Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2017 - 18

Trends
LEFT "Everything worked out

great in opening up this kitchen
in Miami Beach, until we ran into
having to keep a small portion
of the wall between the kitchen
and family room. We ended up
cladding this column in mirror,
and the effect it gives the space
by reflecting the water was
an added bonus." - Designer
Ronald Alvarez of Miami-based
Moniomi Interior Design;
Photography by Robert Rios

BELOW "We took advantage

With gas or induction top options,
AGA introduces new slim 24-in.
ovens for compact living spaces.
It is also possible to expand a
three-oven AGA into a five- or
seven-oven AGA by adding one
or more integrated solutions.

of the space above the toilet
for extra storage and went for
a bold-patterned wallpaper in
this tiny bathroom." - Wendy
Yates, principal of Frisco,
Colo.-based Abigail-Elise
Interiors Inc.; Photography by
ZDH Design, LLC

Counting Every Inch
Small space design inspires

and challenges the industry

The BOSCH 24-in. refrigerator
is a counter-depth, Europeanstyle product ideal for areas
that can't accommodate a
full-size refrigerator. Hidden
hinge or reversible doors allow
for next-to-wall placement and
nearly flush installation.

ICERA's Malibu II 10-in.
rough-in toilet offers an elegant,
contemporary design for compact bathrooms. Most toilets
are designed to fit a standard
12-in. rough-in, but this smaller,
option gives designers a way to
make more with less space.

HETHER IT IS A COMPACT KITCHEN, POWDER
ROOM OR A PREVIOUSLY
UNNOTICED MUDROOM

OR LAUNDRY ROOM, clients are beginning to
see the impact a welldesigned small space can make in their home.
"People want good-quality design now in their
small spaces and are seeking out true professionals," said designer Jennifer Gilmer of Chevy
Chase, Md.-based Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and
Bath. "This is true especially for the older crowd
because they've been burned at least once by trying
to do it themselves or going an inexpensive route."
The millennial generation is also taking a second look at smaller homes because they are easier
to maintain and are more economical. Careful
planning, adequate storage, smaller appliances and
creative space-saving solutions can transform an
ordinary powder room or mudroom into a highfunctioning, beautiful part of the home.
"From an interior design prospective, small
doesn't have to mean uninspiring," said designer
Lori Carroll of Tucson, Ariz.-based Lori Carroll
& Assoc. "Even the smallest space needs to be
comfortable, livable and well appointed."

"In laundry rooms and mudrooms, clients all want the same thing: storage,
efficiency and a place for everything,"said designer Krista Agapito of Winter
Park, Fla.-based S&W Kitchens. "When these rooms are designed for the
client's lifestyle, they stay organized naturally with everything in its place."
Manufacturers are catering to the popularity of small spaces with appropriate
products,such as deep but compact laundry room and mudroom sinks.According to Christy Emens, marketing communications manager for BLANCO,
the company launched two new laundry sinks this year in response.
"Laundry or mudroom sinks need to be deeper and resistant to stains, so a
tough, big sink that fits into a small space is our challenge," she said.
Consumers also want their laundry, mudroom, powder room or compact
kitchen to have character, so manufacturers are working to provide a variety of
products from which to choose with different color and accessory options. A
range of products - from cabinetry to appliances to faucets - is now available
in small versions to meet this demand.

TAKING ON THE SMALL SPACE CHALLENGE

A designer's main task in a small space is to create
enough storage and organization to smoothly run
a household.

BY ERINN LOUCKS

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

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

Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2017

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