HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — The National Kitchen & Bath Association and its partners for February’s Design & Construction Week continue to consult with Epistemix, a third-party modeling system that predicts the progression of disease outbreaks, as plans proceed to stage the 2022 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and concurrent International Builders Show (IBS) as live events in February, show organizers said.

The NKBA and its trade show partners, Emerald and the National Association of Home Builders, announced that, based on the latest data modeling from Epistemix and current DCW Health & Safety protocols, “we feel confident we are creating a safe environment to conduct business” at the annual event, scheduled for Feb. 8-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The 2021 KBIS and IBS were converted to digital events in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The countdown to KBIS 2022 and Design & Construction Week in is on, and we are looking forward to hosting over 60,000 residential design and construction professionals for a fantastic in-person event,” said Brian Pagel, executive v.p., and Jason McGraw, group v.p. for Emerald. “As the event is quickly approaching, the safety and wellbeing of our attendees, partners, exhibitors, site workers and staff remains our top priority.” Pagel and McGraw said that show organizers will continue to monitor health and safety recommendations through additional Epistemix modeling in early January. The KBIS show team will host a webinar in mid-January to outline their findings and detail the health and safety protocols.

All attendees and exhibitors at the three-day event will be required to provide a negative test OR proof of vaccination to access the convention hall. Masks will also be required in the Orange County Convention Center, as well as on official shuttle buses, show organizers said.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Orlando for an incredible show experience,” Pagel and McGraw said.

Current health and safety protocols for Design & Construction Week can be accessed at the NKBA’s web site, www.nkba.org.

The post KBIS Plans Proceeding Amidst Strict Virus Protocols appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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https://www.culturekitchen.net/?p=885

RESTON, VA — Major domestic kitchen cabinet/vanity manufacturers continued to report “healthy” sales through November of 2021, according to the latest in a series of monthly surveys conducted by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association.

The KCMA’s latest “Trend of Business Survey” reflected a year-to-date sales increase among participating cabinet manufacturers of 14.6% through November, compared to the same 11-month period in 2020. Custom cabinet sales through the first 11 months of 2021 were reported up 20.1% over the same period the previous year, while semi-custom sales rose 10.8% and sales of stock cabinets gained 16.2%, the Reston, VA-based KCMA said.

Survey participants include stock, semi-custom and custom companies whose combined sales represent approximately 75% of the U.S. kitchen cabinet and bath vanity market, according to the KCMA.

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Rowayton, CT ­— Karen Berkemeyer and Leslie Dunn often work together to create their clients’ dream kitchens and baths, with the former focusing on kitchen/bath design skills and the latter incorporating interior design touches for their respective companies of Karen Berkemeyer Home in Westport, CT, and Dunn Designs in Norwalk, CT. This kitchen, along with the master bath and a guest bath, was no exception…however, this time the resultant collaboration was showcased in Dunn’s personal residence.

“We work really well together,” says Berkemeyer, noting a mutual respect for each other’s talents, which makes for great collaborations. “As a kitchen and bath designer, I focus on making sure these spaces technically and functionally work correctly. Partnering with another professional, such as an interior designer, gives clients the best of two worlds since multiple people are working on the same project. I love working with Leslie because she is so creative and has great taste. She is especially talented and creative with paint.”

Contrasting color

Paint, at opposite ends of the color spectrum, is a focus of Dunn’s kitchen, where the bright white island is contrasted with dark black perimeter cabinets.

“The use of color – combined with very simple cabinet door styles, which are a great choice for today’s kitchens – makes this design stand out,” says Berkemeyer.

Black perimeter cabinets served as the starting point for color. “She really wanted to do black cabinets,” Berkemeyer indicates.

As a contrast, the island was designed to look like a table that Dunn found, notes the designer. “Island and perimeter cabinets don’t necessarily have to match in cabinet style or color,” she says. “In fact, when done well, like in this kitchen, having them not match shows a lot of creativity and makes for an interesting design.”

