The stainless steel faucet utilizes carbon fiber for extra strength and less weight, while staying within the bounds of the design. It also has two spray modes, but technical specs aside, the main draw here is the look. You can't help but stare at it. Details haven't surfaced on pricing or release date, but I'd be willing to wager this thing will cost a pretty penny. [DVICE]

KOHLER LAUNCHES BREAKTHROUGH KARBON ARTICULATING KITCHEN FAUCET

New kitchen faucet marries ultimate kitchen functionality with visually entrancing design

KOHLER, Wis. - April 11, 2008 - What does the ultimate in functionality for a kitchen faucet really mean?
For Kohler Co. - a global leader in kitchen and bath design and technology - ultimate functionality can be defined as a kitchen faucet that possesses the functionality and performance of a pull-down faucet, while also allowing the user to position and leave the sprayhead right where it's needed, thereby freeing up both hands for kitchen prep and clean-up tasks. To develop a kitchen faucet that satisfied this requirement was the tall task presented to the Kohler new product development team.

The result is the new KOHLER Karbon kitchen faucet, a faucet of unexpected and intriguing design that will undoubtedly become the primary focal point of any contemporary kitchen setting.

"This articulating faucet represents a breakthrough in the evolution of the category," commented Les Petch, senior product manager for KOHLER kitchen faucets. "The quest for the ultimate in functionality has not only produced a faucet that outperforms other models but has also yielded an astonishing piece of contemporary design work that represents as much a piece of art as the next generation in faucet technology. It truly is a one-of-a-kind."

The original design impetus of the Karbon kitchen faucet was inspired by lighting and construction equipment with articulating joints. The Kohler design team took this concept and created a product that signals a paradigm shift in the functionality and design of modern kitchen faucets. "Form really does follow function in this case," said Petch. "But that doesn't take away from the fact that the Karbon faucet is an outstanding piece of modern industrial design." The use of a textured carbon fiber composite adds further appeal to a unique visual aesthetic that reinforces the contemporary nature of the design.

Unlike other kitchen faucets, the Karbon faucet will maintain the exact position where a user places it within its allotted reach in or outside the sink, keeping the spray head and water flow exactly where it's desired. Additionally, the faucet offers both spray and aerated water flow options, eliminating the need for a sidespray. An elaborate design detail is featured in the remote joystick valve that consists of two disks of identical size installed flush with the countertop to provide an unusually sleek look and offer easy cleaning.

The actual construction of the faucet is a combination of traditional brass and innovative carbon fiber composite tubing. The logic behind the use of carbon fiber lies in its superior strength and light weight, allowing for tight movement tolerance and the exceptional functional performance of this faucet. The joints connecting the four sections of the faucet employ a novel patented technology that provides exceptional resistance to support the spout while allowing for smooth and effortless handling.

The Karbon kitchen faucet is available in high quality, durable Polished Chrome and Vibrant® Stainless finishes and carries a lifetime limited warranty. Offering easy installation, it relies on flexible connections and installation rings. Installers will want to take note that the joystick valve requires non-standard holes of two inches in diameter.

The bath brings lights, music and vibrations together to create a relaxing atmosphere. Four presets of new age music and soft lighting are included, but if you can only relax with Public Enemy and flashing strobes like me, everything is adjustable and the tub streams songs from your PC or Mac. One thing that threw off my man Mr. G was the vibration of the tub. Vibrating pulses pass through your body, but they sound much more intense than they feel. Fool thought he was getting a massage, but he was just shaken up a bit at best. Either way, it's a nice way to chill out and get clean. But for $13,000, they could at least install a milk fountain! [Kohler]

Thanks to Sam Mindel for the video help!

Product Page [via CrunchGear]

If you've got Kohler's other products, like the DTV II or their standalone systems, we're sure it works well with those as well. As if your teenagers didn't spend enough time in the shower. Available later in May. – Jason Chen

It sure looks nice though, doesn't it? It can be yours for $6,000. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Red Ferret]

The C3-200 model ($1300, pictured on the toilet above left) has an in-line heater that warms up that water so your ass-cleaning experience will be more soothing than shocking. It even has a remote control to initiate the whole cleaning and drying process. There's also the model C3-100 ($750, pictured above right) that contains a small tank that heats up the cleansing water, and its controls are located on the side of the seat.

Check out the details, plus more pics:

These swank toilet seats let you adjust the temperature and pressure of that cleaning spray, and there's also a cool blue light that helps with that nighttime urinary aiming problem. Also a nice touch is the way these heated seats quietly lower as if riding on a cushion of air.

Both models offer the ability to select front and rear wash, and you can even make the hydra-cleansing wand pulsate that water on those oh-so-sensitive body parts. That could get interesting rather quickly. The higher-end C3-200 also offers a deodorizing fan, and warm air drying with adjustable temperature and fan speed.

This bidet functionality in toilet seats has been popularized by Toto with its $5K+ NeoRest toilet and so-called "washlet" technology, and Toto also offers various luxo-sport toilet seats with those cool washlet features as well. But now you can get an American-made squirting seat. As with all thrones like this, there's slight problem, though: you'll have to wire an electrical outlet nearby for these babies, but that's the price of progress. – Charlie White

Product Page [Kohler Company]

The DTV also links up to Kohler's sophisticated multihead shower systems, its touchscreen allowing you to individually control pressure and temperature on up to eight shower heads. Better save up your money, though, because the controller alone costs $2000, not including a rather involved installation of all those shower heads and plumbing hardware. And then you'll have to pay for all those millions of gallons of hot water.

Kohler DTV - Next-Gen Shower [OhGizmo]

This is a hell of an idea, especially for dorms or small spaces (like my first apartment, where I could actually cook right from my bed). The all-in-one cooking sink by Kohler actually has a stovetop built into the sink, spacious enough to put a large pot on, but not big enough to make it look like two appliances. Genius. It's also got a chopping board and it actually looks pretty darn good. You won't be baking cookies anytime soon, but we trust that won't be much of a problem.

THE SINK THAT COOKS [Coolhunter]