Realtors should be in the know about the latest trends in kitchen and bath design. After all, aren't kitchens and baths the most closely scrutinized rooms by buyers?

"Style, technology, art, finishes and a multitude of product choices are giving today’s consumer and their designers the ability to create unique kitchen and bath designs at affordable prices," says Michael Davis, president of Capital Distributing, Inc.. "Out with old boring kitchens and baths, and let fun and creativity be the new standard in our homes!"

Davis and Capital's design muse Helene Terry, senior design consultant and manager of cabinets and design, just returned from the 2004 NKBA Kitchen and Bath Show in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Not only did they learn a lot, but they already know what customers are responding to. Capital has just built a brand new kitchen showroom in Dallas using new materials, appliances and finishes as designed by Terry.

"Four contrasting themes at the Kitchen and Bath Show were obvious this year," says Terry, senior design consultant and manager of cabinets and design for Capital, "European style, Asian technology, American product improvements, and the enormous number of choices available to the consumer and their designer today."

European textures, materials, engineering and designs displayed at the Paris and German shows the last few years have now come to the U.S., says Terry. From artisan styling to Italian designs to German-quality engineered products to the old world luxury of French and English cooking appliances, the European influence is pervasive.

"The Asian technology approach to kitchen and bath products was apparent with TV/Internet screens in refrigerator doors and prototypes of microwave oven drawer units," says Davis. "So far the majority of Asian appliances have been limited to laundry, refrigerators and microwave ovens. Numerous Asian manufacturers introduced knock-off designs of American and European kitchen and bath products.

Meanwhile, North American manufacturers have broadened their product lines, changed styling and improved technology due to increased competition from local and overseas manufacturers. Every manufacturer, notes Terry, has increased the number of models and improved the styles of their products due to the pressure of competition.

Appliances as art

Unique product choices are driving today’s kitchen and bath designs. Today’s kitchen and bath components can truly be described as “art” applied in the home. Designs and finishes that were once available only to the wealthy are now available to the average consumer due to the large number of manufacturers bringing these unique products to the marketplace.

Design Trends:

• New appliance finishes and colors were everywhere. European manufacturers have utilized aluminum and titanium the past few years in their kitchen appliances, however U.S. consumers are still embracing stainless steel as the material of choice. What was apparent is that the quality of the stainless steel material and how it’s finished is important. Nothing substitutes for the look and feel of quality stainless steel properly finished. Many manufacturers are experimenting with new coatings over stainless to minimize fingerprints and painted coatings to mimic stainless. New colors have been introduced in laundry, ovens, refrigerators, ranges and other appliances that provide good alternatives to the stainless look.
• Integrated appliances are hot. With the introduction of so many great new cabinet finishes and designs, it is apparent that those homeowners who want to conceal their appliances with unique cabinet panels have more and more choices in the brands and quality of products available today.
• Hoods and hood enclosures as a kitchen design theme are growing in popularity. The number of styles of chimney configured hoods have grown thanks to the European influence in our kitchens. World-renowned designers like Fu-Tung Cheng are creating art forms in kitchen ventilation with their artistic talents. Also integrated kitchen design has spawned ventilation hood enclosures from faux limestone to hand carved wood.
• Super-sized wall ovens lineups have expanded. Oven widths having grown from 24” to 27” to 30” and are now offered at 36” wide by Dacor, Wolf and Viking to match Gaggenau’s offering.
• Various manufacturers have developed the trend to in-counter surface cooking hubs so popular in Europe. Modular 15” wide cook top appliances that fry, steam, griddle, wok, grille or just cook with gas or electric power have grown in popularity. The ability to customize your cooktop arrangement now is unlimited due to products by Gaggenau, Wolf, Miele and others.
• Exotic woods were showcased at the 2004 show. From English sycamore to bamboo to bubinga to walnut burl the choices of unique and exotic woods provide many unique choices. A selection of 21st century cabinet designs were showcased by many manufacturers. Sleek linear designs featuring numerous combinations of wood, veneers, stainless steel and aluminum framed glass cabinet doors stood out at the show.
• Surfaces are all about multiple choices in countertops, backsplashes, cabinets and appliance colors and finishes that make a boring kitchen obsolete. Multiple surface materials in larger kitchens add interest to the design. Many new surface materials require additional maintenance, however many consumers are willing to forgo the practicality in order to achieve the look. Veneers are hot, hot, hot! Again the number of choices of woods is extraordinary and growing.
• Metal surfaces are growing in popularity. From backsplashes to counters to cabinets to hardware to appliances to plumbing fixtures, metals are increasingly being used in kitchens and baths. Stainless steel is still the most widely used metal, however we saw pewter, titanium, copper, aluminum, cast bronze and faux metallic finishes also displayed. Polished brass continues to be passé. Finishes that look cheap are obsolete due to the emergence of quality finishes that are now affordable.
• Glass that is “art” is being widely applied in kitchens and baths from plumbing fixtures to backsplashes to cabinet hardware.

"The finishes, features and quality of appliances, cabinets and surfaces are improving every year," notes Terry, "and this is driving interest in the kitchen and bath as the showplaces of the home."