The basin of the company’s surface-mount replacement-sink meas…
The basin of the company’s surface-mount replacement-sink measures 31 inches in length and is designed to replace dual-basin stainless steel sinks.
www.premiercopperproducts.com
The Kohani Lavatory Basin is made from 16-gauge, recycled copper…
The Kohani Lavatory Basin is made from 16-gauge, recycled copper and comes in antique or brushed nickel finishes. Taking a Polish term for the word “beloved,” the rectangular sink strikes a curved form to meld artistry and function.
www.nativetrails.net
The remote-controlled Serena shade is available with either an i…
The remote-controlled Serena shade is available with either an infrared or a radio frequency wireless remote. The shades come in a range of opacities and are made of dual-sided, cellular shade fabrics with a white, reflective backing to maintain consistent lighting throughout the room.
www.lutron.com
The company’s architectural mortise door lock comes with 128-b…
The company’s architectural mortise door lock comes with 128-bit encrypted proprietary technology that allows homeowners to unlock the doors with a smart phone. The integrated systems give off a traditional look while featuring modular, self-aligning technology and a screw-free door.
www.keelerproducts.com
Four colors are being added to the Radianz line of quartz surfac…
Four colors are being added to the Radianz line of quartz surfaces. Gold Canyon Gray, Midnight Sapphire and Imperial Gray join the Noble Collection which features metallic flecks; Gentle Gray is added to the collection of Radianz Quartz color options.
www.staron.com
Kai Arndt
A collaboration with architect and designer Hadi Teherani, the A…
A collaboration with architect and designer Hadi Teherani, the ARTESIO kitchen concept includes louvered walls, an arched ceiling, cabinetry with a walnut veneer finish, and stainless steel countertops and hardware.
www.poggenpohl.com
EcoSmart bioethanol fireplaces are portable and can be used in a…
EcoSmart bioethanol fireplaces are portable and can be used in a range of outdoor and indoor entertainment area applications.
www.danver.com
The Design Pro LED Modular and Disc 2.0 under-cabinet lighting s…
The Design Pro LED Modular and Disc 2.0 under-cabinet lighting system adds a warm (2,700K) lighting option to join its white (3,000K) light in creating visually layered interiors.
www.kichler.com
The company’s architectural stone veneer limestone fireplace s…
The company’s architectural stone veneer limestone fireplace surrounds now include a smaller-scale option in the SOHO Boutique. The new line comes in three colors and three finishes ranging from smooth to weathered.
www.eldoradostone.com
Two independent chilling zones, each equipped with vibration-dam…
Two independent chilling zones, each equipped with vibration-dampening racks, allow for storage of up to 45 bottles. The DualZone Wine Cabinet features a stainless steel interior and exterior and is lit from the inside by white, amber or blue LEDs.
www.true-residential.com
The countdown to this year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show is now in the single digits. As an estimated 20,600 manufacturers, designers, dealers, and custom builders and remodelers prepare to descend on the city of Chicago, we asked the show’s managing director Jim Scott what trends attendees are likely to spot. Also, check out our slideshow for a preview of high-end products that will be debuting on the show floor.
• Technology is making appliances and other home products both “fun” and “smart,” says Scott. And the recent industry-wide push towards sustainability suggests that a melding of the two should yield efficient and attractive designs that help consumers manage their households.
• Sure, attendees are hot for high-end products. But affordable design, spurred by what Scott calls “practical discretion” incited by the economic downturn, is surfacing as a way to remodel while remaining innovative and budget-conscious.
• It may be too soon to judge the quality of the economic recovery, but Scott says that visitors should see more new products this year. “Exhibitors have been cautious in the last few years,” he says. “They’re seeing [that] now it’s time to get back in the market. It is what it is, [and] it’s still a large market.”
• The popularity of recyclable and engineered materials is closing in on traditional surfaces like granite.
• Plus, universal design takes on new importance as designers and manufacturers begin to better understand and serve a market with highly diverse needs and varying abilities.
The show’s UNcontained exhibit puts a creative twist on the rising challenge of offering products and design services to the different generations that make up the U.S. housing market. Featuring vignettes of five prototypical home buyers, generational narratives will be displayed in 20-foot shipping containers in the center of show floor. “The containers reflect how you would approach a design project with these different generations,” Scott says. “What’s important to them; how do they see their lives playing out.”
The exhibit classifies these groups as: Gen Now, ages 15 to 34, who seek an urban setting and want products that save on space; Generation X, ages 35 to 44, focused on balancing work and personal life and enjoying decorating and renovating; Zoomers, ages 45 to 65, emerging from the recession with savings possibly damaged and retirement postponed but still desiring efficient products; Prime Timers (ages 66 and older) who are living longer, moving back in with younger family members, and changing the conception of the aging process.
Hallie Busta is a former associate editor of products and technology at ARCHITECT, Architectural Lighting, and Residential Architect. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill school and a LEED Green Associate credential. Previously, she wrote about building-material sales and distribution at Hanley Wood. Follow her on Twitter at @HallieBusta.
