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20 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | February 2015 By Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS Trend Spotting I t was another good year for De- sign & Construction Week in Las Vegas. The co-location of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and International Builders' Show has given both expos a much-needed at- tendance, exhibitor and energy boost (see related stories, Pages 5 and 10). There were also opportunities to visit the International Window Coverings Expo in an adjacent exhibit hall and the Las Vegas Market and Interna- tional Surface Event off-site at no additional charge. That benefts the design commu- nity by having access to products members might not otherwise see and having more to choose from on the KBIS side, as well. It's hard to track trends and fnd the best ofer- ings when a signifcant portion of the industry stays away, as had been the case in past, leaner years. The popularity of the combined shows and the range and quality of products on display suggest a recov- ering economy, but at the same time, this was less a show about revolution than evolution. There were few game changers, but some nice oferings in continuing trends like healthy living, digital integration, aging in place and smart design. HOT LOOKS Style-wise, the halls were bursting with vibrant hues and luxe retro looks. Cabinetry got high-gloss, jewel-tone doors. Tiles got colorful Moorish- inspired patterns. Faucets got golden bronze and coppery fnishes. Fixtures took on subtle art deco lines. Counter- tops in engineered stone, porcelain and blends evoked marble and other natural stones with increasing sophis- tication and book-match capabilities. There was a defnite return to classic and contemporary luxury throughout the show. HEALTHY LIVING Americans have always held that cleanliness is next to Godliness, and manufacturers have taken the mes- sage seriously. You can now find touch-free toilet fushing from more than one brand. In addition to Kohler's 2014 introduction, Geberit and Delta Faucet were showcasing their tech- nologies at the show. Hafele showed of a foot-operated Euro Cargo auto opener so users don't have to touch the handle on their trash cabinet, either. Healthy living has also shown up in improved refrigerator technology that keeps produce fresher longer with special crisper drawers, and a new under-counter appliance that lets users grow their own herbs and mi- cro-greens right in their kitchen. This will especially appeal to a growing upscale crowd of locavores, vegetar- ians and vegans. The Urban Cultivator from Canada was a rare game changer at the show, and a worthwhile trek to its KBIS South Hall booth space. AGING IN PLACE It was nice to see some new additions to the aging-in-place sector. Both Moen and TOTO were featuring hand- some new designer-friendly grab bars, and Kohler's new Choreograph shower sets include the option of a fold-down bench. Broan's Sensaire Wall Control will turn any of their NuTone fans into humidity-sensing models, ideal for anyone with memory issues. Wellness Mats' anti-fatigue foor mats are ideal for aging bones. With new sizes, shapes and designs, they are now ofering far more attractive options for designers to specify. (In a perfect world, the entire show foor would be covered in Wellness Mats.) DIGITAL INTEGRATION As Chris Cullen of Jenn-Air, one of the panelists on the Virginia Tech FutureHaus Kitchen presentation noted, "Connectivity is inevitable. All the manufacturers are working fever- ishly on it." You could see that on the show foor, as well as in the educa- tional sessions. Dacor added voice commands to its IQ ovens and ranges (so now Siri can help your clients cook din- ner). GE's Monogram line expanded its digital integration oferings with its Sous Vide device that communi- cates with the induction cooktop and phone to bring restaurant technol- ogy home. GE Profle also expanded its con- nected oferings with water heater, refrigerator, laundry pair and dish- washer that communicate status and issues with the consumer's phone, available in February, April, May and late 2015, respectively. Broan-NuTone, best known among kitchen and bath design- ers for ventilation, has developed a Smart Home Control System that's launching 2Q2015. Among its other virtues, Smart Home answers the vexing question, 'Did I leave the garage door open?' then lets you close it from your phone if you did. The brand also ofcially re- leased its Bluetooth-streaming vent fan, shown in prototype at an ear- lier show. SMART DESIGN Overall, even without the aid of cell phones and tablets, kitchen and bath products keep getting smarter. Here are some more examples from both sides of Design & Construction Week: » » Delta's new Flush IQ technology- equipped toilet was one of the other DCW game changers. In addition to letting users fush it without touching a lever, it will tell them if there's a leak and prevent an overfow. » » Rev-a-Shelf came up with two dif- ferent base cabinet organizers for Keurig K Cups, and a pull-down Healthy Living, Smart Design Among Hottest Trends at KBIS Whole Foods clientele will love this greens-growing game changer. Tiles inspired by cement and Moorish designs dominated the tile landscape. Engineered tops are getting more sophisticated. Photo: Urban Cultivator Photo: Walker Zanger Photo: Dekton by Cosentino