Kitchen & Bath Business - May/June 2017 - 14

Trends
LEFT Fineline Kitchen Acces-

sories from HÄFELE are made
with a mix of wood and ﬁne
metal for a contemporary,
high-end look. The accessories can be customized in birch
or walnut wood with stainless
steel, silver or champagne
brackets and hardware.

WELLBORN CABINET now
oﬀers the Nature Collection,
a line of gray paints and
stains. Available in one stain
and two paint options, this
new gray collection includes
the colors of Forge, Tungsten
and Tensile.

TECHNOLOGY AND ACCESSIBILITY

WOOD-MODE CUSTOM CABINETRY's new lifestyle concept,

Edison Heights, creates a
multipurpose kitchen within an
existing brownstone or historic
home with the advantage of
LED lighting.

With all of the customization available for cabinet faces, it is no surprise
that cabinet hardware and interior mechanisms can cater to all types of
needs as well.
"Comparing cabinetry today from cabinetry just a few years ago, the
growth in efficiency and technology has been incredible,"said Angela O'Neill,
director of marketing and advertising for Wellborn Cabinet. "Cabinetry has
now been made efficient through the accessories available. From base corner
cabinets to pullout sliding shelves with organizer inserts, the possibilities are
truly limitless."
In particular, touch-to-open, touch-to-light and touch-to-lift technology allows customers to open, close or light cabinetry with minimal effort.
This is life changing for those with handicaps, the elderly or simply the
shorter in stature.
Another type of motorized cabinetry growing in popularly is known as the
cabinet-within-a-cabinet. Using the same type of technology as a hidden TV
lift, this type of cabinetry is used to maximize dead space and store or hide
seldom-used appliances. When not in use, the cabinet slides into another
cabinet and can rise back out at the touch of a button.
"Our clients are always asking for ways to increase their storage and counter
space - no matter the size of the kitchen," said Karen Chanan, a designer
at Hinsdale, Ill.-based Normandy Design Build Remodeling. "Working
through the layout and function is the priority in designing the kitchen.The
aesthetics will then fall into place afterward."
BETTER ORGANIZATION

DIAMOND's new outlet in the

drawer feature - including
a 120-volt power source/
outlet - features two standard
electrical outlets and two
USB ports. This outlet can
designate a hidden charging
location for a variety of electronic devices in any location
throughout the house.

A large part of the aesthetic consumers are looking for lies inside the cabinets
themselves. With more organization, kitchens and baths can remain cleaner,
and cooking, entertaining and day-to-day life can go more smoothly.
"No matter the design, what really matters to today's consumer is what's
inside the cabinets," said Artus. "They care how the interiors are designed to
make their lives function better."
Soft-close slides and hinges today are a given in most cabinetry designs,
but it is the integration of LED lighting that manufacturers are concentrating on evolving most. Interior lighting is becoming not only easier to install
and design, but the lighting itself is becoming more invisible and integrated
within the frame.
"You don't realize how important and assistive great lighting is until you experience it," said Pierce. "The use of devices in particular has

demanded a need for well-lit work spaces for
multiple functions and different types of work
or socialization."
Interior lighting goes hand-in-hand with power integration. Smart devices like iPads are likely to
become even more a part of our homes, and having
a place to store and charge them can make a drastic
difference in an organized room.
"The introduction of tablets into the kitchen
has reduced the number of cookbooks," said
Becky Bertch, founder of Bertch Cabinet Mfg.
"This opens the door to endless possibilities for
the novice cook, assisting them with everything
from how-to videos or apps to create grocery lists.
Technology in bathrooms is about catching the
morning news, charging up your devices and having lights come on when you open a door and
shutting off when you leave."
FUTURE CABINETRY

The complete package of today's cabinetry - the
framing, the hardware and the lighting - is brimming with innovative possibilities.
"There are a number of new materials that are
being explored for cabinet exteriors in particular,"
said John Troxell, director of design for WoodMode Custom Cabinetry. "They range from
specialized laminates with very matte finishes to
ceramic/porcelains and leather and metals. These
tend to be most appropriate for contemporary
looks, but they could also serve as accents in many
transitional designs."
Along with unique materials as accents, the
bolder and brighter colors will continue to infiltrate the kitchen and bath. In particular, regal navy
blue, deep evergreen and majestic burgundy will
rise in popularity.
"These colors, when styled correctly, can be just
as ageless as today's whites and grays," said Jones.
"I would suggest pairing these rich jewel tones
with classic materials, like brass, copper, warm
wood and marble."
The style of the cabinet will continue to trend
more modern. First started in Europe, slab-front
and sleek cabinet door fronts are moving more
quickly to the U.S. market than ever before. Less
detail and fewer moldings are likely to be future
requests from clients, and even the European
practice of having portable cabinetry that moves
with the homeowner might start making an appearance here.
"That being said, a majority of consumers are
still looking for classic, timeless design in their
kitchen cabinetry,"said Artus."They are including
transitional cabinetry that - like a little black dress
- can easily evolve as design trends change, letting
their countertops, wall color and backsplash be
their statement accessories."

Kitchen & Bath Business / MAY-JUNE 2017 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.KBIS.com

Kitchen & Bath Business - May/June 2017

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