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42 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | August 2015 Product Trend Report By Elizabeth Richards V anities are used to accomplish many goals, from ex- pressing personal style to ofering the perfect storage solution for all of the bath necessities. Whether in the master bath or another bath space, some elements are rising to the top, including a balance of open and closed storage options, use of contrasting materials, colors and texture, and a move toward clean lines and a more open feel in the bath. So say manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News . "Open-concept footprints are translating to the master bath," says Stephanie Pierce, sr. design studio manager for Jasper, IN-based MasterBrand Cabinets, which includes the Omega Cabinetry brand. "With lines blurring between vanity, dressing and closet areas, the bath is taking on a more open-concept feel with fewer tubs, larger walk-in showers and a more accessible footprint." The need to maximize the space avail- able impacts trends as well. Javier Korneluk, U.S. managing director for Laufen North America in Miami, FL says, "Bathroom space is always at a premium, so materials are being pushed to the limits to provide added functionality while looking beauti- ful." He says that detailing, such as built-in organizers, soft-close doors and plumbing cutouts that add to storage capacity without detracting from the look are standard on luxury lines like Laufen. Though trends often center around a style or look, storage space is essential to homeown- ers when purchasing a vanity in both master and secondary baths, according to Mark Wolinsky, president of Montreal, CA-based WETSTYLE. "Consumers crave a simple yet luxurious product, with practical and func- tional storage," he says. CLEAN DESIGN WITH CHARACTER Design trends often run parallel between the kitchen and the bath, though the bathroom can be a place for more creativity and personalization, manufacturers say. "Kitchen and bath trends usually go hand in hand – both for style and fnishes," says Erica Roberts, product designer at Ronbow, based in Freemont, CA. She adds that consumers like to customize in the bath, making wall-hung vanities with clean lines that can be confgured in a number of ways a popu- lar choice. Another top choice is foor-standing vanities with matching components like side cabinets or shelving, she says. Pierce notes that, because a bathroom project is often small- er and less impactful on budgets, it's the space where people feel safe expressing more of their individual personality. "We see more variety in bath style selections ranging from re-purposed, furniture-looking vanities to wall-hung contemporary pieces. There is a distinct shift toward cleaner lines and subdued color choices," she says. "Cabinetry is such a huge contributor to the bath identity, and choices in style and color allow the home- owner to set the stage [to be] as classic or as daring as they like," she adds. The clean lines popular in kitchens carry over to the bath- room, with styles moving away from the traditional toward a more transitional or modern feel. When traditional styling is used, it is becoming more rustic rather than a formal traditional look, says Nathaniel Mucha, v.p. of sales/bath for Fairmont Designs in Buena Park, CA. Korneluk agrees that con- temporary design is growing, particularly in the bathroom, where clean lines make the limited space appear more open and fresh. At Laufen, they also see transitional WETSTYLE's newest brand, W2, includes an all-wood furniture collection with a slim profle integrated washbasin. Designed to make a statement in smaller bathroom spaces, the transitional- style vanities are available in sizes ranging from 24" to 60", in one- and two-drawer confgura- tions with one or two sink bowls. The vanity is available in oak with a plank efect – mix of rift, fat and quarter cuts – with Mocha or Charcoal fnish. Circle No. 151 on Product Card Today's bath vanities showcase plenty of personalized fair, with clean lines, contrasting materials and textures, and a mix of open and closed storage. In this bath designed by Heather Hickok, the Craftsman style vanity was created using Cornerstone framed cabinetry from Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. The maple Shaker door style is fnished in Sable stain. Circle No. 153 on Product Card Dura Supreme ofers a range of new, furniture-style vanities for the bath. The vanity shown is bookended on both sides and across the top, with a set of doors and/or drawers suspended. Circle No. 155 on Product Card The Vanita vanities are ready- made customizable vanity collections from Aquabrass. Four bathroom furniture collections include: Kolori, Bosko, Box Uno and Alto. All variations have an array of sizes, materials, colors and combi- nations. Shown is Kolori. Circle No. 152 on Product Card The Ascetic Vanity is part of the JSG Oceana Bathroom Vanity Collection from JSG Oceana. Available in black or white, the van- ity features sleek, clean lines and a high-gloss fnish. The Ascetic Vanity is available as a single standing vanity or wall-mount with the option of installing a vessel or undermount lavatory. Circle No. 156 on Product Card Wellborn Cabinet's Brush Finish is now available for its Estate and Elegant Bath Collections. The fnish is created with a hand-brushed technique applied to a contrasting opaque base color, providing a depth to the fnish. Glazing is inconsistent, which creates uniqueness to each piece the fnish is applied to. It is available in a light tan color – fawn – on maple in fve colors: glacier, divinity, crème, vanilla and pebble. Circle No. 154 on Product Card