Kitchen & Bath Design News

MAR 2013

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

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Product Trend Report By Elizabeth Richards Today���s kitchen sinks and faucets are pushing the boundaries, with new technology to meet increased functional demands, all while still addressing the ever-present demand for aesthetically appealing styling. T he kitchen is a hotbed of activity in the household, with a need for work spaces that can accommodate a variety of functions, often in increasingly smaller spaces. So it���s no surprise that today���s sinks and faucets are evolving along with the kitchen, moving beyond their typical limits with a plethora of accessories and design elements. Designers are charged with creating sink and faucet layouts that not only facilitate use, but also incorporate both work style needs and aesthetic preferences of the homeowners. That���s according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News. ���People are looking at long-lasting, quality products that will endure in terms of style as well as function,��� says Naomi Neilson Howard, founder/CEO of Native Trails in San Luis Obispo, CA. ���Those are the kitchen products that make us all feel good to be around and at the same time are a smart investment.��� Diana Schrage, senior interior designer at the Kohler Design Center in Kohler, WI, agrees: ���When consumers commit to a kitchen update, they���re seeking out products designed to be both beautiful and durable ��� they want something that will last.��� There is also a big trend toward expanding the concept of the sink or faucet beyond its current boundaries, according to Christy Emens, marketing manager for Blanco in Lumberton, NJ. As an example of this, she cites her prm���s Modex sink, with usable workspace for draining, prepping and cleaning, as well as an integrated cutting board and a dual directional drainer, which helps to provide a complete work station. VISUAL APPEAL Aesthetics, too, continue to play a critical role in sinks and faucets, and there has been an explo- sion of design, says Jim Nowakowski, managing partner of Marketing Representatives LLC, in Palatine IL, which represents Webert Italian Design faucets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Manufacturers are not only using internal designers, but also seeking outside designers, which helps create products that are di���erent, he says. Manufacturers intereviewed agree that while the way kitchen sinks and faucets work is critical, the need for styles and pnishes that appeal to the visual tastes of designers and consumers can���t be ignored. ���The kitchen is a place most people spend a good amount of time ��� and it���s also usually quite visible, especially with open qoor plans being so popular. Great kitchens today are often placing the main sink as the focal point of the room ��� and the look of the sink is as important as its functionality,��� says Howard. She pnds texture and ���textural tones��� that warm up the kitchen to be quite popular. ���There is often a lot of technology in today���s kitchens, as well as simple, clean lines, and earthy materials like hammered copper or nickel can do a lot to soften the whole look of the space and turn it into a kitchen where everyone wants to spend time,��� Howard says. ���Our apron front sinks in hand hammered brushed nickel are being used a lot to add texture and ���wow factor��� to a kitchen that might be heavy on stainless steel appliances.��� Stainless continues to have a hold on the market, manufacturers say. ���Stainless steel has been a primary sink material of choice for 50-plus years,��� says Ann Rottinghaus, marketing communication director for Elkay, based in Oak Brook, IL. ���It���s durable, attractive and neutral in color value. And, quite simply, it works. For appliances, stainless steel is the standard for color/ material value and, as a result, stainless steel sinks and faucets Playing on the trend toward apron front kitchen sinks, Nantucket Sinks has introduced its Fireclay sink collection. The collection comes complete with grids and drains. Nantucket Sinks also o���ers farmhouse apron kitchen sinks in stainless steel. Circle No. 155 on Product Card Advance Tabco���s A-Line Raised Deck countertop sinks are made of heavy-gauge stainless steel and have a Satin pnish. Features include a 2" raised deck that eliminates splash over and a 3" rear deck that will accommodate a large variety of faucet models. Large capacity single- and doublebowl basins can be made to custom size requirements. Circle No. 156 on Product Card The Webert 360�� kitchen faucet showcases a long, tall contemporary design. It features a fully pivoting/ rotational head that enables the user to clean dishes from all angles. The faucet comes in a Chrome pnish with aluminum details and red handles. Circle No. 157 on Product Card Stone Forest farmhouse sinks are hand carved from solid granite using a hammer and chisel. Various front apron style options are available: polished or rough, qoral bas-relief, and natural. Stone choices vary and include blue/ gray, beige and black granite. The farmhouse sink is also available as a double basin. Circle No. 158 on Product Card March 2013 Kohler���s Sensate touchless kitchen faucet is equipped with the company���s Response technology, a sensor that responds in 20 milliseconds for consistent on/o��� operation. The activation area is placed on the underside of the spout for ease of activation. The faucet also features the DockNetik magnetic docking system for the spout, two-function sprayhead and MasterClean Sprayface. Circle No. 159 on Product Card ForResidentialPros.com | 41

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