Plumbing Fixtures

DIY Kitchen RemodelingBeen There - Done ThatHaving remodeled two kitchens in the last 5 years, here's some advice for Do-It-Yourself kitchen remodels. Don't.Seriously, unless you're an electrician, a plumber, a painter, and a carpenter, who can lay tile, and install cabinets, and granite countertops you're going to need help. In my case, I wasn't any of these. For my first kitchen remodel I hooked up with a designer. She saved me a lot of money with some great ideas and connected me with a general contractor. He took care of the trades while I took care of the materials with an assist or two from the designer.I later sold that house, and moved into a small older home that was perfect for us, but needed a complete update. In this case, I didn't use a designer. We did a complete gut job, but there was not much design work - just remove and replace. New floors, new paint, etc. In the kitchen we replaced everything, but kept the basic layout. If you choose to go this way, get ready for a very long process. In hindsight, I would have done everything the same, except I'd have hired a project manager to inspect the work in process and keep the job moving forward in a more timely fashion. If you decide to manage your own remodel, I'd recommend at a minimum that you stick with professionals for the work you can't handle yourself. I had a handyman scrape the popcorn ceilings,

Styling with New Brizo Fixtures Who Cares about Fixtures with Style Once in a while I'll hear something like, "I don't really care much about the style of my fixtures. I just need something that works and doesn't cost too much." And that's OK. Your design professional and the sales associates at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center are all about saving you money on plumbing fixtures and appliances. However, whatever your budget is, you should think about getting fixtures that not only fit your budget, but also look good in your environment. Brizo is all about great quality fixtures in a choice of styles that will take your kitchen or bath to the next level. They've even partnered with famed designer Jason Wu for a separate collection of Jason Wu signature fixtures. There's no better time to show off Brizo's Jason Wu collection than today while we're right in the middle of NYC's Fashion Week. As a designer, Jason Wu has always been driven by a curiosity to learn about construction, perfecting every detail and merging contrasting influences into his designs. The Jason Wu for Brizo collection combines sleek Scandinavian design and intricate Baroque detailing. A Matte Black finish brings a sense of elegance to the collection and is paired with cool Polished Chrome or soft Brushed Nickel on a number of accessory pieces to coordinate seamlessly into any space. Whether it's Brizo's Jason Wu collection or any other faucet, sink, tub or vanity, we urge you to think about

Vanities from Robern will Beautify and Organize Your Bath Known for their quality in bath storage and grooming solutions, Robern Vanities offer a host of products that will handle your storage and organization while beautifying your bathroom environment. Here's just one example: Shared Family Bathroom with Robern V14 Vanity A blissful bathroom experience is possible, even in the busiest of bathrooms. By installing V14 Vanities in a shared family bathroom (or multiple ganged V14 Vanities), every member of the family can store and find their personal effects within the large, organized drawers. Removable glass bins ensure that the V14 Vanity can keep up with changes in people and priority and the glass exterior enables easy cleaning. Despite heavy usage, the quality construction and attractive features of the V14 Vanity mean your shared bathroom will enjoy luxurious appeal year after year. Designed to gang horizontally or stack vertically, the V14 Vanity lets you create a unique layout with smartly designed storage space. Vanities like the V14 can work great with any organizational style. With its modular design, the V14 Vanity line enables a homeowner to have a storage unit specifically designed to fit the space and handle each user's specific needs. Accessories include lighting, electrical outlets, and vanity tops available in Engineered Stone and Glass. Robern V14 Vanity Features:• Vanity widths: 24, 30, and 36 inches• Push-to-open drawer• Three drawer options: Plumbing access, full-width, and slim drawer insert• Aluminum trim on side panel• Built-in night light (optional) Colors:• Stock colors: Black,

