KBIS is the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. The 2012 edition was a showcase for bath products that were both interesting and well designed. Here are the top trends:
- Texture is making inroads in the bath via shagreen tile (designed by Laura Kirar for Ann Sacks) and matte-black hardware and accessories (from Jason Wu for Brizo)
- Polished nickel, a richer and darker alternative to chrome, debuted to an excellent response (Moen)
- Champagne Bronze and Venetain Bronze finishes will erode Chrome and Brushed Stainless Steel by 2014 (Delta)
- Compact vanities, which are less deep but longer (Robern) fit with a growing shift to urban living
- Vanity faucets, scaled down by 10-15% (Danze) are also right for urban environments, as well as any small space
- Music in the bath is on-trend; Kohler’s VibrAcoustic Technology, found in Underscore tubs, lets you both hear the music and feel its vibration while bathing
- Mini-pendant fixtures are replacing sconces along side bathroom mirrors (Kichler)
- Ionized water is eliminating the need for chemicals to keep the toilet bowl fresh and clean (Toto)
- Linear tiles and layouts are replacing mosaic looks (Daltile)
- Channel faucets are on-trend (Delta)
Click thumbnails for a larger view:
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- Daltile like linear formats for walls and floors
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- Kichler shows how mini pendants can replace sconces
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- VibrAcoustic technology from Kohler enhances the bathing experience
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- Robern’s compact vanity has lots of storage
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- Venetian bronze is growing for Delta
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- Delta’s champagne bronze finish
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- New polished nickel from Delta
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- Jason Wu’s sophisticated matte-black finish for Brizo
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- Shagreen-textured tile from Laura Kira for Ann Sacks
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- Delta’s Cassidy channel faucet
Shape on the Table
Round and square plates continue to be the shapes of choice, but look for manufacturers to have fun on the table:
- Lenox used the shape of its Regency Silhouette on the face of the dinner plate and then made the salad plate in that shape – creating a positive/negative effect.
- The same company played with shape by offering a structural pattern. Kate Spade’s Castle Peak, as mentioned earlier, takes the designer’s classic bow motif and turns it into facets on the plate’s rim, as well as on the mug and other accessory items.
- Other emerging artistic looks hint at where the bold graphic looks are headed: cross-hatch (Vera Wang’s Simplicity) and new on the scene Thomas Fuchs’ Roly Poly glasses, and a pencil sketch pattern spotted on Mikasa’s Delancey dinnerware.
For more on KBIS for 2012, read this Trend Flash™ KBIS 4/26/12