Kitchen & Bath Styles & Trends: make it great!
By Christa GalaWhether old or new, we all want great kitchens and baths. Here are
tips for everybody— what’s hot, what’s not and everything in between.
Well-loved homes
You know kitchens and baths sell houses—and make happy homeowners. Worried your pockets aren’t deep enough for new cabinetry and granite countertops? It’s okay; be creative in ways you can afford. |
Photo courtesy of Kitchen & Bath Galleries |
Go Vintage
Kristin Gurganus, owner of The Purple Polka Dot in Cary, describes herself as a “vintage girl.” The way she sees it, repurposing older pieces for the kitchen and bath is the very best way to bring vitality and creativity—and let’s not forget functionality—into the rooms we live in the most. “Take out the regular vanities and be creative,” Gurganus says. As an example, Gurganus points to a vintage white-washed sewing cabinet in her shop. “The sewing machine has been taken out and there’s plenty of room to drill a hole for the sink drain. Place a bowl sink on top and hello fabulous vanity,” she says. “Pair it with a do-it-yourself mirror. Take that large picture frame that’s collecting dust in the attic and paint it. Have a mirror cut to size that will pair nicely with your shabby chic vanity.” Add vintage touches in small areas, too, says Gurganus. “Decorate with old mason jars. Use them as flour canisters in the kitchen or for your Q-tips in the bathroom. Use old cookbooks of grandma’s to keep in the kitchen. Instead of sitting them upright on a shelf, put them on their sides and place a picture frame on top.”Colors
You already know painting a room is the cheapest and fastest way to implement change in any room. But while you don’t want “boring beige” everywhere, it can be intimidating to choose colors. “I think it’s important to keep continuity throughout the home,” says Michi Howe, an interior designer and owner of Interiors by Michi, Inc. “Paint selection should easily flow from room to room. Play off the other rooms in the house or pull in an accent color from artwork or hues from a textile or rug.” |
Photo courtesy of Kitchen & Bath Galleries |
These days, designers are favoring green tones that pull from nature. “Think artichoke, olive, apple, even green tea,” Howe says. “Greens work well with most home decor, from traditional to modern and add an earthy-fresh and soothing vibe.”
Accessories
Before we sing the praises of accessories, just a quick word of caution not to overdo. “Too many accessories sitting on the shelves and on top of cabinets and countertops are a no-no as far as I’m concerned,” says Howe. “Better to have a few quality pieces that make a strong impact than exhaust the eye with too much stuff.”Howe loves to use personal artwork in the kitchen and bathroom. It’s a great opportunity to create warmth by integrating color, texture and positive energy,” she says. So pick what you love—pieces that really reflect your taste and personality—and discard or donate the rest. Better yet, choose accessories that are both functional and unusual.
“In the kitchen, unique placemats in modern, clean styles, such as designs from Chilewich or Modern Twist, can quickly and inexpensively update a kitchen,” says Beth Lindsey, co-owner of BeyondBlue Interiors at North Hills. “And area rugs are a great way to bring in color and texture. Neutral-colored durable rugs, such as bamboo shags or woven vinyl floormats, are functional enough to use in kitchens or baths, and yet their modern style can bring sophistication to those spaces. These sustainable materials allow the rugs to last for years.”
Lighting and hardware
Replacing outdated lighting fixtures and hardware can catapult you into this century, adds Lindsey. “People often think that they have to redo expensive items like their countertops to change the feel of these rooms, but bringing in softer, more modern lighting can go a long way toward changing the feel of a room. There are many great kitchen and bathroom lighting designs that use stunning art glass that will delight the eye and metal finishes to coordinate with other hardware fixtures. The lighting itself should be bright enough to provide appropriate task lighting, but also be soothing and provide an updated look.” |
Photo courtesy of Interiors by Michi, Inc. |
Changing out hardware in the kitchen or bath is the easiest and least expensive change you can make. “This is something that can be done without breaking the bank,” says Lindsey. “People are often selecting cooler colors like stainless steel or polished nickel, instead of the gold hues of polished brass. Our clients often take the next step of replacing not only their cabinet hardware but their faucets to update the overall look.”
