it a bit longer, but, you know, when you're updating catalogs
and discontinuing stuff, you kind of hang on to it
a little bit longer because it's still popular?
Absolutely. Something we look at with footprint
as large as we have selling across the country.
What product innovations do you think take a bathroom remodel to the next level?
So new products, one that I'm particularly
a fan of is, solid surface shower bases.
So that is something that is big over in Europe.
and typically when you think of a shower base, you think, you know, the acrylic,
the kind of plasticky feel, and that's been, you know,
a lot of apartment, condo, you know, home applications, hotels.
And so that's what you think of when you think of a shower.
pan on the other side.
There's also tile. Right.
And so, you know, one of the things tile over time does does, you know, grout
needs to be replaced.
And if you don't, then you could have potential leaks.
So what the solid surface, shower pan is,
is, made of stone composite.
And so it is just a solid piece.
You can have different textures.
So you can have a slate texture, you can have a wood grain texture
which Serco offers or smooth texture.
And so it's, it's a non-slip but it gives you
very, sturdy feel beneath your feet.
And so again, that's a trend that that's big over
in Europe, a lot of manufacturers are starting to get into it.
It's changing a mindset though, right?
Because people are so used to tile.
And so I think that would be like refreshing though for sure.
Something different. Yeah.
So and that's an that's a nice little update.
And again you know easier to clean than you're talking the grout and tile.
yes.
Some of them have antimicrobial properties which you know, that doesn't hurt
with stuff.
And in different colorways.
And so, you know, you can go with a cocoa brown shower tray
or a black or, you know, again, just, just whatever works with the design.
And finish the finishes of your, your bathroom.
But that, I think, is
something that will continue to see develop in the market.
I think that there's there's a big growth area for the
the solid surface shower pan.
So yeah, I feel like if you're going for that
natural kind of like spa feel look that would be perfect
to have the bottom of your shower because it's almost like you're
not stepping outside, but, you know, like a very smooth, rough surface.
It doesn't feel so, manufactured, I guess.
Yeah.
And one of the, you know, and it's
not it's not like you're walking outside on the concrete.
No, no, it's absolutely a finished application.
It feels better.
It feels a lot better on your feet. Yeah.
Very solid. So, you know, it is.
It's a heavier item.
So for installation, you know, it is, you know, might take two people
to lift it versus, yes, for the shower tray,
but from a cost perspective, you know, tile and grout in the labor
to do it versus a one piece kind of set it in place and done.
And one of the things that solid surface shower pans can be installed
depending on the model, either with a low threshold or no threshold.
So for an aging in place application, somebody in a wheelchair, it's
no threshold.
So you can roll right in to the shower.
oh, nice.
Without without a curb.
So, that's a nice addition as well.
you know, again,
depending on the application so that that's a little bit more involved,
just depending on what you're, you know, flooring is.
But yeah, again, just so many different options.
So I think I think I'll see a lot to come on that.
Awesome.
So that is probably one design that you've seen take off in 2024.
Have you seen any other kind of trends start this year so far?
Oh, we have those warm neutrals all about the warm.
So it's definitely it's the gray.
It's the top.
So very much
nature inspired textures.
So again mentioning, you know, back to the shower patterns.
you know, we have a wood texture shower pan.
So to have that natural esthetic throughout the bathroom,
and very much the spa feeling.
So from a
shower fixture perspective,
you know, not so much rain showers anymore or the hand showers and body sprays,
you know, depending on where you live, depending if you can add those or not.
Golden black fixtures remain strong across the country.
So I think we'll continue to see that.
A little bit of polished, nickle, some of the darker finishes,
but that that's just kind of creeping in and a little bit of rose gold as well.
still to be seen if that takes off.
But, definitely pops of color.
So, you know, I is, the kitchen
and bath industry show, at the beginning of the year.
So you saw the launch of pops of dark
green and purple and deep yellow.
orange.
more again, more to the warmer tones of those, but a lot of,
little pops of color.
So from a design element that'll still continue.
on for this year, but definitely sticking with warm neutrals.
No more white bathrooms. We're we're away from that.
Yes. Love that.
That was getting a little boring.
Yeah. Yep. Exactly, exactly.
Although you never know, the green toilets could come back into style one day.
Yeah.
Somebody mentioned on another episode about the, like, avocado fridge color.
Like the fresh. That was like avocado. Great.
I'm like oh that's.
