By Beverly Smirnis
The recent Design & Construction Week® featuring the co-location of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) provided great inspiration and insight into home styles now trending or coming soon.
Style Trends
Removing unnecessary visual clutter. In kitchens, this means concealed appliances with no handles, simply give the doors a little nudge and they will pop open. For countertops less pattern is the look, meaning granite is on the decline quartz and quartzite counters simulating marble continue to trend. Slab stone backsplashes also support this design path. Home organization products—from drawer and cabinet inserts to closet systems remain high priority.
Black is the new gray. Black accent walls, black-stained floors, cabinetry, trim, sinks, faucets, hardware, lighting fixtures and window casings are hot. The black and white palette is the new neutral.
Classic Blue is everywhere. Pantone was right on in naming Classic Blue its Color of the Year for 2020. Blue in various tones, including navy, are a big trend in cabinetry, and blue shows up in accents everywhere.
Color in general is more bold and daring. White cabinets are out. Stained woods are back. Where appliances are not concealed, they are focal points with appliances and range hoods offered in a rainbow of colors. White subway tile is also out in favor of tiles with texture, color and pattern used as accents.
Mix and match metals and hardware. From black or graphite nickel, to warm metals including soft gold, copper, and antique silver, the message for 2020 hardware is don’t be afraid to mix and match finishes. Some two-tone hardware options do the job for you. Metals in various finishes are also being used as trim accents on appliances.
Big, bold sexy lighting fixtures Eclectic is the word for accent lighting fixture choices, and minimalistic is not the word here. Go for a touch of glam! Where overhead fixtures are used, they are used as accent pieces. Clear glass pendants with exposed Edison bulbs, traditional or boho wicker pendants, and geometric-shaped or asymmetrical sputnick style chandeliers, are all on-trend. Retro, Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern influences are other inspiration points for current lighting fixtures.
Other Observations
Focus on the foyer. The average entry foyer measures just 86 square feet, or 3 percent of the space in a typical new home, according to a recent study from the National Association of Home Builders. Forbes Top Residential Trends report says that expanded foyers will be a new trend—not just utilitarian space, as buyers put a high value on a stylish first impression.
Home Buying and Selling Goes Digital. Many builder and Realtor firms are creating proprietary apps and new technology to make the process of buying, selling, and financing a home easier and more mobile as millennials (the digital natives) represent the largest generation of homebuyers, says Forbes.
Buyers of existing properties seek a move-in ready home. Before listing their homes, more sellers are choosing to renovate in order to get top dollar. Remodeling firms offering light renovations to help sellers achieve their best sale price are faring well.
