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Professional Remodeler examines the latest design trends you can incorporate in kitchen and bath upgradesBy Tim Gregorski, Editor in Chief

15 design trends for kitchens &

baths

+1. Open kitchens to create more social space, furniture-type cabinetry Not only is the kitchen utilized for

cooking and eating, it has evolved into a social setting where cabinetry is being viewed as furniture as opposed to standard kitchen equipment.

Another design trend that has become popular lately is the new kitchen look with furniture-type cabinetry and mixtures of finishes and colors.

“We have been adding more finishing pieces to cabinets, such as adding panels on cabinet ends and molding accessories, which really highlights a great look,” says Bill Shaw, chairman of the NAHB Remodelers and president of William Shaw Associates in Houston.

+2. The cost-effectiveness of the unfitted bathroom style

Whether traditional or contemporary, the unfitted style reflected in free-standing slipper tubs and furniture-like cabinetry is becoming increasingly popular for the sanctuary-like bathroom reflected in today’s designs.

Generally, it is less expensive to install a free-standing slipped tub compared with a custom, deck-mounted tub complete with tile and surrounding stone. Tubs and cabinetry modeled in the unfitted style is often the focal point of the bathroom.

+3. Transitional styles for kitchens and baths Last year, the popularity of

transitional style—a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary—exceeded that of its traditional counterpart, which had been a top trend in 2010 and 2011.

In the latest NKBA survey, transitional styles are still positioned at the top of the list for kitchen applications, currently used by 61 percent of NKBA-member designers, which is up from 59 percent last year. Traditional styles currently rank second for both kitchens (60 percent) and bathrooms (58 percent). Contemporary designs rank third, maintaining 52-percent usage in kitchens and 57-percent in bathrooms.

+4. The emergence of quartz countertops; granite and marble remain popular

Quartz was the second most popular counter-surface material used in bathrooms last year, significantly narrowing the gap with granite. The use of quartz has increased from 53 percent to 65 percent, according to NKBA.

Granite remains popular as it has been specified more than two-thirds of the time by kitchen and bath designers. Marble also remains a popular bathroom vanity-top material, only moderately dipping in popularity from 46 percent in 2010 to 39 percent this year.

+5. Color palette favoring grays, beige, bone, and whites Shades of gray in bathroom

remodels have risen from 12 percent to 56 percent since 2010, according to NKBA. Whites and off-whites remain the top color schemes of bathrooms, used in 71 percent of bathrooms, an increase of 6 percentage points over the past year.

Shades of gray in kitchen remodels have risen from 9 percent to 55 percent since 2010. Similar to bathrooms, whites and off-whites remain top kitchen colors used in 73 percent of bathrooms, also an increase of 6 percentage points over last year. Beige and browns also remain a popular kitchen color scheme, followed by grays and browns. Sepia tones rise from 11 to 17 percent in kitchens.

+6. Cabinetry colors and styles

Among painted cabinetry, white has been very popular for the past three years, so it’s clearly not a fad among homeowners. The popularity of white-painted cabinetry jumped from 47 percent to 59 percent in 2012 and further increased to 67 percent this year, according to NKBA.

Cabinet color is also changing with the evolution of two-toned cabinets. For example, the lower cabinet and oversized island are typically a different and darker color than the upper level cabinets, which may also have open shelving.

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7. Darker finishes, depths, and heights

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Use of light, medium, and natural cabinet finishes has remained consistent during the past year. Light finishes are currently used by 30 percent of respondents, medium finishes by 54 percent, and dark finishes by 55 percent, according to NKBA. Use of glazed finishes, which held at 44 percent in 2011 and 2012, increased four percentage points this year.

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8. Undermount sinks still on top

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The popularity of undermount sinks is in a slight decline; however, they remain the most specified type of lavatory sink during the past three years.Integrated sink and tops have seen some growth, increasing from 35 percent in 2012 to 41 percent currently.Undermount sinks also create extra counter space because the sink is under the countertop rather than sitting on top. Visually, the vanity top now appears larger because the countertop space is continuous.

