By Nigel F. Maynard
When it comes to building products brands, some–such as Moen, Kohler, Dornbracht, GE, Whirlpool, Andersen Windows–are household names that have been around for, in some cases, 100 years or more. These companies have built a loyal following among the trades and homeowners for reliable products and good customer service. Architects, designers and specifiers can be reasonably certain that products from these companies will perform.
But all products don’t work in all projects and situations, which is why architects and designers are particularly keen on product discovery, constantly on the lookout for new products to help make their projects feel special and add an extra element of cool–provided the budget allows it. Sure, professionals have their go-to, tried-and-true options (among architects, Valli, Benjamin Moore, Duravit etc.), but sometimes you need or want more. We are here to help.
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We have spent a little time digging through our notes and files to come up with 10 building products that have been on our radar for a while. These brands have an almost perfect mix of material, design and innovation. Many people may not have heard of some of these brands, but those who do swear by them.
Here is the list:
If you’re an architect or designer doing exquisite interiors, you will need equally exquisite shelving. You could choose the 606 Universal Shelving System designed by Dieter Rams in 1960, an excellent choice. Or you could opt for something from Atlas Industries, a New York-based multi-disciplinary design and manufacturing firm founded in 1993 by Thomas Wright and Joseph Fratesi. The company says its work is informed by the conviction that designing and building are mutually implied processes. Its AS4 modular furniture system is a favorite of designers and architects.
Italy has so many established, cutting-edge ceramic tile manufacturers that you can throw one stone and hit at least 10. It was in this climate that a couple of friends hatched an idea to launch a new ceramic tile company in 2013. Named for the postal code in Fiorano Modenese ( in the province of Modena) where the company is based, 41zero42 specializes in hip modern tile design that only adds to the country’s legacy. In the company’s words, they have a younger perspective so they can offer alternative versions to what’s on the market.
German brand Bega was founded in 1945 and is well known among sophisticated architects on the lookout for minimal indoor and outdoor light fixtures. The U.S. market is a strong channel for the company, which has a manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Carpinteria, Calif., and a second campus in Broomfield, Colo.
The Czech premium lighting brand Brokis was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur and engineer Jan Rabell and has gained a reputation for creative light fixtures with a quiet sophistication that will make your interiors shine. Known for using Bohemian glass artisans, the company combines hand-blown glass with other refined materials, such as wood and manually pressed metal, in bold lighting compositions that push the boundaries of contemporary design. The company’s products are available in the U.S. market via online lighting retailers.
Kast is a U.K.-based brand known for design-forward, contemporary concrete bathroom basins and sinks that are handmade in the brand’s Sherwood Forest factory and shipped worldwide. Founded by Tim Bayes, who fell in love with concrete while growing up in Switzerland, the brand offers products that feature a velvety texture, sensuous curves and just the right amount of design. And the colors–the 28 it offers–are vibrant and stunning. No wonder Kohler bought the company in 2023.
Based in Belgium, Portapivot manufactures made-to-measure aluminum pivoting doors and room dividers to fit your wall opening and ships them with the appropriate hardware and installation accessories, creating ultra-hip modern openings in a home. The brand was founded by Anyway doors to make its custom pivoting room divider products accessible to international customers. As a result, the doors are shipped worldwide via DHL Express.
Few things in a project says high design like one-of-kind details. Founded in 2017, Belgium-based Prado specializes in discreet, flush-mounted home technology products–such as electrical outlets, switches, recessed lights, etc–that are characterised by a minimalist, all-around design without compromising on functionality, the brand says. For its efforts, the brand won a prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2023. But cool design does not come cheap. Pieces start at $79.
Space Theory was founded in 2019 by the creators of Henrybuilt (another brand we love), a Seattle-based company that specializes in high-end, custom kitchen and home design and manufacturing. A more casual line than its parent company, Space Theory offers a simplified kitchen system that the company says is high quality but more affordable. Nevertheless, the design is equally stunning, offering various species, storage options and shelving elements. The products are made in Henrybuilt’s Seattle factory.
There are very good wood countertop producers in the U.S. market, but Danish brand Spekva is a little different. Made using 14 available species–including wenge, thermo oak and iroko–the custom tops are made using a unique tongue-and-groove construction. Instead of gluing flat sides together, which is standard in the industry, the brand uses tongue and groove joints with glue. This technique gives the glue an up to 40 percent larger surface to act on.
Founded in 2008, Mexico City-based Studio davidpompa says it is devoted to materiality and craft. The lighting brand is known for pieces that embrace a contemporary language and move fluidly between product design, spatial interventions and experimental processes. “We challenge materials, test their limits and uncover new ways of expressing their natural beauty,” the company says. “Each collection builds on the last, evolving our language and expanding our understanding of craft.”