i + D - November/December 2020 - 20

Business
of Design

A kitchen design by
Natalie Myers of Veneer
Designs touches on several
emerging trends as it manages
to be modern and nostalgic,
thanks to Big Chill appliances,
clean lines, and calming hues.
(Image: Tom Windeknecht)

1.

POST-PANDEMIC
KITCHEN & BATH

2.

BY JENNIFER QUAIL
IT'S SAFE TO SAY THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED HOME
DESIGN TO THE FOREGROUND OF EVERYONE'S MIND.
From homeowners to renters to the designers who specialize in
the residential sector, the importance of an efficient, multitasking,
supportive dwelling has never been so apparent. And while the
home office is enjoying a lot of headlines, it's not the only space
commanding attention today. A new report from the National
Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) shows the pandemic
already influencing kitchen and bath projects and predicts it will
have a lasting impact on the design of these two spaces. Key
findings of NKBA Design Trends 2021 include a move toward
larger kitchens and primary bathrooms, an increase in outdoor
living spaces, and higher demand for easy-to-clean surfaces,
flexible living spaces, and enhanced technology integration.
The research confirms what many designers have suspected and
have already begun to see in the projects that have emerged over
the past few months: a deepening interest in interiors that speak
to a natural and organic aesthetic. After so many months in their
homes, consumers are seeking calm and order, clean lines, and
minimal detailing, but with the warmth and texture that natural
finishes can supply. The report points to the look as being more
European in style and scale, and notes larger windows that bring
the outdoors in as a part of this direction as well. Of particular
note is the leap this style preference made from the 2019 study:
Last year's report found natural/organic in 10th place, whereas
the 2020 results place it in the top three.

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As a result of its research, NKBA expects the trend for more
modern, organic style in the kitchen and bath to continue to grow
and notes homeowners will demand both spaces be streamlined
and adaptable. " The kitchen has long been the heart of the
home, " states Bill Darcy, CEO of NKBA, adding the pandemic
has rendered it " the most prominent multitasking room as
well. We see this continuing with more open-space concepts, an
extension into multiseason outdoor living spaces, larger kitchen
island hubs with increased functionality and storage to allow
homeowners to cook, eat, work, home-school, and play, all in the
same vicinity. "
Also shifting is interest in traditional design for the kitchen and
bath. The time-honored style that held court among the top
three spots for more than a decade has seen its appeal wane
dramatically and is now expected to be among the least popular
over the next few years.
The NKBA study polled more than 700 design professionals
from across North America during the third quarter of 2020.
Respondents included designers (52 percent), as well as
architects, dealers, manufacturers, remodelers, and showroom
professionals.
For additional details and to purchase the full NKBA Design
Trends 2021 report, visit nkba.org/research/nkba-designtrends-2021.

i+D - November/December 2020

2020-11-25 15:56
http://nkba.org/research/nkba-designtrends-2021 http://nkba.org/research/nkba-designtrends-2021
i + D - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i + D - November/December 2020
