Design Trends

By Sheila Tilander, CKD, CBD, Allied ASID
Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer

There was a time when the biggest decision posed by your kitchen remodel was choosing between harvest gold and avocado. Some may long for those days when challenged by the evolution of products on the market today. Technology increasingly influences the way we interact with each other and our environment, the products we use, the way we work, and our lifestyle. These changes also dictate our relationship with our home environment and how we interact with each other.

Computers have morphed into numerous personal electronic devises—I-Pods, cell phones with multiple capabilities, PDA’s—and all with rechargeable batteries. A home equipped with convenient docking or charging stations allows individuals to plug in their I-Pod in the kitchen, bath, or bedroom so even their music is personalized. Charging stations with multiple outlets wall-mounted in a cabinet will minimize clutter and provide a designated location for electronics thus avoiding looking for a misplaced cell phone as you’re dashing out the door. Outlets recessed in your countertop pop-up for easy access and disappear when not in use. Alternatively, power strips installed under wall cabinets discretely offer multiple outlets and provide an uncluttered backdrop for a dramatic tile backsplash.

Technological advances in the development of materials have given birth to design options that allow personal expression and optimum function for each application. Greater awareness of our impact on the environment has shifted focus to sustainable products such as bamboo and cork flooring, recycled glass tiles, and concrete combined with crushed recycled glass. Whatever the nature of the material, artistic interpretation is limitless. Inspiration comes in many forms including an awareness of the possibilities.

Kitchen

It’s the place everyone gathers to socialize—it’s the new family room where you happen to cook. Due to the kitchen’s magnetic attraction, today’s homes dedicate more space to accommodate the many activities that take place here. Designated zones help to organize activities and direct the flow. A secondary sink with one or two dishwasher drawers and an under-counter refrigerator serves as a prep area as well as a clean up station after dinner parties. Add a microwave drawer for quick hors d’oeuvres and a raised counter and you have a bar for casual dining.

Varied counter heights add a design element and afford multiple uses. A raised bar may also serve as a perch for a laptop. Lower countertops provide an ergonomic baking station as well as wheelchair access and a welcoming height for the younger helpers. Built-in seating around a dining table, (a banquette) serves many functions. Once the dinner dishes are cleared, a banquette becomes the favored place for homework. By day the banquette functions as a temporary office.

Often the kitchen has large windows to capture a breath-taking view or is open to the family room so wall space for appliances is limited. Innovations such as the microwave drawer, and refrigerator, freezer, and wine chiller drawers allow flexibility. A warming drawer is another convenience that adapts to your lifestyle whether it’s used to keep the hors d’oeuvres at serving temperature, or heat bath towels in the master suite.

A growing trend is to embrace nature. Outdoor kitchens equipped with cabinets, a sink, multi-performance grill and appliances rated for outdoor use encourage entertaining al fresco. Care should be taken to protect electrical connections from moisture that may affect wiring. Sheltered areas with cozy seating around a fireplace for those chilly nights extend the home’s living space and meld interior and exterior environments.

Countertops

What can’t you use as countertops? That’s the question given the options available today. Countertops encourage creative expression in the kitchen and bath. Granite is timeless but new materials and treatments offer innovative options. Even the surface of natural stone can vary from the conventional polished sheen to a honed matte finish to an antiquated or textural surface.

Concrete is an emerging trend because of the endless opportunities to infuse personality through color, texture, shape, and even the content to some extent. Integral concrete sinks and drain boards, soap dishes or cutting board niches can be customized. Imbed favorite treasures in the concrete like a Euro from your last trip to Paris or objects such as marbles, crushed glass, fossils, or rare gems that reflect your interests. Concrete, like all materials, has special properties that require care and maintenance so be aware of these when making a selection.

IceStone is a new material that combines concrete with 75 percent post-consumer recycled glass that is formed into a slab. It is a certified green material and comes in a variety of colors.

Quartz surfacing is a low maintenance alternative to natural stone and is available in an extensive array of colors. Composed of quartz aggregate (crushed quartz fortified with resin binders and pigments), it requires no sealing, is strong, non-porous and therefore stain resistant, and dense so it minimizes surface abrasions.

