New, Now, Next

Let's face it: Today's home design markets are flooded with products, with each company proclaiming its product as the essential element you need to transform your kitchen or bath into the haven you've dreamed of having. Homeowners are faces with so many choices that even the simplest redesign can quickly seem complicated. Why not cut through this chaos to identify which products and styles go beyond the PR hype to really pass the test.

If you're on the search for the latest and greatest in kitchen and bath design, you need look no further than the National Kitchen and Bath Association's annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). A veritable one-stop shop for all things kitchen and bath, the 2012 KBIS was a convergence of 550 exhibiting companies showcasing their newest products, technologies and trends with more than 16,000 industry insiders-independent kitchen and bath designers, custom builders, remodelers architects, dealers, and retailers.

In fact, with more than 32,000 attendees total, this year's KBIS made clear that there is certainly resurgence in the demand for fresh kitchens and bath design elements. KBIS provides the unique opportunity to network and gain critical insights into a changing market, and this year's show had an array of innovative and inspirational products and designs from exhibitors. KBIS 2012 showed that our industry is reinventing itself and utilizing insights from the marketplace to develop new products and designs that change how we interact in both the kitchen and bath.

Here are six styles-as evident at this year's KBIS- and some of their related products, that trend-spotters say will get you that new, now, next look in your very own kitchen and bath.


FINISH FIRST
With consumers spending on the upswing, homeowners are opening their wallets to close in on a more distinguished, beautified aesthetic for their homes. Increasingly, their first consideration when choosing from the myriad new products on the market is finish.

One trend emerging from this new found focus on finishes: a shift in color palettes. Sinks, tiles, and even some appliances featured intense color-infused finishes, while black and other natural hues cropped up in a variety of kitchen and bath products such as faucets. More product6s encourage the homeowner to design with taste, rather than resale value, in mind. Black matte finishes, for instance, offer the homeowner an opportunity to showcase their personal style. Dominating the softer end of the spectrum, white and gray proved popular for natural stone and quartz countertops as well as other surfaces. We're also seeing textures which include products that are outside of today's clear trends yet easy to adopt into any kitchen design for a more personal design alternative. Updated granite-like counter tops with pops of color in the pattern or a fresh take on the use of stained glass or retro tile for the backsplash speak to today's aesthetic and are offered by both small and large manufacturers.


CLOSING THE GENERATION GAP
Age and generational influences were clear inspirations behind plenty of products on display at this year's KBIS, with many companies producing goods tailored to specific generations (i.e, aging-in-place designs for older age groups and high-tech offerings for the younger sect). Hand-in-hand with the aging-in-place trend are products designed to last.

Also on trend are products that cover whole-home considerations for extended families living together, which is an increasingly common occurrence for the so-called sandwich generation caring for both their children and their parents simultaneously.
Some highlights of products closing the generation gap: cabinets that open at the touch of a button, shades controlled by a hand-held remote, walk-in tubs with digital technology, and hardware in extended sizes.

RUNAWAY REFLECTIONS
In this age of fashion-driven purchasing practices, it was only a matter of time before those aesthetic values spread from dressing one-s self to dressing one's home- something companies on the cutting edge anticipated and moved on. So with their function a given, products from fashion-savvy players in the marketplace showed off their form at this year's KBIS. Drawing from inspiration found on the runway, some companies debuted designs dreamed up in house; others showcased styles born from partnerships with fashion designers. Either way, the result was useful products than can double as decor. From the cut of the lines and mixing of materials to the patterns and prettying surfaces, fashion-forward influences transformed kitchen and bath basics into crown jewels worthy of the center stage in any space. Practical pieces cloaked in stylish facades, some runway-worthy products on show this year include ovens with fire-engine red exteriors, bathroom mirrors that function as works of art, glamorous vanities and art-adorned soaking tubs to name just a selection.

MORE WITH LESS
Organization aids and storage solutions are always plentiful, but this year at KBIS was a noticeable slant to many of the products: Let's call it innovative integration.

Generated by the fact that more and more consumers are now trying to do more with less space, several companies are building up their brands with products that integrate seamlessly to create space where none seemed available.

So how did they do it? They achieved this feat with cabinetry that blends refrigerators right in, drawer inserts that provide a place for everything in its place, concealed kitchen shelving that stores more without the clutter, widened sinks that feature built-in colanders and cutting boards and other similar innovative integration solutions.

THE HIGH-TECH HOME
Technology is so fully integrated into most aspects of our lives that we would be hard-pressed to complete many of even our most simple daily activities without it. And home-based technology is growing by leaps and bounds as well. Aside from the longtime ongoing improvements such as those made in appliance performance, more specific tech strides are really picking up in all areas of kitchen and bath design.

With focus on creating a "smart home" the most technologically up-to-date products take the guesswork out tasks, improve efficiency and increase enjoyment. And such advanced assets created quite a buzz this year.

A few example to note: products that communicate with and/or can be operated by smart phone applications for ease of use, toilets whose lids auto open as you approach, tub and showers that offer light and sound options for a full sensory experience and even wall sockets with built-in USB plug-ins for homeowners who incorporate desk stations in their kitchens.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
It's probably not fair to call the greening of homes a trend, as it's a direction with no signs of slowing down or turning around. While the Eco evolution has been progressing for years now, it is now easier than ever to create an earth-friendly home without sacrificing quality or style. And the kitchen and bath are prime areas for reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Energy Star appliances as well as CFL bulbs and other lighting improvements are standard energy savers, and multiple products that reduce water consumption, such as high-efficiency toilets and shower heads as well as motion-sensor faucets.

In terms of reuse, this year's KBIS show saw an increase in the number of companies using reclaimed materials in their products. One popular example: recycled glass counter tops come in a variety of colors and designs for a big impact on your design while minimizing the impact on earth.

Recycling also starts at home, and it's easier than ever thanks to products sucj as compactors that silently crush cans and compact recyclable materials-an amenity than can installed right below the counter top for easy access.