Kitchen & Bath Business April 2021 - 30

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KBIS 2021
HOME OFFICES

Top 3 Healthy Home Trends
THERE IS NO DOUBT people are seeing their homes through a new lens in

light of the continuing health crisis. Greater importance is placed on things
like healthy air quality systems, places to relax and recharge and more. During KBIS Virtual, Sara Gutterman, co-founder and CEO of Green Builder
magazine, gave a presentation on " Healthy Home Trends " featuring COGNITIONSmart Data at the Healthy Living Pavilion. She focused on the
latest trends in healthy home living and wellness design.
COVID-19 continues to impact consumer wants and needs in the home
and is shifting trends into a healthier, more sustainable direction. Key factors
include a desire for more sanctuary space, room to move and the desire for a
long-term investment.
Here are three key takeaways from Gutterman's presentation.

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT Photo

by escapejaja/Adobe Stock.
photo by New Africa/Adobe
Stock, photo by yurmary/
Adobe Stock

OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

AIR QUALITY SYSTEMS

Probably the most obvious impact of the pandemic and one of the biggest
trends is the shift toward including indoor air quality (IAQ) systems in the
home. Consumers want demand-controlled ventilation systems to regulate
fresh air exchange, and they want them to be both real-time and proactive.
In her presentation, Gutterman revealed that 85% of homebuyers stated they
would pay more for a healthy home, and 92% believe that IAQ is extremely
important when looking for a home.
HEPA filters are expected to remain the dominant choice for filtration
systems, but there's also emphasis on activated carbon filters that remove
ozone from the air, UV lighting and real-time radon monitoring. People
are most concerned with airborne transmission of diseases, keeping air safe
and fresh throughout the home and creating homes that are as " pandemicproof " as possible.

By LOREN KESSELL,
Social Media and
Creative Content
Associate, NKBA

A Global Design View

Outdoor living, biophilic design and
color dominate trends in Europe

By DIANNE M. POGODA

30
26-38_KBB_0421_KBIS.indd 30

Pre-COVID, only 10 to 15% of homes had home
office spaces.This has skyrocketed to 75% in some
capacity. With working from home becoming a
permanent reality, many homeowners want more
than a " cloffice " - a closet turned into an office - or
a kitchen table.The major ask is a quiet space that
is ideal for Zoom calls, creates a good workflow,
is uncluttered and adheres to the earlier stated
standards of healthy air quality.
People are asking for spaces that offer great
natural lighting, have the best access to Wi-Fi and
boast adequate storage for files, paperwork and
anything else crucial for them to complete their
tasks, said Gutterman. Consumers want all of this
to be portrayed in a way that is modern and sleek,
which they feel will increase their productivity.

A KBIS Virtual session at the NKBA Global
Connect Pavilion explored European design
trends, moderated by Ingrid Abramovitch, Elle
Décor executive editor, with three panelists
plugged into the European design scene.
Iris Havekes, founder of C-More Interieur Design in the Netherlands, examined how lifestyle
impacts design; Justine Fox, cofounder of Calzada
Fox, a color consultancy in London, discussed the

Outdoor activities became a lifeline for many during the pandemic, and consumers now want their
homes to incorporate al fresco living. Homeowners want spaces that allow them to entertain outdoors and provide them with a close connection
to nature.
Major projects being completed are deck
expansions and replacements, especially with
composite building materials for ease of maintenance, outdoor kitchens and entertainment
systems, recycled and zero-waste materials and
integrated planters. People are looking to connect
their homes with nature while also utilizing more
sustainable design.
" COVID-19 and the recession have forced
people to reprioritize in general, " said Gutterman,
" and because we've been required to spend more
time at home, people have really thought about
how much their home contributes to their quality
of life and are more discerning and have shifting
demands. This puts some pressure on [the industry] and fosters innovation. "


influence of global issues (politics, the pandemic,
climate change) on color choices; and trend forecaster Phil Pond of British-based Scarlet Opus
focused on outdoor living.
Here are a few takeaways from their presentations.
* Iris Havekes: COVID-19 spotlighted an acceler-

ated look at existing trends, with the main focus
really a question: " How do you feel? "
" We want to create a sacred space where we feel
safe and can recharge and rejuvenate. Create a sense
of wellness,maybe with a steam shower or sauna,and
surround ourselves with a minimal, comforting style
- a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese. "

/ APRIL 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

3/22/21 5:26 PM

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

Kitchen & Bath Business April 2021

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