But I feel like sometimes people like that vintage look.
So I could definitely see people doing that.
But, probably not for the typical person at least.
Well, and that's one you have to come back to, right?
Like, you know, yeah, that's going to be your space like that.
That'll be. Yes.
Yes. Yeah. And fridges are not cheap.
So it's like if you're going to get one you kind of want to be able
to stick with it for as long as you can. so
is there anything else that
Fleurco has lined up for the rest of 2024 and beyond that we haven't talked about?
So I'll just touch again.
We launched the Solid Surface Freestanding
tub collection, which we're super excited about.
So that is a completely new addition.
you know, we had offered the full line of acrylic freestanding tubs beforehand.
So, you know, key features are black
and white, with shelves in the, in the accents.
So that is something that, you need to go.
So, you know, on that tray that's built into the tub, you can have an accent shelf
and the accent being brushed gold, dark chrome, chrome brushed nickel.
So again, just coordinating, that throughout the bathroom.
we did launch a makeup mirror, freestanding or wall mounted.
The cool feature with
that is that it does have adjustable warmth and cool settings.
So, you know, just depending whatever makes you look better.
The lighting.
So valid concern.
Absolutely.
So, we have that five time magnification.
So that is a product that we're excited about.
And you know, we do have our medicine cabinets as well
that I touched on with the USB and usb-C ports.
And so our Halo Plus is a new addition to the line.
And so just different sizes, larger sizes that we offer.
We have our magnum mirror.
so that is with the trim.
So again, coordinating all the different fixtures.
So the, the gold and the black and chrome, and brushed nickel.
So all of that is a trim to the mirror, a lot of different products.
So continually innovating and like I said, planning for the upcoming years already.
So we'll continue to grow product offerings, for the bathroom segment,
the goal with Flora, you know, we want our customers to be able to go
to the catalog and the website and be able to redesign their whole bathroom.
So we want to be a solution, make it easy in one catalog.
And so, you know, we're working to get there.
Well, thank you so much for your time today Nicole.
We really appreciate your expertise and everything
you know about Fleurco and bathroom remodels.
You have a great day. Thank you so much. Awesome.
Thank you so much, Mollie.. I really appreciate it.
Thank you.
Corinthia.
She is here from Daltile and she is the director for National Showroom Sales.
Corinthia. How are you doing today?
I'm well, thank you for asking.
So today's episode is all about bathroom remodels.
Daltile is the perfect company to be in this episode.
Beautiful bathroom products all around.
When approaching a bathroom remodel, what type of experiences have you heard
from trade pros that have helped all tile and product development?
How has Daltile made their lives a little easier?
Well, I think first and foremost, bathrooms
really have become a sanctuary to most people.
And I think 20 years ago tile was utilitarian
and it really has emerged as a design element now.
And so, you know, and that's what we're hearing is people
are coming in for unique products.
They want to make a statement in the bathroom or they want to make it
soothing, you know, and so all of these different,
design needs have really kind of changed how we come to the market.
That's probably first and foremost.
But next to that is, there's a group of people
that want natural stone and don't really care
about the maintenance portion of it, but there's other people that want
that look, but their lifestyle needs that ease of maintenance.
So I think that, Del Tile has really been good about, coming up
with different products to fill that need
at actually different price points, too.
So, from you know, a builder base grade marble
look to real high end marble, like even, to our porcelain panels
that are the large format that are just amazing.
So those are two, another one that we hear from pros
a lot is trims, transition niches, all of those things.
How are we trimming this out?
How are we making that transition sometimes from wood, the tile
with our all of our vendor partners we really address that.
And you know we have jollies.
We have code bases.
We have Schluter products and,
you know, niches and all of that is you guys are a one stop.
We're trying to be a one stop for you guys as well.
another one is less grout.
A lot of bathrooms.
People don't want the grout.
And so, you know, larger format has really come into play.
And also like rectified edges so that we can make those grout joints smaller.
Another one is slip resistance.
Some people are scared of, having a glossy tile in their bathrooms.
And so we have a solution for slip resistant.
And then with I think with the emergence of Covid,
bacteria and, the buildup of bacteria
in a bathroom has really come forefront.
And we have a product that also addresses that.
So, we make every effort to
educate our trade pros,
on all of these by hosting events in our show rooms
and having our vendor partners there, as well as the in use.
So, I think that's how we we try to make everyone's lives easier, know for sure.
