Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2019 - 20

Products with Staying Power

PATRICIA DAVIS BROWN DESIGNS,
VERO BEACH, FLA.

Made to Last
Experts share their
favorite kitchen and bath
selections in a series of
exclusive interviews
A DESIGN PROFESSIONAL'S OBVIOUS CRITERIA

for any product selection include value, quality,
durability and functionality - and a brand that
offers great customer service is hard to beat.
"First and foremost, the kitchen and bath are
spaces that must function above everything else,
explained Matthew Quinn, owner of Atlantabased Design Galleria. "Therefore, the products
we specify in them must solve problems, be ergonomic, be sustainable, be durable, perform well
and - finally - be attractive."
KBB spoke with several industry experts to find
out which products and brands have defied what is
trendy and have stood the test of time as the go-to
choices in their projects.
The following are qualities that define a product
with staying power, according to our interviews:
"Something that is classic or modest in style
"Those that evolve with changing needs
"A product or material that features an
authentic design

"An item designed for efficiency and comfort
"Brands that offer choices for any style
"Products that solve problems
"Brands that offer eco-friendly choices

DESIGNER'S TOP PICKS
Subway tile
Polished chrome
Synthetic stone
countertops/materials
White marble slab looks
Induction cooking
appliances
Freestanding tubs
Luxury vinyl/engineered
wood flooring
LED lighting

Connectivity to
systems/appliances/
fixtures
Steam/speed ovens
Shaker cabinets in
white or gray
Sinks with accessories
Stainless-steel
appliances
Wood-look
porcelain tile
Layered lighting

PATRICIA DAVIS BROWN, NCIDQ, CKD, CBD,

TOP Capra's bathroom project
includes some of her favorites,
including subway tile and the
Calacatta marble look. Photo
by Darryl Nobles

ABOVE Omega Cabinets'

Cayhill Walnut line is shown in
the pumice finish.

ALENA CAPRA, CMKBD, ALENA CAPRA
DESIGNS, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.

A product with staying power is classic in style; I
think those that are too trendy tend to date themselves quickly. Choose tubs and toilets in white -
once you move away from that color (think biscuit,
almond, linen), it can be something that is dated in
the long run.Think of all the old toilets in avocado
green, powder blue, mint green or pink. White is a
classic color and goes with everything.
In terms of tile, subway has a classic, clean look
that goes with most styles and has been around
forever. People love subway tile for kitchens and
baths because it's safe and beautiful - it always
looks good. I like Calacatta, Nestos or Carrara
marble for countertops; all three are beautiful and
neutral and offer long-term staying power.
I love the Monogram Advantium Microwave
Oven for smaller kitchens in NYC apartments,
and it is dual functioning. Omega is a line of cabinetry I have sold for many years because of its
classic door styles and finishes. I recently helped a
client reorder parts for an existing kitchen in their
home that had already been there several years,
and Omega still has that door style available!
For baths, I love Robern for vanities and medicine cabinets; the M Series is my favorite. Kohler
has a great variety of styles for all looks and great
customer service, Hansgrohe is my go-to for the
Clubmaster Showerhead, and Brizo has artistic
styling in its faucets.

I tend to stay away from trendy and like to choose
something that has looked and performed the
same for years. Stainless steel blends in more
than it dates itself - no one wants to see the white
shades of the 90s anymore. When your client is
committing to a major renovation, less is best.
I like the calming palettes of quartz; busy granite patterns will not stand the test of time. Mixed
metals are trending, but polished chrome is always
in. You can take more risks with the hardware and
decorative lighting, which are easier to replace.
Some people are afraid to put wood flooring in a
kitchen, but it is repairable and classic.The new kid
on the block is luxury vinyl, which is waterproof
and maintenance free. It's a good choice for a family who really lives in their home.
In terms of lighting, you need to determine how
your clients are going to use the space and come up
with a layered plan. An expert can help make sure
you have enough lighting and that your clients
can change out the lamps as technology changes.
Good technology needs to make your clients'
lives easier. True smart technology will stay; connectivity can provide real-time info on things happening at your home like a leak in a bathroom.

ABOVE Davis Brown says

decorative pendants and
chandeliers over the island
stand the test of time, as is
seen in her kitchen project,
which features pendants from
Circa Lighting. These larger
fixtures can take center stage,
while the other lighting sources
are understated. Photo by
Stephanie Davis

RIGHT Sub-Zero/Wolf is a
brand the designer thinks
stands the test of time. Pictured is Sub-Zero's stainlesssteel, dual-system PRO 48
Refrigeration, which has been
an industry appliance selection since 2005.

Kitchen & Bath Business / JANUARY 2019 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of KBIS (KBIS.com)

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Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Kitchen & Bath Business - January 2019