For Every Home
Appliances
There is one clear leader when it comes to appliances, at least aesthetically: stainless steel. Stainless steel reigns in all price ranges, confirms Cindy Morris, vice president of sales and marketing at WinStar Homes. In fact, WinStar Homes puts stainless steel in every single home as does The Estates at Olde Carpenter, according to Petra Bottomley, vice president senior sales manager with Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston Builder Services, which represents the Cary neighborhood. What has changed about appliances is that customers know a lot more than they used to, says Terri Wolfe, sales associate with Appliance World on Duraleigh Road. “Customers are definitely more educated with the Internet out there,” says Wolfe. “They come in here with a lot more knowledge than they did before. Some of that we have to filter through because there’s misinformation out there as well.”
Other big hits with consumers:
• Counter-deep refrigerators measuring 24 inches deep instead of the traditional 30 inches, meaning the fridge doesn’t jut out past the countertop. “It feels like it’s built-in, but it’s a third of the cost of a built-in refrigerator,” says Wolfe. Losing some of that storage space in the kitchen is no big deal because many homeowners have an overflow fridge in the garage.
• Going from a freestanding range to a range with the countertop cut around it and oven controls on the side instead of at the back.
• Quiet dishwashers.
• French-door refrigerators. “It’s our number-one selling style,” says Wolfe. “It puts the refrigerator all up top and makes it easier to see all of the items you’re storing.”
Wolfe often has to remind homeowners that they really do get what they pay for when it comes to appliances. “They’re surprised by the features available now and by the cost of them,” she says. “But you’re paying for the benefits, the features and the longevity of the appliance.” She recommends the following budget ranges:
• Slide-in range: $2500-$2,600
• Dishwasher: $800
• Refrigerators: French door, $2800.
• Range hood liners: $600 to $1200.
Flooring
Folks used to balk at putting hardwood flooring in the kitchen. Not anymore, says Wendy Rice, sales representative at Floorspec in Morrisville.For bathrooms, ceramic tile is Rice’s number-one seller. “The trend is to more environmentally-friendly products,” she says. “With vinyl pricing growing due to the increase in petroleum costs, ceramic is becoming more and more cost effective. Plus, ceramic tile has endless possibilities with design, deco and beautiful glass that add a spa feel to your home bathroom.”
Bamboo and cork, both eco-friendly, are gaining in popularity. “Bamboo has become a choice of more and more homeowners; it’s a green product with a multitude of colors available,” says Rice. “Cork is very subjective; either you like it or you don’t. It’s great for multi-family or condo situations since it helps with noise reduction.”
Looking for flooring? “First decide on a budget,” says Rice. “Many homeowners get sticker-shock when they price flooring. Make a few calls and get a rough idea of the cost.”
New Construction
In the kitchen
In new construction, builders and developers constantly gauge what consumers want in kitchens and baths. Because those rooms, quite simply, sell new homes. |
Photo courtesy of BeyondBlue Interiors |
“The kitchen is the hub of activity in the home today whereas it used to be just where you cooked. People like the kitchen to overlook the family area and dining spaces,” says Morris, noting WinStar builds in Brightwood Trails in Durham, 12 Oaks in Holly Springs and Renaissance Park in Raleigh. Bottomley agrees. “That’s how people live these days,” she says. “In Olde Carpenter Estates, we’re doing granite countertops, tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances; most floorplans are open to the family room.”
Homeowners also like high ceilings—nine to 10 feet—and kitchen islands. “It allows homeowners to have a breakfast bar, and it’s an easy way to connect the kitchen to the rest of the house,” says Morris. Although homeowners want the kitchen easily accessible, a little differentiation is nice too.
“We give the kitchen an element of separation by including an archway or ceiling height changes—something that doesn’t close it off but does define it.”
When it comes to cabinetry, Bottomley says buyers are moving away from darker kitchen cabinets. “What we see coming back strongly is actually white cabinets—the glazed white wood and a more traditional white. But buyers can have anything they want; it’s all custom.”
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