Kitchen & Bath Design News

MAR 2016

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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without a trivet has been displayed at European shows, though it hasn't come to the U.S. yet.) Even standard induction tops are getting sleeker, with more fush-mounted models to choose from. PLUMBING TRENDS We saw hands-free fushing debut at a previ- ous show and it is quickly gaining acceptance by germ-phobic homeowners. American Standard showed its version this year. Will the other manufacturers without such models be far behind? One new trend was swiveling lav faucets. KWC and Grohe were showing of these. While swiveling is probably not a feature you need with a standard lav, it could come in handy with the increasingly popular trough-style models. Speaking of lavs, TOTO and American Standard's DXV both introduced their own slim-side sink series. Stronger, thinner ceram- ics made their U.S. debut at a previous show by Laufen. Expect to see more of these sleek options and, as always, beware of inevitable knock-ofs that rival style but not construction. Last but defnitely not least is the growing availability of high-efciency low-fow toilets. It's no longer rare to fnd 1.0 gallon per fush models in a product line. TOTO's booth had an entire wall of them. ALTERNATIVE FINISHES Manufacturers are still looking for the next stainless or polished chrome/brushed nick- el leader in the appliance and plumbing spheres. While those fnishes are as strong as ever, you do have more alternatives to choose from than ever. On the plumbing side, bronzes, coppers and golds were easy to spot and lent a warm glow to the faucet scene. Even a pewter fnish gave an old-new update to the silver scene. On the appliance front, Monogram was the latest entrant with its Graphite series, and Elmira Stove Works expanded its vintage color series to its frst range. LAST WORDS You couldn't walk the KBIS side of the show without spotting a gray or taupe surface somewhere within eyeshot. This color trend was not only visible (and cited in the 2016 National Kitchen and Bath Association Design Trends Report), it was absolutely dominant. Many of the attendees at this year's show are probably too young to remember earlier dominant trends: pickled oak cabinets and avocado appliances. Does more need to be said about following color trends in design elements designed to last 10 to 20 years? Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS is an independent designer in San Diego, the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work and upcoming New Bathroom Idea Book (Taunton Press), and a blogger, design journalist, seminar developer and industry consultant. Thin, strong ceramic lavs are a stylish trend. Manufacturers are looking for the next stainless. Lav faucets can now swivel like their kitchen counterparts. Gray and taupe tones dominate 2016 color trends. Photo: Grohe Photo: TOTO Photo: Monogram Photo: Formica Corp. 34 Kitchen & Bath Design News • March 2016 TREND SPOTTING

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