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Consumer Buying Trends { Demographics & buying patterns for the home } February 2015 | ForResidentialPros.com | 9 PALO ALTO, CA — Furniture-style de- sign features, user-friendly open shelving and minimal wall cabinets; those are but three of the kitchen design elements that may become major consumer buying trends in 2015. That's the word from Houzz, the Palo Alto, CA-based Web site and online plat- form for home remodeling, architecture, interior design and decorating. Houzz, which has partnered with Kitchen & Bath Design News on a number of re- search and digital initiatives, solicited the insights of leading kitchen design professionals, who ofered the following as emerging design trends for 2015: Furniture-style design features. Interior designer Greg Natale predicts that furniture-style cabinetry and other features will be one of the top trends in 2015 – an approach that marks yet an- other step in the evolution of the kitchen as the hub of the home and a treasured space the whole family can enjoy, rather than just a functional area used for food prep and cooking alone. "The incredible designs available cele- brate the diferent elements of the kitchen as pieces of beautiful furniture, not just work stations, which allows people to bring their own personal, warm, wel- coming touch to this space," Natale says. One way to incorporate this idea is through an island, says Natale, who notes that "raising it on legs or including intri- cate paneling or a contrasting top and sides are ways of turning [it] into a piece to be proud of." Airy, and user-friendly, open shelving. "We are seeing a trend toward using open shelving as a practical solution for the kitchen space, rather than simply for dis- play," says kitchen designer Kesha Pillay of Art of Kitchens. "Open shelving per- sonalizes the space, making it feel lived in and warm, while keeping the kitchen functional and easy to use," Pillay says. She adds: "Of course, there are always some things that you don't want displayed, and combining open shelf cabinets and cabinets allows you to still hide things, if necessary." Modern traditional style. Designs that marry modern and traditional elements will be one of the most infuential looks of 2015, according to Pillay, who says that homeowners are shunning ultra- sleek, contemporary kitchens in favor of spaces that are "warm, homey and refect themselves." "This trend is afecting everything from cabinet design to colors, materials to textures," she says. "We are really mixing it up. Flat-panel cabinet doors are being replaced with classic door profles, such as Shaker doors, for example. And mate- rials are being mixed, such as stainless steel with wood, and wood with marble." Modern design elements, like glass backsplashes and chrome handles, are also being replaced with features that exude traditional style and charm, such as tile with black, pewter and brushed- nickel fttings, Pillay observes. Touch-me textures. "There's a move toward using more textured and tactile materials," Pillay says, adding that natu- ral marble and granite in honed fnishes, as well as engineered stones that repli- cate raw fnishes, are a few materials we'll be seeing a lot of in 2015. Wood will still be a trend this year, Pillay adds, but in fnishes that represent the material in its natural form, rather than high-gloss or smooth fnishes. Beautiful black. Natale also believes that black will be one of the "it" colors in kitchen design this year. "We spend so much time in our kitchens, and I think that more and more people want to make them a really special space," he says. "Black makes a strong, sleek statement." A simple way to introduce this clas- sic, sophisticated color into a kitchen design is by opting for black cabinetry or countertops, suggests Natale. He also suggests adding paneling to infuse the space with extra visual interest. Minimal wall cabinets. Open-plan kitchens are currently being designed with fewer wall cabinets, although that decision obviously depends on the size of the kitchen and the amount of storage the client needs, Pillay says. While open-plan kitchens have long been a popular choice for homeown- ers, having minimal wall cabinets will further enhance a room's sense of spa- ciousness, she notes. The airy, bulk-free look also allows other design elements or features to enjoy the attention they deserve – such as windows that frame a picturesque view outdoors or a striking custom-designed range hood. Repetitive patterns. A major trend that Houzz is seeing is a move away from geometric patterns and toward elegant, repetitive motifs, which may well take shape in the form of laser-cut plywood or steel panels, wall coverings, door inserts and tiles. "Patterns from bygone eras will be revitalized to create intriguing and calculated designs that appeal to the fashion-savvy," says Houzz, predicting that art deco- and art nouveau-inspired motifs that feature hints of Turkish and other Middle Eastern infuences will be popular in the year ahead. Tribal-inspired tones. Vibrant, attention-grabbing hues are making a comeback, with color tones likely shift- ing to echo the diversity of nature. Vibrant yet dusty shades of mustard yellows, deep scarlet, royal blues and dirty pink hues may be used in place of primary colors. Vertical-joint wood paneling. Another trend that we'll be seeing in 2015 is V-joint wood paneling, according to Natale, who calls it "a dynamic, eye- catching way of introducing detail to a space, enlivening an expanse of one color and using angles to bring a little move- ment to surfaces. Natale recommends integrating this trend into a kitchen by way of a paneled ceiling or cabinetry, both of which will add an extra layer of interest. Shaker style. Classic Shaker-inspired kitchens never seem to go out of style, but Natale says this simple, timeless look will be particularly popular in 2015. "I think a lot of people like to keep things traditional and appreciate the textural beauty of wood," he says. Ceilings that make you look up. This year will see statement-making ceilings, according to Houzz, which predicts that more emphasis will go into ceiling de- sign, in terms of shape, color, lighting and other features. Luxe metallics. While silver, chrome and stainless steel are three metallics commonly used in the kitchen, warmer metals – like gold, copper and bronze – will emerge in 2015, according to Natale. Key New Design Trends Expected to Emerge in 2015 SALES GROUP SALES DIRECTOR AND MIDWEST MANAGER Paul DeGrandis 724 12th St., Suite 1W Wilmette, IL 60091 (847) 920-9510 Paul@SOLAbrands.com EAST/SOUTHEAST Joanne Naylor 540 Lee Court Wyckoff, NJ 07481 (201) 891-9170; Fax: (201) 839-9161 Joanne@SOLAbrands.com Vaughn Rockhold 724 12th St., Suite 1W Wilmette, IL 60091 (216) 272-1008 Vaughn@SOLAbrands.com WEST/SOUTHWEST Reed Fry 724 12th St., Suite 1W Wilmette, IL 60091 (949) 223-1088 Reed@fry-comm.com PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE/CLASSIFIED ADS Nancy Campoli 558 Prospect Avenue River Vale, NJ 07675 (201) 690-6898 Nancy@SOLAbrands.com EDITORIAL Janice Anne Costa, Editor (516) 605-1426 Janice@SOLAbrands.com Anita Shaw, Managing Editor (631) 581-2029 Anita@SOLAbrands.com Andrea Girolamo, Senior Editor (516) 398-9806 Andrea@SOLAbrands.com PUBLISHING SOLA Group, Inc. 724 12th St., Suite 1W Wilmette, IL 60091 (847) 920-9510 Paul DeGrandis, Publisher Paul@SOLAbrands.com Eliot Sefrin, Publisher Emeritus Eliot@SOLAbrands.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Kitchen & Bath Design News Circulation Dept. 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