Largest Builder Trade Show in the Western U.S.PCBC 2015ATTN: Builders, Contractors, and members of the Building IndustryThis year the PCBC (formerly known as the Pacific Coast Builders Conference) is being held in San Diego. Here's the writeup from the California Building Industry Asssociation:Each year, CBIA presents PCBC, the largest regional builders' show in the nation. Held annually in San Francisco or San Diego, PCBC features an extensive display of product innovations from hundreds of the industry's leading manufacturers and suppliers and a full educational conference with topical keynotes, seminars and workshops in fields ranging from business strategies to marketing to product design to applied technology.This trade show has been in existence since 1959. Here are the dates, times, and location of the 2015 PCBC:Dates: June 24th and June 25th, 2015Time: 9:30AM - 5:00PMLocation: San Diego Convention CenterHere are some of the Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center brands that will be exhibiting: Air King Electrolux GE Appliances Monogram Whirlpool KitchenAid Jenn-Air Toto Geberit InsinkeratorAppliance Product Award Winner at PCBCParade of Product WinnersWhat PCBC calls the POP winners for 2015 includes Whirlpool® for their NEW Heat Pump Dryer:Whirlpool® HybridCare™ Heat Pump DryerCompared to typical dryers that use large amounts of energy in the form of venting hot, moist air, the ventless 7.3 cu. ft. Whirlpool® HybridCare™ Heat Pump Dryer regenerates energy during the drying cycle using a refrigeration system to dry and recycle the same air. The technology reduces energy consumption, using up to 73 percent less energy with the Eco Dry

Highlights from LA Dwell on Design Show The show is winding down on Day 3, but we couldn't wait to begin showing some of the products that were highlighted at Dwell on Design 2015. Look for even more in upcoming blogs. Miele Ranges, Dishwashers, Wine storage, and More Miele has been showing their all new range lineup for a few months now. It's their first range EVER. Important to get this right, the new Miele range has been eight years in the design process. Of course, Miele is hugely successful and famous with their dishwasher, which includes 25 different models for any customer's needs. Miele's wine storage units are capable of storing up to 178 bottles of wine in 3 different temperature zones. We could go on, but take a look for yourself at Miele by clicking on the link below to see the UAKC Miele selections for yourself. Miele at UAKC New Design from Duravit The L-Cube system by Christian Werner for Duravit Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center is proud of their selection of fine plumbing fixtures. Here's a beautiful matched system from designer Christian Werner that was featured at the 2015 Dwell on Design. The link below will take you to the UAKC Duravit page: Duravit at UAKC Monogram Modern Home at Dwell The Monogram Modern Home is touring the country. Part of a 6 city tour, Monogram and Dwell are on the road with a tour that plays host to events at each venue including CEU credits,

Robern M Series Bathroom Cabinets Architizer 2015 Award Winner It was no surprise to find out that the Robern M Series cabinets received the Architizer 2015 A+ Grand Prize in the Bath - Cabinetry category. The M Series was selected by a jury of more than 300 architecture and interior design industry professionals. Here's how Robern describes this product line: Robern’s premier line of modular medicine cabinets, M Series combines style and functionality with integrated lighting, magnetic storage, built-in electrical and USB outlets and mirror defoggers. While we've written about Robern here before (Robern Vanities), the M Series is deserving of special note. The stylish design is accompanied by the functionality of Robern's integrated lighting. Personally, I love the magnet to hold nail clippers or other magnetic tools. And who wouldn't want electrical outlets, and a USB charger for their iPhone? Robern even offers an optional electronic mirror defogger. But, the ultimate mirror comes complete with a TV screen built right into the lower corner. Keep up with the news while you're getting ready in the morning. It seems that the folks from Robern haven't left anything out. They've even included an integrated and programmable night light. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has a complete selection of Robern bath cabinets, vanities, lighting, and accessories. Call or visit UAKC today for the lowest prices and best availability on plumbing fixtures and appliances.  

Water Saving Tips Mark Twain is usually credited with saying, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Today, we might say the same thing about the drought. There's lots of talk about saving water, but as individuals we could be doing a lot more. Here is some data from the EPA about our water usage Each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home. We can all use 30 percent less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances. The average household spends as much as $500 per year on their water and sewer bill and can save about $170 per year by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances. Here are a few things you and I could do today to save water today inside our homes. Easy Ways to Save Water at Home Install low-flow water faucetsThe average person loses 10 gallons each day to household leaks (14% of indoor water usage). Installing new low-flow aerators is the best single thing that can be done to save water inside the house, and it requires no behavior change. At a minimum, we should at least repair leaky faucets and toilets. Take showers rather than bathsFilling a bathtub will take 20 gallons of water or more, but taking a 5 minute shower using a low-flow shower head will use about half the water of the bath. Don't leave the water runningWhen standing at the sink engaged in grooming, shaving, washing hands,or brushing teeth turn

