With new ways of renovating a kitchen or making over a bathroom popping up on Pinterest and Instagram daily, there is so much temptation for us home builders or renovators to bust our budget! It's encouraging then, to see  the big players in kitchen and bathroom fixtures seeking out talented Designers to develop beautiful products within the reach of everyday home owners.

Philippe Starck is a French visionary who has designed furniture, architecture and products since the 1980's, marking his style with simple, inventive works. I was excited to find in my local Plumbtec showroom, that I could have kitchen mixers and toilets designed by this famous creative.

Duravit have been manufacturing bathroom fittings since 1817 and have partnered with Starck to create the Starck 3 range. They say it is  'the best vaue for money for a real Philippe Starck'. They really have every type of bathroom covered, from compact ensuites to wheelchair friendly washbasins, so there opportunity for everyone to have the Designers' touch.

German bathroom and kitchen fittings manufacturer Hansgrohe has a whole range of taps influenced by Phillipe Starck.  The Axor Starck Organic combines a water saving tap with sculptural beauty and the Kitchen Mixer with pull out spray has a slender joystick off to the side.

Natalie Walton is a Sydney stylist who works with leading publications such as Country Style and Marie Claire.  In a recent collaboration with Dorf, Wilson helped produce two very different tapware ranges.  The Manor house, for traditional and federation style homes and Myriad, a minimal contemporary style.

When walking through showrooms full of fixtures and fittings, it can be a little work to sort through the displays.  But do take the time (and grab some brochures) to search out collaborations with Designers.  Your research will be rewarded with the daily pleasure you receive from using a well designed product.