Solid surfacing is a plastic and mineral compound that is non-porous and also low maintenance. Small scratches, burns and stains can be buffed out. Integral sinks and drain board options enhance its appeal. It can also be used for tub decks and shower surrounds. A variety of colors in solids and patterns are available in a high gloss or matte finish.

Tile in many sizes and materials is gaining popularity as an alternative for countertops and backsplashes due to the plethora of choices. Porcelain tile provides a durable, low maintenance surface and is offered in a variety of sizes including 24x24. Granite and limestone are also available in ¾” and 1-1/4” thick countertop-depth tiles with finished edge detail. Glass tile can also be used on countertops and often is made from recycled glass. For a contemporary aesthetic, metal tiles such stainless steel or bronze, harmonize with glass and stone when used as insets in countertops or to form an entire backsplash. Metal subway tiles add a modern-day twist to a retro style.

For applications other than countertops, consider flooring of wood-grain porcelain tile in planks that mimic hardwood. Actual wood tiles in bamboo, rosewood and teak present an innovative use of a common material. The tiles are made from scraps from furniture made by craftsmen in Thailand and, therefore, are a sustainable material. They are appropriate for any indoor application except an area immersed in water such as a shower but they can be used on the floor outside the shower.

Concrete is also available in tiles ranging in size from 4x4 to 18x18, are durable enough for outdoor use, have a long lifespan, and are low maintenance. The eco-friendly production process is an added benefit.

Laminate remains a cost-effective countertop or cabinet material and is now available in a high density format that has a dimensional quality.

Highlight areas with different countertop materials such as copper on an espresso bar, stainless steel or wood in a prep area, or concrete on an island. A 42” counter crowned with a floating glass slab incites intrigue. Direct recessed halogen lights on the glass to add a dramatic sparkle.

It bears repeating that the decision-making process should include research into the various benefits and cautions of all countertop materials to ensure that your selection is compatible with your lifestyle.

Bathrooms

The desire for a spa-like retreat becomes even stronger with the focus on improving our physical and psychological health. The healing effects of water have been known for centuries and today’s bath allows you to experience them in a variety of ways. Much has been said about the need for a private retreat away from the stresses of the outside world and a luxurious bath provides a calming haven for rejuvenation.

His-and-hers personal spaces gain in popularity whether in a small or a large space, although the trend is toward larger bathrooms. Individual zones can be as uncomplicated as a vanity with two sinks or as impressive as two separate rooms, each with a vanity and water closet. Alternatively, vanities at two different heights can achieve address individual needs. An inspired solution is back-to-back vanities in the center of the space with amenities on the perimeter. Indulge yourself with a TV projected on the mirror or a water-proof television in the shower (yes, they’re available!).

Demand for storage increases as both men and women become more attentive to skin care and grooming. With so many related products on the market, storage is needed for an abundance of grooming products. Floating or wall-hung cabinets serve the need while creating an uncluttered look with clean lines and the illusion of more space. Bathroom furniture in the form of consoles and free-standing cabinets heighten the spa-like appeal.

With today’s fast pace, the tub is often eliminated in a master suite because there’s not always time for a bath but the shower is used daily. Numerous accoutrements make the shower experience refreshing and revitalizing. Steam showers that dissolve stress and open pores are gaining popularity. Nature-inspired features may imitate a waterfall, gently falling rain, or a summer downpour. Body sprays and jets with varying intensity can target and massage specific areas of your body.

Combine heat therapy with the movement of water in a thermo-masseur system when time permits a languishing soak in the tub. Whether your preference is the pulsating massage of jets or the soothing champagne bubbles of an air tub, experience the rejuvenation.

Thermo therapy continues when you step onto your heated floors to soothe your sole. Indulge yourself with a cozy towel fresh from the warming drawer tucked in your vanity. Add the romance of a fireplace and a stereo system providing relaxing music and your sanctuary is complete.

Lighting plays an important role in establishing the ambiance in any room. For the bath, consider indirect lighting or a decorative chandelier adorned with crystal drops. It’s your private retreat—let it reflect your style.

Whether entertaining in the kitchen or retreating to your spa, your home is an extension of your individuality and a refuge from the maddening crowds. Given all the options available to express yourself and exercise your creativity, a designer can help guide you with the planning and design as well as material selection when the difficulty of decision-making escalates from harvest gold or avocado, to rain shower or steam shower—or both!