And you've been with Dell Tile for a little over five years, correct?
actually. 1212 oh, wow. Yeah.
But five years in this in the role.
Okay, perfect. I was looking at your LinkedIn,
just trying to get some background information.
How has that experience been?
I guess I it's 12 years and you've grown immensely.
I'm sure the position you're in now makes you perfect for this episode.
looking at your title and your experiences you just shared
with the questions, you're like the best person to talk to about this
because you are front facing with showrooms.
And I started in the showroom.
So, I started in Dallas as the showroom manager.
So I worked with the trade pros and worked with the homeowners and,
you know, really, heard all of their needs as we developed
our showroom channel, we really took into account all of that.
So that's that's a big, full circle moment.
I feel like that's awesome.
We talked about trade pros a little bit.
You kind of touched base on homeowners a little bit.
Also in your answer, is there anything that you've heard
from homeowners that has swayed Daltile to go a certain way
with, the amount of effort they're putting behind certain products
or I guess, anything and related to like you just talked about with the trade Pro
that specifically homeowners are more concerned about than the trade pro
or is it coming through the trade pro more?
So yeah, I would say a little bit of both.
And when I spoke to the trade Pro, you know they're working with that
consumer.
So it really kind of translates into the same.
one thing I'd throw in is, you know, homeowners
come in very overwhelmed
and, you know,
we we do like to quell those worries.
And so there's a little bit more handholding
and a little bit more education that goes in it.
you know, they, they want a certain look typically,
they are worried about that slip and fall.
They are also this may be one of their only times that they remodel.
And it's a large investment.
So they want to make sure that it's going to last the test of time.
So they are worried about it being like a time stamp.
and so, you know,
most of our design consultants in our showrooms are interior designers.
So we'll take them through that process, will listen to their needs.
And then as experts, you know, we're going to offer, the best solution.
But I think that's probably one of their biggest concerns
is, is this large investment going to stand the test of time?
Yeah, they're the one that's coughing up the the big bucks for it.
Absolutely.
And so, you know, if that's one of their main concerns,
then we have, you know, make sure that we offer a classic look for them.
others want something friendly.
So I think with our products, you know, we we answer all of those needs.
Awesome. That's great.
We talked a little bit about moisture being in the bathroom.
People are worried about slipping and falling.
How specifically have the surfaces of tile
tiles helped homeowners with their selection process?
Would you recommend any specific tiles from tile
that are very good with just like making sure you don't fall?
Yes, absolutely.
And so we have a product called Step wise and it's actually a product
that's infused into the product during production.
And so if that is a concern, we'll look at that.
Those, have a decaf 5.60, which is above
the standard of 0.42 for a standard decaf.
So, it's got, you know, a lovely
coefficient of friction, but it's also got an ease of cleaning ability.
So, some of those products are some of our top
selling products, like Emerson Wood
Industrial Park astronomy.
also a different kind of price points as well.
Saddle Brook reminiscence.
I mean, the list kind of goes on and we actually have a brochure online.
So if you actually wanted to print that out
so that you could offer those, it's certainly online,
all you have to do is put in step wise and it will pop up.
That's one, one way that we, take care of the moisture level.
But another is our product called defend.
It's also a product infused in the production process,
and it's some of our best looks as well.
Fame is our marble look.
We have a wood like which is Emerson Wood top seller for two.
Oh which so beautiful stone like rekindle
also fabric art which is a fabric look.
So we kind of chose a different look out of each product category,
to offer that defend with Microban technology.
So a lot of options.
Yes, absolutely. That's great.
You mentioned a little bit Schluter And it's great because Dell Tile offers
a lot of different installation tools just to make it like that one stop shop.
Like you mentioned, what challenges do homeowners
and trade pros alike sometimes run into when installing tile
and how specifically does Daltile help them navigate those experiences?
Most of those are, how to finish the edges.
the transitions and grout.
So, I would say those are probably the top three finishing the edges.
Like like you mentioned, we offer Schluter.
We also offer a lot of trends, especially like in our wall
tiles will most likely have a jolly, to finish those edges off.
we also
offer like, natural stone transition pieces.
but slate are also like if you're going from, you know, wood
or LVF to tile, we offer, Slater transitions and then grout.
I mean, we have, you know, several vendor partners
and there is an underlayment and a grout solution for every need.
And I know you guys rely on us to provide those.
