My January/February Kitchen and Bath Ideas magazine came with a 2009 Trend Report pamphlet for kitchens and baths (brought to me by Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications). I was interested in what’s new for the 2009 kitchen and bath industry, so I thought I’d check it out. Upon taking a brief look, it would seem that 2009 isn’t bringing us much of what we haven’t already seen, except that budgeting and saving money are huge factors for remodeling in homes now, due to the state of the economy, even more so than they have been in the past.
Taking a closer look, I discovered that white cabinets are going to be a trend for 2009. It’s nothing that I didn’t already know, but white is always a good choice. It is extremely versatile; white works with various architectural styles and color palettes. White cabinetry (as long as the white is accompanied by another color or two) helps to open up a kitchen or bathroom by making it feel more spacious. Too much white, however, will evoke a cold and sterile feel in the room.
The second trend I found was the installation of commercial grade appliances. This is a continuing trend from the previous years, but its use in kitchens continues to grow immensely. I’m all for the clean, sleek look of stainless steel. It does, indeed, bring a sophisticated and rich feel to the kitchen, as the pamphlet claims. Better yet, you will no longer need to worry about fingerprints smudging the refrigerator’s shiny surface - manufacturers are now offering fingerprint resistant steel to consumers.
Next are the specialty workstations that are cropping up across the country. People are incorporating into their kitchens separate areas for their baking centers, coffee bars, wine nooks, and pizza making. This is a brilliant idea for the culinary enthusiast or for kitchens with more than 1 cook. We have already seen this trend, but work zones are becoming more and more popular than before.
A walk-in pantry is the ideal food storage solution for families. People have been building walk-in pantries for decades, or probably even longer than that. Walk-ins are coming back into popularity among families who like to stock up on kitchen items or cooking essentials. This creates a much cleaner look in the actual kitchen space by clearing the food items from the countertops and making room for food preparation. It also eliminates food items from the cabinets and makes room for dishes and silverware.
The next trend focuses on the state of the economy. The choice between saving and splurging is discussed; today’s consumers are choosing to splurge on one item over another. Which item is worth the splurge and how can we save money on everything else? This is a question that has always been considered among consumers but, with the current economy seeping into our minds, it has become one of the most important factors in remodeling.
As technology becomes more popular, people are installing high-tech gadgets into their homes: wall-mounted televisions, sound systems, DVD players…and it’s not that we have never seen this technology in homes before, but now they are being installed in the kitchens and bathrooms! Out goes traditional deacute;cor and in comes the more simplistic design that incorporates fancy electronics. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it just goes to show how today’s homes have came to change in the past few years.
My favorite trend is the personal bath retreat. Master bathroom suites are becoming more of a relaxing, spa experience than just a private room to clean up in. Heated floors, soaking tubs, steam showers, towel warmers…the bathroom sure seems to be the place to splurge these days. And why not - with the stress the economy is putting on homeowners, they will need that place for retreating to in the evenings after a long day at work.
I have to admit, the next trend is not something I have personally seen all that much, although it is becoming even more of a trend among women: the sit-down vanity. It is a nice idea to be able to sit down and apply cosmetics, hair products, or jewelry in the morning before getting started with the day. The vanity offers a space for storing cosmetics, task lighting, and a three-way mirror to get a better view.
Last, but not least, is the private toilet area. By keeping the toilet in a secluded area, this division allows for the sharing of a bathroom between couples or families who share a single bathroom. It is just a nice way to give family members privacy while sharing a single bathroom space.
A lot of these trends seem to be a continuation of past trends, only with increased popularity. It is nice to know what is coming for 2009 in the design industry, though. By taking a look at the 2009 Trend Report pamphlet, we were able to get a good idea of what we will be seeing in homes for the coming year.
References
2009 Trend Report, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications
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