Trends with Benefits!

Trends with Benefits!

Who doesn't want the latest and greatest? One of the things I love about the kitchen and bath industry is that the manufacturers are always looking for ways to be innovative and make their products efficient for the homeowner. I've learned a lot over the years about trendy products that are also incredibly beneficial to you, your family, and the environment.

Universal Design is becoming a standard in my day-to-day design life. There are simple solutions that make it so much easier for a family to grow and age in their home. I had the opportunity to learn a ton about this during my trip to Las Vegas as part of the NKBA's '30 Under 30'. Blum is a company that has taken the idea of Universal Design to the max. They've done countless studies about how people function in their kitchens and how that space could be more user friendly for everyone in the family.

Exhibit A: The Blum Age Explorer Suit

Photo is my own.

This is a picture of me and some friends at KBIS 2014 in Las Vegas. The astronaut-looking suit belongs to Blum. It simulates the effects that aging can have on the body (muscle weakness, loss of eyesight, arthritic hands, etc). Kristin, our lovely suit model, demonstrated just how valuable certain design elements can be in your home. Drawers are becoming an extremely popular trend in kitchen design. Ergonomically and aesthetically, they are a great choice. It is far easier to lift plates or heavy objects out of a drawer than to pull them down from a wall cabinet. 

Photo Credit: The Sky is the Limit Design

With all kinds of cabinet inserts available, drawers can be an extremely functional storage solution for plates, bowls, cups, pots, pans, etc. Check out some of these accessories... available through one of my favorite cabinet manufacturers, Dura Supreme!

The kitchen isn't the only area where accessibility can be a struggle. As the Baby Boomer generation is starting to near or reach retirement, many are realizing that they want to remain in their current homes for years to come. There are tons of sleek, attractive options available to have a safe and stylish bathroom!

Photo Credit: Invisia 

Both the soap holder and the piece around the shower valve function as grab bars. The decorative shelf in the corner does too! These safety features are far more aesthetically pleasing than the institutional grab bars we've seen in the past. 

Zero-entry (or curbless) showers are also a huge trend. The are extremely beneficial to the homeowner... especially as they age. The less to step over, the better. Quartz by Aco has a beautiful approach to these showers with their drain systems. 

Photo Credit: Quartz by Aco

These linear drains are awesome... a little pricey... but still awesome! There are different designs for the grates and it's offered in stainless steel and oil rubbed bronze. If you're feeling real fancy, you can also get LED lights incorporated in to the drain!! 

Another part of the renovation puzzle that can be a huge 'wow factor' in your kitchen or bathroom are the countertops. If you're from the south like me, then you have probably seen many spaces with white cabinets and white marble countertops. There is no question... white marble is absolutely stunning, but there is maintenance involved with any natural stone product. It's susceptible to staining, etching, and requires resealing every so often by the homeowner. I would never tell someone not to get marble, but it's important to be educated about the products you put in your home. This brings me to a viable substitute: 

QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS

Above is the Musica Collection from LG Viatera. All of the samples shown above are quartz countertops (even though some look so much like real marble/granite). There are plenty of quartz companies that provide a similar look to these, but the cool thing about LG Viatera is that it's manufactured here in my home state of Georgia!! That means, it's not being shipped from across the world which is in no way beneficial to the environment. Another plus to quartz countertops... hardly any maintenance required. You'll never have to seal it!!

It would definitely put my mind at ease if I had little ones running around to have worry-free products in my home. I'm sure for most Mom's out there, the cooktop has always been a source of concern. Children are curious little people and when that curiousity sneaks into the kitchen, that can lead to some burnt fingers. 

Induction Cooking

Photo Credit: Unknown

Induction cooking is a wonderful choice. Not only does the surface remain cool while cooking, it heats water incredibly fast. For example, studies have shown that induction cooktops can bring 1.5 gallons of water to a boil in about 8.5 minutes (compared to 13.5 minutes for gas cooktops). The one downside to induction is that is does require a specific type of cookware. If you want to see if yours will work, hold a magnet up to the bottom of the pan.... if it sticks, you're good to go!

While you may have been familiar with some of the items above, hopefully your eyes are more open to just how much of a difference these trends can make in your home! Come back soon... I'll have a couple project reveals for you in the next few weeks!!