So we really cover it well.
And but always want your feedback on anything that,
you don't feel like we offer so that we can navigate that gap for sure.
That's great.
And I think that in combination
with you guys provide so many educational resources still,
I know that we have showrooms doing like product knowledge events,
and I've been with Prosource
since October only, so I'm pretty new to this industry.
And yeah,
the product knowledge events are great and they happen at all of our showrooms.
And it's it's just crazy to see like
how much is going on and how many educational events
there are for not only our showrooms but also the trade pros.
so it's great.
Well, and, you know, it seems like every installation is unique.
Yeah.
And so that knowledge is power for you
to navigate each one of those unique situations for.
So I encourage anybody to, to, you know, be up to date
on any new product launches with us or our vendor partners.
because we're always coming out with new ways
to, navigate the challenges in your data.
What are some of the factors
that you've seen and navigating the tile selection process?
Our data tells us, first of all, that a lot of people start online.
they're either looking at
house or Pinterest for a look,
and then they're going to websites.
So a lot of people start getting familiar
with what's out there on our website
before they ever come into our showrooms or come into your showroom.
but I would say that
after they get their feet wet online, they want to touch and feel it.
Yeah, they want to look at it.
They want to see the texture.
They want to visualize the size.
So, you know, that's where we all come into play
is coming into our showroom.
a lot of times they're overwhelmed when they come in
because they have gotten online and they've seen
all of the different options.
And so it's our job to kind of bring them in
through education, understanding what look they're going after,
understanding their lifestyle.
So you know, it really starts with a lot of questions,
and making them feel comfortable sharing all of that
so that we can come up with the best solution.
Typically in our showrooms, we start with the counter top
because it's almost like, you know, you've heard choose your rug first.
We like to choose the countertop first
because there are less options with the countertop.
So that's kind of the rug of, the bathroom or the kitchen.
Yeah. And then we like the flooring.
Then we select the whole tile and then we select what we call
the jewelry, the bling, you know, whatever accents or backsplash is
and that kind of thing.
Because there's a plethora of those options.
So that's kind of how we like to work.
and then, you know, brief our life.
But, I think that all of that education in the process
because they don't know what they don't know.
Yeah. And they don't know what to add.
So if we're asking those questions, which leads to more questions from them,
then, you know, they get educated in the process for sure.
So you talked a little bit about wall tiles
moving a little bit away from the floor to the wall.
How does the all tile, I guess, help homeowners trade pros select wall tile?
you know, it's it's really not two different.
I think that one of the main things is like
with with us, any floor tile can go in the wall.
So, it really comes down to how much ground do they want on the wall?
Yeah.
you know, ease of maintenance.
Do they want natural stone or tile?
Are they they looking for large format
or are they wanting to make a design statement with color?
typically that's where we see, a design statement
if they're wanting to make one, you know, adding color, they're adding a pattern.
You get, a lot of creative tile pattern designs
small for by for the lead tiles.
You know, that artisan look all the way up to our panoramic porcelain,
which is one solid sheet with only grout in the corner.
So, you know, it really becomes whether they're,
you know, making it disappear or if they're making a bold statement.
Yeah.
And those, smaller tiles, I see them in the showroom
and they're just so interesting to look at.
And it's also fun to just think about how many different ways
you can style it, like it's it's displayed one way, but you can turn
turn it this way with another one and just make a bunch of different
unique designs.
So it's it's fun to look at it from that perspective, too.
If someone is wanting to make that bold statement, like you said.
Sure.
And you know, some of that also moves in to the installation cost too.
So that's a good, conversation to have.
Is, you know, a 4x4, just,
you know, straight stacked is a lot less,
an install cost compared to a herringbone.
Yeah.
So, you know, some of those play into it as well.
I recently did my daughter's house and I didn't know that,
like even a 4x4 or a three by 12
is less to install than a 12 by 24.
I was thinking, oh, that bigger, you know, that your tile would be less.
And they're like, no, it's a little bit more.
So yeah. Yeah, that's that's probably something people do not.
They at least I don't think about that.
You know, homeowners I guess trade pros probably know all that all the way about,
you know, how that is.
But I would have never thought of something like that.
And then they probably get to that point and they're like,
why is it so much more expensive?
Well, exactly.
And I'm doing this for a long time and just found that out.
So I'm learning every day still every day, every day.
