Back to Nature in Islands and Cabinetry. High-end, high-gloss materials are mixing with organic and natural materials, which also showed up as standalones at the show. Live-edge countertops and islands - like the island from Nature Design (23) - are paired with high-end appliances and glossy touches for a contrasting modern feel. Team 7's Linea (24) stays true to this idea with a wooden high-top bar and a white, high-gloss island underneath. Dada (25) marries natural materials with Hi-Line VVD, which includes different wood cabinets and a striking gray stone backsplash, available in three colors. Both shows emphasized the desire for comfort - whether personal or for hosting - and both focused less on the fanciful technology and more on the practical benefits modern innovation can bring. Inventiveness now lies in how to fit a more functional design into a smaller space or how to make a grand space both beautiful and practical for both a family and for an entertainment setting. While Europe stays ahead of the game in kitchen and bath trends, it is easy to see how these leanings will soon leap across the pond into our own renderings and designs. 21 20 23 22 24 25http://www.elmirastoveworks.com http://www.elmirastoveworks.com