The Latest from KBIS 2017
The temperatures outside may go up and down like a roller coaster, but now that Daylight Saving Time is here, the longer days definitely signal the coming of spring. Has it got you thinking about ways to freshen up your home? Do you need some inspiration for your kitchen and bathrooms? We’ve got some great suggestions for you!
The annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) always provides an amazing showcase for new trends for kitchens and baths. The event, sponsored by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), brings more than 500 companies representing the industry’s leading brands together to introduce to the world their latest styles and products. We’re excited to share with you some inspiration – and practical solutions – for the rooms where you spend so much time.
Inspiration for Kitchens and Baths…
Fresh Colors
Adding some spice to the ubiquitous white kitchens are cabinets that “pop” with more colors. You can choose soft gray, refreshing coastal blues, or even bright green. You don’t have to commit to a whole room’s worth of cabinets in a new color, though, because this year’s big thing is the “tuxedo cabinet” that mixes and matches different colors for upper and lower cabinets. We’re also seeing lots of kitchens that feature base and wall cabinets in one color (or wood stain) paired with islands or other accessories in a contrasting hue.
Wellborn Cabinets
Quartz, increasingly popular as a counter surface, is now available to bring color — and more — to kitchen sinks. The durable composite material is easy to clean and has excellent scratch, impact, and heat resistance. Elkay’s Quartz Luxe series offers six colors in 16 models with single or double bowls.
If opposites attract, then white kitchens are the perfect match for this year’s new choice in appliance finishes: black stainless steel. LG, KitchenAid, Samsung, and Frigidaire Gallery have launched black stainless steel collections as a stylish alternative to the usual stainless finish. Black stainless resists fingerprints and solves the biggest complaint homeowners have about stainless steel – the problem of never-ending smudges! Moen, Delta, and Kohler are also featuring matte black (smudge-resistant) options in kitchen and bath faucets, fixtures, and accessories.
Elkay Quartz Luxe Sink
Smaller Sizes
While most families couldn’t manage living in something out of the “tiny house” trend, the fascination with down-sizing and simpler lifestyles grows. Both millennials and boomers are gravitating toward smaller homes and more urban living environments, and that means packing more style and function into less space. European appliance manufacturers are leading the way, because they’ve offered smaller sizes in Europe for years. Now they are supporting the trend in the US by adding more versions of their products here. German refrigeration expert Liebherr offers 24” and 30” wide refrigerators, and Miele displayed a 24” oven and induction cooktop, and an 18” dishwasher. Vinotemp’s wine storage refrigerator for 7 bottles is less than 6” wide.
Vinotemp 7-Bottle Wine Cooler
Compact size is also a feature of this year’s bathroom fixtures and cabinetry. Kohler’s wall-mounted toilet model “Veil” has a concealed tank and sleek design lines that can save up to 8” of coveted bathroom space over floor-mounted toilets. Wall-hung vanity cabinets by Ronbow and American Standard’s DXV brand offer maximized storage potential in minimal space: 18” and 24” cabinet widths that are ideal for urban condos or even powder rooms.
Kohler “Veil” Wall-Mounted Toilet
More Smart Connections
How smart should a house be? If you believe that the smarter a home is, the better, we have 2 ideas for you to try: fridges that show what’s inside without opening the door, and appliances that “talk” to your Amazon Alexa.
The Frigidaire Professional Glass Door Refrigerator features a proximity sensor to turn on interior lighting for 30 seconds, giving you a hands-free inside look when you approach it. LG’s Door-in-Door® Refrigerator features their InstaView™ technology, with a glass panel door that illuminates with two quick knocks on it.
GE has added Amazon Alexa skill sets to a broad range of its connected appliances, including refrigerators, dishwashers, wall ovens, ranges, laundry and more. With voice-activated controls, you can check on the internal temperature of a roast while it’s cooking. LG also offers appliances connected with Alexa, so you can use voice commands to find recipes, or start a shopping list. Bosch Dishwashers can even be connected to Amazon Dash to automatically reorder detergent before you run out!
GE Appliances and Amazon Alexa
Let us know if you would like to take a look at how we can incorporate some of these new ideas into a redesign of your kitchen and bathrooms. Or if you’re thinking about updating any room in your home, we can help you select the fresh looks that are just right for you and your family’s lifestyle!
Photos courtesy of The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®) and Emerald Expositions, Inc.