NEW Robern Styles and Finishes This year's KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) was not just a huge success in terms of attendance, but also the products and styles displayed created a buzz throughout the exhibit hall. Here are some of the Robern Vanities and more that helped create that buzz. TWICE THE STYLE Matching, side-by-side Adorn Vanities and M Series Cabinets with Reflexion Modular Lights create a stunning styling space for two. Integrated towel bars complete the thoughtful design. THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLICITY Uncluttered and remarkably sleek, the V14 Vanity has perfectly organized storage space for all your styling essentials. Pair with any Robern cabinet and Uplift Sconces for precise lighting that's perfect for shaving or makeup. MODULAR BEAUTY Available in nine Robern decorative glass colors and six Digital Wood™ options, the V14™ vanity offers exceptional customization. Gang cabinets horizontally or stack vertically for a seamless look that’s framed by the signature element, Brite Aluminum Trim. DETAILS, DETAILS In a powder room, style can make up for space. A slim vanity provides basic storage while allowing elements like a vessel sink or handsome wall-mounted faucet to shine. A Métallique cabinet brings a touch of Art Moderne to the look. Interesting content from Robern's blog: GRAY: MUCH MORE THAN 50 SHADES When you think of gray, what comes to mind? If it’s words like "drab", "dull" or "boring", you haven’t seen gray lately. The world is going gray, and that’s far from a bad thing. From furniture to fashion to

Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, and More Three Day Weekend and Great Buys on Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures Even after all these years, there is still some confusion over what President's Day really is. In 1885, Congress established the national holiday of Washington's Birthday on February 22nd. Although Lincoln's Birthday, February 12th, had never been a recognized national holiday, it was an official state holiday in several states, and became widely observed through much of the country. In the 1960s there was a movement to create more 3-day weekends by shifting some holidays to Mondays. As part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, Congress moved Washington's Birthday Holiday from February 22nd to the third Monday in February. President Nixon made it official with an executive order in 1971. While the Uniform Monday Holiday Act had wordage that described this holiday as a day to celebrate both Lincoln's and Washington's birthday, the name of the holiday was never officially changed, and to this day the Federal Calendar calls out the holiday on the third Monday in February as Washington's Birthday. The public, however, not only counts President's Day as a celebration of both Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, but it is often regarded as a day recognizing all of our deceased presidents. Whatever your preference, President's Day is a 3-day weekend, and an opportunity to check out some great buys on major appliances and plumbing fixtures at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Call or visit today for the best prices

New Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink and Faucet During the recent Kitchen and Bath International Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas we saw a variety of stunning new products. We were especially pleased to see at new kitchen and bath sink and faucet collection from a favorite brand, Franke. Read more below: LAS VEGAS (JANUARY 20, 2015) — The new Planar 8 Series of handcrafted, Italian-made, stainless steel kitchen sinks from Franke Kitchen Systems feature sleek, contemporary designs that are right at home in any modern kitchen décor. Introducing the New Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink Designed and hand-fabricated in Italy, the Franke Planar 8 Kitchen Sink Series is made from premium 304 grade 18-gauge stainless steel, equipped with sound-dampening pads and Franke’s silky luster finish. Other key features include: Maximized work space: These undermount sinks measure 17 inches from front to back to enhance countertop work space without compromising sink functionality. Maximized storage space: The drain is placed in the rear of the unit so that drainage piping does not crowd the space inside the cabinet beneath the sink. Easier cleaning: Unlike other hand-fabricated sinks, the new Franke Planar 8 sinks are engineered with an 8 degree radius in the corners making the sink much easier to maintain. Enhanced functionality: Custom accessories, such as a bottom grid and a cutting board, are available to create a more productive and enjoyable food-preparation experience. In conjunction with this introduction, Franke is also unveiling the Planar 8 Flex Semi-Professional Kitchen Faucet as a