The best of what's new in country style

1. For those of us not lucky enough to have a Jeeves of our own, a bathtub tray is a great accessory. Designed to hold bathing necessities while soaking in a cast iron claw-foot tub, the bath rack has become a favourite - no more wet floor when reaching over the edge for soap or a rubber ducky. Bath racks also held books and magazines, and made sipping the odd cup of tea in the tub possible. Seen here are racks in a variety of materials, from wood to shiny chrome to brushed pewter.

From top: Whitewash wood bath rack, $40, available through Accents de Ville; extendable chrome bath rack, $310, Harvest Spa; extendable pewter bath rack, $120, available through Accents de Ville. Bath accessories, Harvest Spa.

2. From the bonny countryside of England comes the classically inspired and timelessly appointed Lefroy Brooks bath fixtures. Combining the look of antique 1800s British lavatory brassware with top-of-the-line modern plumbing technology, it's no wonder the brand has made its way into the homes of Prince Charles, David Bowie and Richard Gere. Although it's been available at Ginger's Bath in Toronto since early 2000, the line is now being given greater floor space with its own boutique. Lefroy Brooks' Godolphin Bath Exposed, $3,106, available exclusively at Ginger's Bath.

3. The word has been on the street for some time - yes, starting this autumn, San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma Inc. will be opening Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Pottery Barn Kids stores across Toronto. Specializing in kitchenware and home furnishings, Williams-Sonoma's founder, Chuck Williams, got his initial inspiration from a trip to Paris, where he was introduced to classic French cooking equipment. We asked Williams which items have been favourites since 1956, when Williams-Sonoma was simply a French kitchenware shop. His response: the Mauviel copper cookware, the Picardie bistro glasses, the Apilco souffle dishes and the French tart pans. Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn open in the Toronto Eaton Centre this month.

4. Demand for bath fixtures with elegant vintage styling is certainly on the rise. Realizing the trend, and inspired by a 1929 exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kohler recently launched a new line. The Kathryn Ensemble brings streamlined Art Deco appeal into the 21st century. We love the look of exposed plumbing, especially when juxtaposed against the luxuriousness of Carrara marble, as above. Call (800) 4-KOHLER for retailers.

5. Simply country: Search flea markets and online auction houses for French ivory vanity sets. They add instant vintage glamour to any dresser or bathroom. --produced by Sabrina Linn

We asked designers what colour trends they're seeing in bathroom linens:

"The spa approach is very popular now. Everything is crisp and white, but if you want a splash of colour, a good way to do it is through towels. Colours such as soft sage green and charcoal look great." --Susan Nickell, Empire Kitchen & Bath, Calgary

"White and natural - nobody comes in asking for anything else. If I had to suggest some colours, I'd say go for pastels and pale shades, like powder blues and sage greens." --Jerry Pinto, Splash Works, Toronto