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9. LED lighting, reflective properties

Energy-efficient lighting is widely used by kitchen and bath designers in both the U.S. and Canada. As consumer awareness of energy efficiency has risen, it comes as no surprise that light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is being specified by a higher percentage of designers. Over the past year, 77 percent of designers have specified LEDs, up from 70 percent in 2011 and 50 percent in 2010.

“This makes them ideal for undercabinet task lighting. Their cool operation also makes them useful for in-cabinet applications, where an incandescent’s heat might damage the cabinet or its contents over time,” says San Diego-based, NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer, Jamie Gold, AKBD, CAPS, and author of the book, “New Kitchen Ideas that Work.”

+10. Glass backsplashes, ceramic and decorative metal evolving The kitchen backsplash has become

more of a decorative area instead of just an ignored space between the cabinets and countertop.

A backsplash can also add texture and depth to the kitchen. The selection of glass tiles and other new innovative tiles creates interesting focal points in the backsplash area and its tie-in with countertops and finishes.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles held its top position for the third consecutive year, but overall usage fell by 11 percentage points between 2010 (88 percent) and 2012 (77 percent).

+11. Popular use and creative design of

ceramic and porcelain tiles Slightly down from 93 percent in

2011, ceramic and porcelain tile flooring has been in decline of late, but it still remains the most popular of all materials specified by kitchen and bath designers. Ceramic and stone tiled floors are extremely durable and easy to maintain, and manufacturers offer dozens of styles and colors to meet the needs of homeowners and designers.

Natural stone tiles have also declined since 2011, dropping 77 percent to 59 percent in 2012, and to 57 percent this year. However, stone tiles remain the second most popular type of flooring used since 2011.

+12. Touch-activated faucets gaining

market share Historically, touch-activated or

touchless faucets were commercial products but have now crossed into the residential market and are here to stay. Homeowners with limited use of their hands, whether due to arthritis or other physical limitations, find touch-activated faucets much easier to use on a daily basis. Touch-activated faucets have been specified by 32 percent of designers in 2012 versus only 20 percent of designers in 2011.

Pull-out faucets are still in the top position, as they have been since 2010, with usage rising from 88 percent in 2010 to 94 percent this year. Pot-filler faucets rank second this year, gaining five percentage points over the past year to 33 percent.

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13. Satin nickel, bronze, oil-rubbed finishes

When it comes to faucet finishes, satin nickel has been on the top since 2011 with its usage increasing from 42 percent in 2010 to 60 percent this year. Bronze or oil-rubbed bronze finishes are also being specified more often, growing from 41 percent to 50 percent in the past year.

The increased popularity of satin nickel, bronze, and oil-rubbed bronze likely comes at the expense of polished nickel and polished chrome. The former being easier to maintain in regard to cleanliness and also offers a warmer tone than the brushed chrome. Polished chrome dipped from 52 percent to 47 percent while polished nickel dropped from 25 percent to 20 percent in the latest NKBA survey.

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14. Larger showers, better shower amenities

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In smaller master baths, a larger shower that offers a spa-like experience is still popular. Space-permitting clients want to have a private commode area and his and her vanities with cabinets that suit their personal needs. For smaller bathrooms, the tub is often forgone and a larger shower with body-sprays, multiple showerheads, and steam is preferred. The shower should not be designed too large as it can lead to increased maintenance effort and higher construction costs.

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15. Kitchen & bath designs based on Pinterest and Houzz

The advent of sites such as Pinterest and Houzz have brought consumers an infinite number of new and unique ideas for their homes. The homeowner is not so reliant on a designer to introduce them to every new trend and material.

It can all be done via email, streamlining the whole process of design conception. The downside? Search engines often bring up the same images based on how often they’ve been looked at, meaning the most popular pictures are looked at the most and are brought to the front again and again, which is a feedback loop that can limit creativity instead of expand it.

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