By: Nigel F. Maynard
Now that the Trump Administration has imposed higher tariffs on imported goods, consumers will likely be paying more for many items. Everyone (and almost everything) will be affected, but experts say one of the things that certainly will be more expensive is homebuilding/remodeling.
Obvious products, such as lumber from Canada, will take a hit. We import about a third of our softwood lumber from our neighbors to the north, which means framing and other structural work in a house will take a hit.
The National Association of Home Builders is concerned that tariffs on lumber could increase the cost of building homes, so consumers will end up paying higher prices for new homes and for those remodeling projects. How much it will affect pricing and how much distributors pass on to consumers remain to be seen.
Framing is only one area of concern, though. Some of the most popular brands among architects and designers in such categories as lighting, plumbing and fixtures, hardware, kitchens, ceramic tile and surfacing come from places like Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Switzerland, to name a handful.
Fortunately, there are some really cool American brands whose products are tariff-free, so design pros and specifiers will not have to settle. Here are some that we like:
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Crafted in the brand’s Wisconsin woodworking shop, Linear floating bathroom vanity is made from veneer and solid wood that was sustainably harvested in the United States, the brand says. Available in six sizes up to 72 inches, it features soft-close drawers and doors plus an optional quartz top with customizable options.
Disco-rectangle Linear Drain emphasizes a fluid, organic aesthetic with smooth, curved contours, the company says. Fabricated in the company’s Long Island, N.Y., facility, the product moves away from sharp angles while maintaining the structural integrity and performance of the product. It’s available in 10 designer finishes crafted to match other fixtures in the bathroom. The product has a fixed length.
Made in the brand’s Minneapolis studio, the Parallel Orb is a large pendant that strikes a bold pose in a house, making it a great centerpiece light or when used in multiples to create dramatic scale. It features a three bulb cluster branching out from the metal top and illuminating the hand-blown glass below. It measures 15 inches by 8.5 inches.
Elan Vital features a design that is reminiscent of commercial ball valves and plumbing unions except it offers modern valves and aeration. Featuring ceramic disc cartridges, it has a 50-inch side spray hose, all lead-free brass construction and a telescoping spout with adjustable height and projection
The Pod pendant features sleek, cylindrical frame and finished with a distinctive hand-crafted tuck. Measuring 12 inches by 7 inches, it paired with a premium Luxe Cord Set (available in three metal finishes) and shown with a T8 Long Bulb.
The Modern Automated Casement window is part of a new line of connected products that have five modes of control. Featuring a high-density fiberglass exterior and an extruded aluminum interior, the product comes in five colors and can be ordered as large as 3 feet wide and 9 feet tall.
Available in two sizes–30- and 36-inch–the all-stainless steel bottom refrigerator has a glass door with a 120-degree stay-open feature and tubular handles. A commercially inspired lift-up grill on top of the unit with toe kick complements the look of True’s undercounter units. It comes in tons of colors and six hardware finishes.
The 48-inch Platinum induction range features a durable matte finish cooktop, on the largest cooking surface with power indicator lights. Available in more than 1,000+ colors and multiple trim options, it has two 11-inch zones and four 9-inch zones. Plus, it has an extra-Large True Convection oven that offers even and consistent multi-rack cooking. The unit is handcrafted in Pennsylvania (since 1880).
Offering the look of a restaurant-quality faucet, the extended-reach faucet has a 11⅛-inch reach for larger sinks and can swivel 360 degrees. It has a “Positive Lock Pulldown” design that locks the sprayer in place when not in use and has a counterbalanced weight on spray hose for smooth pull out. It can be made from solid brass or 316 stainless steel.
Handmade in Chicago, the Newterra is crafted from concrete and can be used as a wall-mount sink or a vanity top sink. It measures 22 inches wide, 14 inches from front to back and 16 inches tall. The sink comes in 12 colors.
Antique is a matte, non-reflective ceramic tile with a coppery rust-brown hue and color variation offering a “timeless rustic elegance to any space,” the company says. Available in a variety of sizes, the products are made in the company’s Aromas, Calif., or Spokane, Wash., factories.