KITCHEN & BATH INDUSTRY SHOW, ORLANDO (January 10, 2017) — Contemporary-styled kitchens have overtakenTraditional to become the second most popular North American kitchen design, according to the 2017 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Report conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Based on this member survey, the NKBA expects to see the following top 10 overall kitchen trends this year:
- Clean lines, built-ins and simple door styles dominate kitchen designs. Contemporary- styled kitchens overtake Traditional to be the second most popular design after Transitional. Emerging: Industrial and Mid Century Modern. Mountain Modern and Coastal are variations on Contemporary.
- White and gray painted cabinets dominate kitchen color schemes and show no signs of slowing down, especially gray. Blue painted and high gloss cabinets are emerging. For overall color schemes, blue as well as black are emerging.
- Two-toned kitchens are gaining in popularity. Also mixing it up: materials and metals, across surfaces and as accents.
- While wood cabinets dominate kitchen designs, metal --currently a small segment of the cabinet market -- appears to be emerging. Metal cabinets are most frequently specified by younger and male designers.
- Furniture-look pieces, rollouts and pullouts and under cabinet lighting (LED) are among the most popular kitchen cabinet features. Use of crown molding is declining. Rustic and reclaimed woods were frequently mentioned.
- Quartz is the most popular kitchen countertop material, and trending up. Granite, the second most popular countertop material, is trending down.
- Induction cooktops and convection ovens are trending higher, and microwave drawers are outpacing freestanding or built-in microwaves. Steam ovens still represent a small segment of the market, but are also trending higher.
- Use of technology in the kitchen is increasing. About one third of NKBA professionals included wiring and pathways for future tech integration. Also trending upwards: more Internet connected appliances and docking stations.
- Interior barn and pocket doors in kitchens are trending up.
- Accessible and/or universal design features continue to trend up for kitchens.
According to respondents to the 2017 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends Survey, two-toned colored kitchens are on the rise. NKBA members reported that white and gray painted cabinets dominate kitchen color schemes they proposed to their clients, and show no signs of slowing down, especially gray. Blue and black toned cabinets, as well as high gloss finishes are gaining popularity.
“Clean lines with no fussy moldings or trims,” underscored one survey respondent. “White kitchens are never going away, but I’ve recommended mixed countertop materials, mixed cabinet colors and frequently use lots of light/dark materials for contrast.”
From a materials standpoint, wood cabinets continue to dominate kitchen designs while metal, currently a small segment of the cabinet market, appears to be emerging. Younger and male designers most frequently specify metal cabinets. The emergence of metal cabinetry and the use of reclaimed woods falls is consistent with aforementioned reports of kitchen designers using different combinations of materials and metals, across surfaces and as accents.
According to Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO, designers are “specifying mixed color palettes and mixing materials, especially for countertops.”
Survey respondents also reported that technology in the kitchen is increasing, a trend which was highly anticipated by Darcy, who noted that about one third of NKBA professionals included wiring and pathways for future technical integration. NKBA members also reported recommending kitchens designs that offered Internet connected appliances and docking stations.
“Homeowners want power strips under cabinets to eliminate outlets in the backsplash,” explained one NKBA professional about the increased demand for tech amenities in kitchens.
Like technology, accessible and/or universal design features are growing in popularity among our members to make kitchens more functional. Darcy stated, “Universal Design is commonplace among NKBA members, who serve clients by specifying spaces that are safe, as well as beautiful. They design for users of all ages and abilities.”