Kitchens and baths may be two rooms in our homes that regularly demand a hands-on experience in terms of function, but do their elements really reward the senses? Some of the designs in today's market are showing how surfaces, fixtures, lighting and more can add a new level of form to their functions. In addition to performing and looking great, these products prove beauty can be a multi-sensory experience.

The reason for this sensational trend? The answer is two-fold, according to Susan Yashinksy, VP of marketing for Waterford, MI-based Sphere Trending, a trend consulting firm specializing in consumer and design trends that has covered this phenomenon on its blog. "We are now in the fourth economic state called the 'Experience Economy,'" she said, referring to the 1999 book of the same name in which authors B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore argue that today's businesses must orchestrate memorable events for their customers. The memory itself—the "experience"—becomes the product.

The experience economy follows the progression of the agrarian, industrial and service economies. "Today we are not just talking about needs and desires like in previous economies, but experiences," said Yashinsky, citing Build-A-Bear as an excellent example of this concept. "Design showrooms will have to be experiential or else people will just shop online where they can find all the information and education they want."

In addition, Yashinsky explained that sense-stimulating products are becoming more popular to combat the sensory deprivation we are currently experiencing as a society. "Research shows we need to stimulate our senses to be happy, but more and more we are spending time alone, telecommuting, touching lots of hard surfaces like computer keyboards and granite countertops," she said. "And new technology is allowing an evolution of products well beyond function. Hard surfaces can become soft, you can listen to music while you cook because speakers can come out of your cabinets, appliances are designed to operate quietly."

Not only are there lots of new products designed to reduce sound, important in the popular open floor plans of today, Yashinsky says that enhancing sound and creating beautiful sound is a growing design trend as well. An extreme example of this sensory push is the Symphonic House, a Lake Michigan home where the Wege family commissioned the creation of architecture as musical instruments. Architect David Hanawalt and sonic installation artist Bill Close created a series of musical experiences that let people bring the home's architecture to life by playing giant stringed instruments.

In addition to touch and sound, the sense of sight is also being stimulated in a new way. "We now say shape is the new color because we often notice it first," Yashinsky said. "We are much more design savvy than previous generations due to design shows and magazines." Yashinsky says she is now even seeing more emphasis on aromatherapy. For example, Italian rug company Nodus sells bottled scents with its rugs to create a more complete sensory experience.

If you're feeling sensory deprived, there are plenty of ways to make your home's design a complete experience. Check out these tasty kitchen and bath products that invite long stares, gentle caresses, deep breaths and careful listening.

1. Add the showy glamour of an elegant ballroom to your kitchen with the glistening Star range hood from Elica. Who knew ventilation combined with illumination could be so eye-catching?

2. Offered in 12 color options, some with translucent properties, Cosentino's new Prexury Collection is a feast for the eyes. It merges the natural beauty of semi-precious stones, petrified woods and fossils with modern technology to create a durable surfacing material.

3. Feel like you're bathing in moonlight with TOTO USA's Neorest II Luminist Soaker Tub. The translucency of the custom hybrid epoxy resin lets the tub gently glow when the LEDs beneath are switched on, encompassing the bather in a soothing aura of white light.

4. These gorgeous patchwork glass mosaic designs from the Wallpaper collection by Trend add an extra dimension to your walls. Shiny, touchable and precious, the glass tiles are suitable for walls, floors and ceilings, and can stand up to humid environments.

5. Bandini's Ocean series of sinks are inspired by the undulating waves of the sea. This interactive bathroom art is made of technoform, a modern resin that is both strong and lustrous. The Ocean washbasin is available in black and white in two sizes that can be combined into different formations due to their modular nature.

6. Don't you want to know what this shaggy light from Chiara Lampugnani's Atmosphere series feels like? The lamps are made of optical fibers and LEDs on bases of ceramic and metal.











































7. Sensitile Scintilla acrylic tiles channel and redirect light hitting their surface, creating moving shadows, unexpected rippling patterns and unique lighting patterns for flooring, walls and panels.

8. Reach out and touch the Spot faucet from Ndwelt. A simple finger drag across the top allows you to turn the water on or off and to regulate the temperature. Add its illuminated underside and the soft sound of its water flow and this faucet is a sensory triple threat.

9. This luxurious, upholstered, freestanding bathtub from Lineatre is punctuated with deep, diamante buttons and comes in glamorous gold or gracious white. A matching toilet seat is also available.

10. Perfect in the bath or to showcase glasses in the kitchen or bar, a rainbow of LED lights shine through the fun cut-outs on Lasertron's Lighted Cabinet doors.

11. Cover your walls in colorful hills and valleys with The Blake Studios tile collection from Ann Sacks. One of three organic designs, Dahlia (shown) creates a play of shadow and light on a surface that begs to be caressed.

12. For a completely sensuous bathing experience, try the light, sound and aroma features of the HansaForSenses Bathroom Therapy System by Hansa. Choose from three preconfigured programs—Activate, Recreate and Relax—or create a program of your own.











































13. Available in many different designs and shapes, Pressalit's toilet seats bring texture and color to a typically plain surface.

14. Check out the illusion created by these three-dimensional drawer fronts from L'Atelier A Francais that look like kitchen supplies are just busting to get out.

15. Aquamass' Dip series features the Dip D-lighting Chromo bathtub, a stunning translucent tub that glows with relaxing chromotherapy.

16. Treat your ears to the sound of falling water with the sculptural brilliance of the Abisko Washbasin from Eumar. Inspired by the waterfalls in Sweden's Abisko National Park, this cast mineral marble sink is nature-friendly as well: By not allowing water to accumulate in a basin, one is aware of how much water is used as it cascades down the sink and slips away down a discreet floor-level drain.

17. The textured surface of this luxury Italian tile collection from Cris Design is aptly named Feel. Created for use on floors or walls, Feel tiles come in rich colors such as white and black or beige and chocolate and are embellished with gold and platinum detailing.