Decorating Secrets
What's New Now!
Our expert weighs in on the kitchen and bath trends you need to know about now.

Karla Krengel, a third-generation kitchen and bath industry entrepreneur and instructor for the National Kitchen & Bath Association, sizes up the latest kitchen and bath trends and shares the inspirations and innovations you need to know about now.

Going Green “This trend began in industry magazines, but is becoming more widespread as homeowners are increasingly asking for green kitchens. To some, this may mean a recycling center in the kitchen; to others, it means eco-friendly products, replacing older appliances with energy-star appliances or low VOC paints.”

Natural Instincts “Today’s hottest decorating ideas come from ‘biophilia,’ our innate connection with nature and our need for it to surround us. Metal is molded into faux antlers, pinecones are forged from silver and candles are designed to look like trees.”

“Organic Contemporary” “Veteran kitchen designer Jim Barna of Black Diamond Kitchens in Fraser, Colorado, first coined this term, Jenn Air oil-rubbed bronze finish refrigeratorwhich describes the trend away from mountain homes filled with alder wood and painted finishes, and toward the simplicity of contemporary styling. Organic Contemporary embraces cleaner lines, yet invites Mother Nature in via granite countertops, reclaimed woods, travertine, slate and even leather, but with cleaner lines than ever before.” Black Diamond Kitchens, Inc., 970-726-2888, blackdiamondkitchens.com

Warm Metals “In the 1990s, we embraced wood and natural products in our kitchens. Then, stainless steel came into fashion. The cold metal finish could be found in kitchens everywhere, but now, warmer metal finishes—that match the warmth of the woods currently in style--are coming into play. A perfect example is Jenn-Air’s new Oil-Rubbed Bronze-finish appliances. Oil-rubbed bronze handles, pulls and even faucets are also becoming increasingly requested by consumers.” Jenn-Air, 800-688-1100, jennair.com

Double Showers “First our bathrooms grew in size. Next, we wanted separate tubs and showers. Now, showers have doubled in size, with multiple oversized shower heads coming out of every wall and even the ceiling.”

glass tile from Crossville TileGlass Tile “I can’t get enough of this medium! I refer to glass tile as a medium because it can be as gorgeous as art. Use it anywhere to add stunning depth to the space. In my opinion, it’s given tile an entirely new color palette. For great glass tile, check out Crossville Tile (931-484-2110, crossvilleinc.com).”

Being the Jones’s “Gone are the days of keeping up with the Joneses. Today we want to be the Joneses. Customization is key, whether it’s a unique hood, cutting-edge appliance or one-of-a-kind, custom-made cabinet finish.”

creative storage from Wood Mode Fine Custom CabinetryCreative Storage “We’re a nation of ‘stuff,’ and we’re storing it, hence the explosion of companies dedicated to helping us get organized. So, it’s no surprise that today’s hottest trends in cabinetry have spices alphabetically stored in special pull-out cabinets, countertop mixers popping up and out of lower-level cabinets, and ‘built-in’ storage rolling out as serving carts.” Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, 877-635-7500, wood-mode.com

Color “The trend toward spa-inspired home baths means we’re seeing lots of beachy, calming neutral colors these days. But when you consider color trends, don’t forget your surroundings, like the mountain view through your kitchen window. When choosing a wall color, keep in mind all four seasons of color—deep green pines, fiery aspen, fresh spring greens—not what you’ve heard about trends. A word of caution: Stay away from whites and blues. White takes away from the winter wonder of the mountains and blue just isn’t an appealing color for the kitchen—or the food prepared in it.”

led lighting in a faucet from KWC's Canyon lineLED Lighting “Light is playing a bigger role in kitchens and baths than ever before and as technology advances, that role will only grow larger. One of my favorite new products is KWC’s Canyon line of faucets. A tiny light on the faucet glows red when hot water is on and blue when the water is cold.” KWC America, 678-334-2121, kwcamerica.com

Ease of Use “Thanks to a growing population of Baby Boomers, life is getting easier for the rest of us. Faucets turn on automatically, dishwashers are raised off the floor, and dishes are stored in drawers, rather than up high in cabinets.