The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) surveyed 100 of their member designers to see what design trends will be important for 2011. They came up with eleven trends; six kitchen trends and four bathroom trends.  We will credit them with the clever headings for each of their categories.

Kitchens

1)     Shake It Up

Shaker cabinets have been popular since the Shakers first built their simple and functional design. NKBA cites increasing popularity since 2009 and sees even greater momentum building in 2010, moving ahead of Contemporary. Even though Traditional cabinetry remains the most popular style, other styles are beginning to make inroads. And in case you’re wondering, the next style down on the list is Cottage.

 2)     Dark Finishes

Surprisingly, in the later months of 2010, a dark natural finish on cabinets was the most specified finish, surpassing the medium natural, glazed, and white painted finishes. The trend continues, and these finishes are still neck-and-neck for top spot, so stay tuned to see what 2011 brings.

 3)     A Place for Wine

For awhile, wine refrigerators were a hot item, but that seems to have shifted to unchilled wine storage. C&R Remodeling’s cabinet line offers many options to accommodate this trend.

 4)     Bonjour Refrigerateur

Not surprisingly, the French door refrigerator is becoming even more popular. After seeing these refrigerators in a number of our clients’ homes, it is easy to see why so many are choosing this convenient and versatile appliance.

 5)     Inducting a New Cooktop

Not quite the leader in kitchen cooktops, induction cooking is beginning to close the gap. If you visited the Staats Lake home on the C&R Remodeling Tour of Remodeled Homes last fall, you probably witnessed the homeowner demonstrating how quickly she could boil a pot of water on her induction cooktop. Pretty impressive.

 6)     LED Lighting

In the words of the NKBA, “Incandescent lighting continues its journey to obsolescence”. Apparently the designers are opting more for LED lighting rather than CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), probably due to the poor quality of light produced by the CFL. It would be worth a test in your own home to see which you prefer.

 7)     Trashy Designs

For good reason, recycling and composting has become priority in a large percentage of Oregon homes. The NKBA members have put a greater emphasis on addressing trash considerations in the kitchen.  We are happy to provide the option in our kitchen designs for trash or recycling pull-outs.

 Bathrooms

 1)     Quartz Countertops

Everyone has been wondering what the “next granite” will be in countertop design. According to NKBA designers, Quartz is edging up on granite at a ratio of 83% granite and 54% quartz. It still boils down to personal taste and maintenance preferences.

 2)     Green Bathrooms

You would have thought that “Green Bathrooms” heading meant eco-friendly, but in this case it means exactly what it says. The use of the color green in bathrooms is trending upward, following the three most commonly used colors, white, off-white, beiges, and browns.

 3)     A Worthy Vessel

Undeniably, the undermount sink remains the most popular choice in bathroom design, but vessel sinks have become the clear second choice among designers. It’s hard to pass by a beautiful vessel sink without pausing to admire, so it is easy to see why designers are specifying vessels more often.

 4)     Satin Nickel Faucets

For both bathrooms and kitchens, the satin nickel finish surged in popularity. This subtle, beautiful finish is definitely going to be seen more in the future.

 Kitchens

Bathrooms

Trends

Cabinets