Are there any tile choices that all tile features
that are specifically for the bathroom and if so, what makes them
so perfect for the bathroom?
Well, and I've pretty much already mentioned those is our wise
for those customers that are more, you know, worried about the, the slipping
and then the, the fin products with the Microban technology.
So those are specifically for,
not only bathrooms, but any place where there's going to be a lot of water.
and, you had those concerns.
So the, the, probably the two product categories.
Are you seeing that people use those for?
I don't know for sure. So correct me if I'm wrong.
are you saying that people use those for like, outdoor
spaces around, like, hot tubs at all step wise?
For sure. Okay.
that a lot of those products are exterior rated for the floor.
So, and it gives you really if you can use
the regular manufactured product indoors and then transition to that step wise.
And so then you have that seamless view from indoor to outdoor as well.
Yeah. But it is great.
I, I actually used the Emerson Wood on our lake house
all through the main floor, because I just knew all
the kids are going to be running on wets with its wet feet.
And so that product gave me peace of mind.
So, yeah, I mean, it's only for the bathroom, but that's really good.
Use it.
Yeah. Wherever you think people can fall.
Yeah.
Which by lake house. I assume would be.
Yeah. Like you mentioned everywhere.
And not just for the kids.
I feel like adults too.
Probably.
What type of education goes into selecting the right tile for your bathroom?
We talked a little bit about having the PK events.
Is there anything else that, tile does with homeowners or trade pros?
Try to educate online as much as possible.
all of our different products
that are, you know, have specific, you know, attributes.
We try to educate online, but as people come in,
we like to take that opportunity as well.
and so, you know, we like to educate on the difference
between natural stone and ceramic and porcelain.
A lot of people come in and just say, you know, I want porcelain.
And sometimes they don't even know what that means.
So, you know, yeah, they don't know what they don't know.
So we like to educate them on that.
we like to
educate them on the different kinds of grout because,
you know, they may want an epoxy grout over, standard grout.
Or if they're choosing a dark grout, they may want,
something that has that color stability in it.
Right.
And so that you don't have any, problems with it.
we like to also talk
about, different sizes of tile
and the pattern capabilities.
you know, I think that that's one that
sometimes doesn't become part of the conversation
and you can make so many different looks
with just a different pattern.
And so we like to, to talk about that.
we even online have pattern guides.
But that's fun to look at.
And you know, sometimes the sky's the limit on what you can do.
Of course, we talked about transitions,
even drains, center drains and linear drains.
So all of those options
and those have to those decisions have to be made pretty early on.
So we like to have that when we're consulting.
And then the different underlayment and you know, what you can do
for cracked prevention even and heated floors.
So, you know, there's so many things to talk about.
And, educate on.
That's awesome.
Yeah. Heated floors would be nice.
That's a hold up one day.
Yeah. Yes. For sure.
So with Prosource expanding our sundries products,
I know in June we had like a huge we had, like,
sundries events at all of our showrooms and our big focus was sundries.
How has this impacted tile and the trade professionals
who rely on your products very positively, because as you guys
are, one stop shop, we're trying to be the one stop shop for you too.
Right?
So, it challenges us to keep raising the bar
to provide all of the resources that you need to be successful.
As we hear from you, we go find it, right?
Because we want to be that company that you rely on
for all your products, for sure.
And you guys have been great, by the way.
Also. Yeah,
from coast to coast.
Describe what Prosource showrooms have done to help tile products evolve.
And we've kind of talked about this question
throughout this whole this whole episode.
I feel like,
but any, I guess, final words you want to talk about regarding Prosource
and what I think that, you know, you guys have given us valuable input,
on, you know, what we need to be for you
and what products we need as gaps.
So that's great.
We always value your input.
But, you know, you guys have just given us better placement on your floor.
So I think that, you know, that really has helped us.
And then just that local training, you know, from coast to coast,
the more we can train you guys, through, you know, either us, our, our reps,
vendor partners, I think that
we all win if we're product experts.
I couldn't agree more.
Well, thank you so much for joining us today.
Corinthia. that was Corinthia Runge.
She's the director of national showroom sales for Daltile.
And we appreciate you coming on and sharing your expertise,
your many years of experience in the industry.
And we look forward to the continued collaboration
between Prosource and Daltile. Thank you so much.
It was my pleasure. Bye everyone.
Thank you for joining us today on The ProSource Podcast.
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Check out our website at prosource wholesale.com and visit
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