The Next Big Kitchen (+ Bath) Design Trends

Expect to see kitchens and baths in full color, with customizable appliances, smart everything, and lots of dramatic effects in the coming years. Those are some of the top trends we spotted at the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Las Vegas last month.

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, here’s a peek at some of the best ideas that surfaced at the show.

Bathroom Drama

While serene neutral spaces can be dramatic, this year’s show was all about eye-catching effects, such as stick-on panels that easily can create the look of a natural stone wall lit from behind or reclaimed rustic wood with Stik Wood. Vendors brought the drama with natural stone too, as in this bathroom that was part of the Kohler display and the swath of White Panda marble in the Natural Stone Institute booth. And many vendors, including Monogram and Fisher Paykel, featured on-trend all-black kitchens.

And though nobody needs a $20K Toto bathtub that you can float in or a Pfister Fortis faucet that’s transparent, either one sure would make getting clean a lot more entertaining.

Colorful Appliances

Appliances have gone Technicolor — with stoves, refrigerators, and even dishwashers in every color imaginable. True Residential made a splash with their new deep emerald green refrigerators, refrigerated drawers, and wine towers.

BlueStar boasted that they can create appliances in any hue, including to match a favorite lipstick or pair of pants.

And the kitchen wasn’t the only place where bold splashes of color appeared. Expect to see bathrooms bathed in hues like emerald, deep blue, and plummy purple, like this bathtub by Kohler.

Connectivity in the Kitchen

The smart home is here to stay, and appliance manufacturers have been busy thinking of more ways to let you control what’s happening in your kitchen no matter where you are.

KitchenAid showed off its SmartOven+ that works with a suite of attachments, like a steamer, grill, and baking stone, to expand the ways you can cook. All of the attachments can be controlled with a mobile app, or with voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant.

Thermador debuted a connected home experience that includes a coffee maker that can make up to eight different drinks, and integration with “Eric,” a digital assistant that can help start your day by turning on that coffee maker and opening the blinds.

And if overfilling the bath is something that’s ever happened to you, then you may want to check out PerfectFill technology via Kohler Konnect. Just say the words “run a big hot bath” and get just that. The system controls the water temperature, fill level, and even emptying the tub once you’re done. We’re hoping for ring removal by 2020.

Customization

Want a black refrigerator with brushed brass or hammered nickel handle? Well, you can have your appliances your way, as manufacturers are offering a range of finishes and hardware options.

Monogram had a bevy of design-inspired details in their ranges, from matte finishes to mixed-metal hardware in brushed nickel with brass. Brit hardware firm Armac Martin launched Mix, their program that offers completely customized cabinetry knobs, handles, and pulls. With DacorMatch, you supply a paint swatch and Dacor will create a suite of appliances in that exact shade. But for us, BlueStar wins the customization game with this clever Build Your Own web tool that lets you pick out an appliance and see it customized right on the screen, down to the base color, knobs, and several hardware finishes including copper and antique brass. Give it a try when you’ve got some time to kill.