In the world of residential remodeling, kitchens and baths are still at the top of the list and still deliver the greatest return on investment for resale. So, designing them to be up-to-the-minute is important to get the best value for the longest period of time. The 2016 NKBA Kitchen + Bath Trend Awards have been presented and the following trends won:
KITCHENS
- * Gray or White Kitchen Cabinetry
- * Pet Spaces
- * Contemporary Design Style
- * Storage Pull-outs
- * Wood Flooring
- * Quartz counter tops
These Kitchen and Bath Trends are holding true in kitchen remodeling done in Metro-west Boston this year, except the design style is more often Transitional rather than Contemporary due to the prominence of more traditional architectural styles in New England. The vast majority of kitchens are utilizing white (or off-white) cabinets, followed by gray, and if gray isn’t the cabinet color, it’s often used as the wall color or is present in the quartz counter tops or both! Gray is still the hottest neutral in the palette. Cabinet manufacturers are frequently introducing new storage solutions and kitchen remodeling clients are taking advantage of them – from multiple pantry pull-out options to spice inserts, toe-kick drawers, roll trays, waste basket pull-outs, etc. Drawers have become extremely 
popular in the kitchen too; three and four-drawer base cabinets are ever-present in the kitchen plan today and the cook top with double deep drawers below for pots and pans is often requested. Wood flooring is definitely the preferred selection in kitchens and we are very often asked to incorporate a dog or cat-friendly space within the base cabinets as well or a pet bowl pull-out close to the floor.
BATHS
- * No-Threshold Showers
- * Floating Vanities and Open Storage
- * Under-mount Sinks
- * Neutral Colors
- * Free-standing Tubs
Again, Metro-west Boston is seeing all of these trends right now as well. The no-threshold showers are easier to achieve from a construction standpoint these days; new edge drain options have recently been introduced to the market so there is more than one way to construct the no threshold shower. Also, as baby boomers are aging, these no-threshold showers offer them the option of aging-in-place, which is becoming increasingly popular. 
Floating vanities are on the rise across the country, though this leans toward contemporary styling that is likely more popular outside of New England; we see them and they are on the rise, but we’re still doing more furniture-like vanities with multiple drawers and decorative feet here in New England. We are also opting for predominantly under-mount sinks rather than vessels and over-mounts right now. The vessel sink is seeing a drop in popularity as this trend moves out and under-mount sinks take over the vast majority of baths. Free-standing tubs have been on the rise for
several years now and subsequently, there are many more options, sizes and styles available now than ever! And, people are looking for that peaceful, Zen-like or spa feel so neutral colors and soft, airy spaces are most often requested. Gray is also a very popular choice in bathrooms for cabinetry and/or tile, walls, counter tops, etc. and quartz is the stone of choice for vanity tops and accent pieces.
So, when considering a kitchen or bath remodeling project, homeowners should think about these trends and discuss them with their designer: some of these elements will be long-lasting, classic choices and some will simply remain a trend and diminish in popularity over time.
Project Profile: 55 Wareland Basement Remodel