Latest Trends in Kitchen and Bath Design
When it comes to seeing the latest and upcoming in-home design products, features, trends and styles, you’ll find few better places than Design & Construction Week. The annual trade event was held in February this year in Orlando, Florida, and combined the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Builders’ Show. The week-long event showcased the newest in faucets, appliances and countertop styles. It also featured the latest innovations in sustainability and conservation in product manufacturing.
Read on for a snapshot of what’s trending now.
Photo credit: Pinterest
1. Workstation Sinks
Functional Accessories - Inserts and accessories for chopping, straining, drying and other functions. One manufacturer offers an under-mount installation and interchangeable components that include a colander, drying rack and chopping board.
2. New Faucet Features
Commercial-Style Designs. The look is a back-to-basics strategy that seeks to modernize traditional industrial-style plumbing fixtures. Wheel Knobs. Elegant take on wheel knob designs.
3. Warm Neutral Countertop Styles
Shift from Bright - It’s no secret that white marble-look quartz countertops have dominated kitchens in recent years. But many manufacturers are betting on a small shift away from bright whites to warmer neutrals.
4. Colorful Appliance Finishes
Bold and Beautiful - While there’s no doubt that stainless steel remains the most popular appliance finish, many manufacturers are increasing their offerings to include other, bolder finishes.
5. Bathing Experiences
Rain Shower Heads - New looks and innovative spray options that promise powerful pressure. Deep Soaking Tubs - New steam and aromatherapy functions.
6. Bidets
Smart toilets with Bidet Functions - Newer features include a wall-mounted remote control to flush and raise or lower the lid. There’s also a toe-tap function at the base for hands-free flushing. Others offer self-cleaning functions as well as a self-rising seat and lid, a built-in UV cleaning function, a toe-kick button and a warm air dryer.
7. Artificial Intelligence
There seems to be a shift toward companies creating high-tech products that perform smart tasks without much need for help from a user.
Washer/Dryer Customization - Detect load size, fabric type and level of soil and adjust the load to dispense the right amount of detergent. Machines learn routines over time and can notify you if the dryer vent is clogged or it’s time to clean the tub. An infrared drying feature monitors the temperature of pieces of clothing during the dry cycle to make sure everything is heated evenly.
Cooktop Thermal Imaging - The Cooksy is a device featuring thermal imaging that tells you in an app what temperature the surface of your pan is or the temperature of the food that’s cooking on your cooktop. The app also features video tutorials of recipes that instruct you when to add ingredients.
8. Sustainability and Recycling
Water Usage - Homeowners can control and monitor their water usage to conserve as needed. It can also detect leaks and notify you. If you’re away on vacation, you can remotely shut the water off and flush the pipes to prevent bacterial contamination or freezing in the winter.
Plastic Recycling - Showerheads made from 35% recycled ocean and near-shore plastic. Front-load washers featuring a tub made from 60 recycled plastic water bottles.