Kitchen and Bath Industry Show Recap

Earlier this month, architects and designers converged on Orlando, Florida for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture has been keeping an eye on the news, trends, and innovations that emerged from the 2017 convention. We thought we’d share a few of the most significant home design trends. Here are a few of Architizer’s conclusions and finds from this year’s kitchen and bath show floor:

• Concrete is in. Concrete countertops continue to grow in popularity. For homeowners who aren’t ready to go hard on concrete, design experts introduced concrete-esque colors and finishes.
• Go Nero Marquina. When it comes to marble, you want Nero Marquina–a black stone with deep white veins extracted from Northern Spain.
• Distress it. No matter the surface, the aged, weathered look continues to add character to any room. There’s beauty in imperfection.
• Tough it out. Many traditionally interior surfaces are now touted as resilient and versatile enough to bring outdoors.
• Overlay quartz. For people looking to remodel their kitchens, Caesarstone introduced its Transform line of quartz countertops. The quartz fits neatly atop existing surfaces for a sleek, fresh look.
• Smart charging. Install wireless charging ports into your countertops!

GHDA architects reflected on this year’s KBIS and the home design trends it identified. Eric Drivdahl mused, “Of the four kitchen and bath finish trends identified, I am most excited about the creative use of materials traditionally used for interior surfaces which are being adapted for use on home exteriors.  Using a unique surface or material can be just the thing to accent an entry wall or other significant feature of a house design. Focal points deserve special and unique treatment such as this trend may avail.”   For the complete KBIS finish and surface trends assessment, visit Architizer.