<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Cast-iron comeback: Time-honored fixture material gets modern design treatments</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – A skillet hidden away in a cabinet, or some other small piece of cookware – that’s about all the cast iron you’ll find in most modern homes. In the early 1900s, iron was a material of choice not just for cookware, but for many other essential items throughout the house: A skillet on the stovetop, sinks and bathtubs, and fences that decorated and defined the front yard. Even some buildings were made of iron. But as lighter, rust-resistant materials became available, iron fell by the wayside as a material in homes.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Fast forward to today, and a new generation of design-savvy homeowners is rediscovering the beauty, durability and usefulness of cast iron in kitchens and bathrooms. A handful of enterprising manufacturers are reinventing the look, design and appeal of cast iron. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If the concept of cast iron in kitchen and bath fixtures is new to you, consider the material’s advantages:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Durable.</strong> Enameled cast iron is especially durable, combining the longevity and dent-resistance of cast iron with the rust-proof beauty of enamel.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Customizable.</strong> Cast-iron sinks and bathtubs add instant elegance to a space. And with more than 20 colors to choose from, it’s easy to create a customized look to reflect personal style.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>* Eco-friendly.</strong> Some cast-iron products, like those made by bath design pioneer Kohler, have a "green" side. Kohler manufactures its cast iron from 83 percent recycled materials.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">These three cast-iron fixtures have regained popularity – and reclaimed cast iron’s reputation as a material of choice – in American homes:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>1. Kitchen sinks</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The kitchen sink plays host to a handful of hardworking activities in the heart of the home – whether it’s cleaning up from holiday feasts or serving as a baby bathing spot.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Today’s Kohler’s Lawnfield<span>  </span>and Wheatland cast iron kitchen sinks emphasize design with an ideal balance between form and function at an attractive price. Single-basin sinks reflect historical design, and double basin cast iron sinks offer a modern convenience. You’ll find a variety of color choices, as well as under-counter and self-rimming options. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>2. Bathroom sinks</strong> </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Whether it’s the focal point in a petite powder room or coupled in a master suite’s double vanity, bathroom sinks have a tall bill to fill – homeowners require good looks and durability, which today’s enameled cast-iron bathroom sinks can provide. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Enameling technology makes it possible to have a cast-iron sink in an array of vibrant new colors beyond your grandparents’ classic white claw-foot tub. Kohler’s Tides bathroom sink comes in over 20 colors, and its self-rimming design makes it easy to install. With a cost well below $200, it’s price-competitive with sinks constructed from acrylic or fiberglass.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>3. Bathtubs</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The first cast-iron baths were free-standing models – a design so ubiquitous that many Americans still associate it with cast iron. When Kohler introduced the built-in bathtub in the early 1900s, the style quickly became the design of choice for American homeowners and remains the most popular style today. </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/3c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/3c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Now, you can find cast iron bathtubs<span>  </span>that offer the convenience and functionality of the built-in style, along with the elegance and durability of enameled cast iron. For those who crave design variety, drop in/undermount and freestanding styles are also available in cast iron. You can even find styles that offer massaging water jets and bubbles.</p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">You may fondly recall your grandparents’ cast iron, but modern design and a vibrant array of colors have today’s homeowners falling in love with cast iron’s durability and convenience all over again and enjoying it for years to come – just as other homeowners have before them.</span></p></span>