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The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its 2019 Bathroom Design Trends, which coincided with its annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), celebrating the best in kitchen and bathroom design trends.
Freshome has already covered the latest trends in bathroom technology and bathroom faucets. But we asked Elle H-Millard, Certified Kitchen Designer and Industry Relations Manager at the NKBA, for photos and insights regarding some of the other key U.S. bathroom design trends.
Show highlight: the Blade 3D Printed Faucet by DXV
This 3D printed faucet took home Best in Show. Image courtesy of DXV.
The Blade 3D Printed Faucet by DXV garnered a lot of attention at the KBIS. In fact, it won Best in Show. A computer-guided laser beam sinters powdered metal into the shape of the faucet with high heat and pressure. A solid metal block is formed out of the powder, and then the block is hand-finished to smooth extraneous metal.
The most popular bathroom style
A bath designed by Sandra Diaz-Velasco. Photography by Eugenio Wilman. Image courtesy of the NKBA.
“The transitional bathroom style was the most popular style of bathrooms designed in the past year,” H-Millard tells Freshome. “Traditional and contemporary ranked two and three, respectively.” Over the next three years, she says transitional is projected to remain the most popular style. “Contemporary should be a close second, substantially passing the traditional style.”
A powder room designed by Janik Lemery. Photography by Justin Van Leeuwen of JVL Photography. Image courtesy of the NKBA.
She says that people want something — a color or object — that makes the bathroom uniquely their own. “Customization is very important to today’s home remodeler,” H-Millard says. “Gone are the days of all-white or all-beige bathrooms with polished chrome finishes.” She says today’s bathroom includes raw gold and patinas, unique and interesting faucets and soaking baths with water coming from the ceiling.
A powder room designed by Janik Lemery. Photography by Justin Van Leeuwen of JVL Photography. Image courtesy of the NKBA.
“And we are seeing a lot of black, especially in smaller bathrooms and powder rooms.” Black is the most stylish color of every year, but H-Millard says it doesn’t have to be used only to bring elegance and chicness to a bathroom. “The initial feel is that the bath is larger than it is since you don’t see, at first, where the walls meet the floor and countertops,” she explains. “Black – both matte and polished – is here to stay.”
Bathtubs and showers
A bathroom designed by Nowell Vincent, CKBD. Photography by Chris Reilmann of Chris Reilmann Photography. Image courtesy of the NKBA.
“Both transitional-style and contemporary-style bathrooms boast open or swinging-door showers and free-standing or soaking tubs,” she says. “Shower tile for both styles includes large-format tile, but you will see more shapes (hexagon, arabesque) in the transitional style and more slab surround and big seamless pieces in the contemporary style.” While soaking tubs are still popular, she says there will be an increase in steam showers.
The TOTO Flotation Tub took first place in the NKBA 30s Choice Awards for innovation in the Wellness/Health category. TOTO’s Flotation Tub simulates zero gravity with a weightless experience. By creating a reclining position, the hips, knees and ankles are flexed, which reduces pressure on the body’s joints. The tub has a slip-resistant surface, adjustable headrest, massaging water jets, LED lighting, and a capacitive keyboard.
Sinks and faucets
A powder room designed by Janik Lemery. Photography by Justin Van Leeuwen of JVL Photography. Image courtesy of the NKBA.
“We are seeing floating vanities, flat-panel doors and a lot more drawers to provide integrated storage,” she says. “The contemporary bathroom is embracing laminate, which is fast-approaching popularity due to its advancement in coatings and its customization and shaping properties.” Recessed panel doors are popular in the transitional style, and H-Millard says painted wood and wood grain are other popular choices. “Remodelers are seeking calming, relaxing, warm features for their bathrooms as they strive for the perfect spa-at-home experience.”
GRAFF’s Camden faucet (left) and Sleek-Stone sinks combine form and function. Image courtesy of GRAFF
In addition to the Blade 3D Printed Faucet by DXV, trending faucets incorporate are sleek and stylish, and include nickel, chrome, stainless, black stainless, and rose gold. One example is Graff’s Camden faucet (above left), which merges traditional and contemporary style. Sleek-Stone sinks are a prime example of bringing spa style to the home. The sinks are made of 75% natural dolomite minerals bonded with resin. There are no faucet holes in the sinks in the 2nd and 3rd photos above, but there are versions of the countertop model that include one or multiple faucet holes.
Flooring
“Heated, large-format tale, plank, and ceramic/porcelain/stone tile are all popular flooring options,” H-Millard says. “Luxury vinyl, ceramic wood, and marble are also trending. The Vitromex Conde Porcelain Marble Collection (above) includes glazed porcelain floor and wall tile that is available in a slip-resistant matte.
Technology solutions
“The smart toilet with an attached bidet feature is on the rise,” H-Millard says. “Younger adults looking to their home as an investment will pay special attention to the ‘green’ features of a smart toilet that is self-cleaning, that flushes according to need and that cleanses and dries without paper.” And, of course, the lighting around the rim at night helps to navigate the bathroom in the dark.
The Kohler Numi Intelligent Toilet has an adjustable heated seat and foot warmer, built-in speakers, hands-free opening and closing of the seat and cover and advanced cleansing functionality that includes a self-cleaning wand, precision air dryer and deodorizing filter.
The Delta In2ition Two-in One Shower is a combination showerhead and hand shower. You can switch between the two functions or use them both at the same time. You can also use the pause function to reduce the water to a trickle when lathering or shaving. By docking the hand shower back into the showerhead, the Delta MagaTite Docking technology will pull it precisely into place.
Each of the three pendant shower heads in the H2Okinetic Pendant Raincan Shower Head sculpts water into a unique pattern. By controlling speed, movement and droplet size, the Raincan provides three times the coverage of a standard showerhead. Users can adjust each of the pendant showerheads as desired.
“The bathroom is becoming more and more important to homeowners as this is the quietest place in the house,” H-Millard says. “And it is the place where one goes to unwind, relax and recharge so no amenity or technology is out of the question.”