Keeping cabinet styles simple is the key to making a ‘mismatch’ work, says the designer in reference to the flat-panel, flush-inset Wood-Mode perimeter cabinets and full-overlay, shallow-cut, Shaker-style Signature Custom Cabinetry cabinets on the island. Both are sheathed with custom colors selected by Dunn.

“You would never do this perimeter with oak raised-panel doors on the island,” she says. “This perimeter features a very simple door style, as does the island. They play off of each other well. This entire kitchen has created so much interest from people. They see things they would have never thought of doing…and they like the result.”

The designers also kept the cabinet hardware unpretentious. Pulls on the perimeter cabinets bring to mind cleats used to anchor boats to a dock, giving the space a bit of a nautical vibe that pays homage to the water just beyond the kitchen windows. For the island, they incorporated drawer pulls that resemble those found on a filing cabinet. Berkemeyer also designed the island with seating for four, positioning stools at a right angle to facilitate conversation between guests. The designer also added custom brushed steel accents at each leg base.

“They add another texture to the space and make the island more interesting,” she says.

To continue the contrast between light and dark, Berkemeyer topped the island with white marble, which she built up with a 2″ mitered edge. The perimeter features median-black, charcoal-colored quartz with a leathered finish for added texture.

White 3″x6″ subway tile covers the walls, extending from the countertop to the windows and beyond. Its undulated surface offers a rippled appearance while its stark light color juxtaposes against the blackness of the shallow-depth soffit on the ceiling.

“I thought the kitchen stopped too abruptly in the corner,” notes Berkemeyer in reference to the soffit. “I suggested that we add the soffit, extending it to the refrigerator on one wall and across the length of the windows on the other. It really helps pull the whole kitchen together.”

Additional dark-hued accents include the deep blue paint that adorns the window trim. “She really likes to include the unexpected!” she says.

Overcoming storage challenges

To make better use of the kitchen’s footprint and gain a few extra feet of space, the designers removed walls between the living room and kitchen, eliminating a hallway in the process. To provide visual differentiation between the two spaces without adding a physical barrier, they added reclaimed antique beams in the ceiling, extending them into the living room.

“Previously, her home had an enclosed little kitchen with separate living room,” says Berkemeyer. “Now, the kitchen is more open and looks so much larger. Taking down the wall also made it possible to include the island.”

Even with the additional space gained by removing the hall, storage was a challenge for the relatively petite kitchen. “When spaces are smaller, like in this kitchen, the biggest design challenge is usually storage,” she says. “It’s important to make the most of whatever space you have, and to make everything accessible, especially focusing on corners. Taking cabinets up to the ceiling maximizes the space. It’s important, too, to pay attention to clearances, ensuring that walkways are technically correct and easy to maneuver.”

To overcome storage concerns in Dunn’s kitchen, Berkemeyer included specialized corner organization accessories, recycling bins, pull-out drawers and several large drawers to make contents easy to access.

Glass panels in the wall cabinets provide a brief glimpse of their contents and keep the space visually ‘light.’ “Like the rest of the kitchen, the glass is kept clean, without any mullions, to maintain the desired look for the space,” she concludes.

The post Collaboration Transforms Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Well­ness fea­tures, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and an elevated awareness of indoor envi­ron­ments’ impact on phys­i­cal and men­tal health, are no longer a lux­u­ry, but rather a necessity in today’s homes, a leading wellness expert contends.

According to Dr. Jie Zhao, exec­. v.p. of Delos, a New York-based well­ness real estate and tech­nol­o­gy com­pa­ny, COVID-19 has literally reshaped the way homes – including kitchens and baths ­– will be designed, built, equipped and remodeled in years to come.

“Peo­ple are much more cog­nizant of the impor­tant role that homes play in our lives, and how these envi­ron­ments can have a pos­i­tive or neg­a­tive impact on the well­ness of their inhab­i­tants,” Jie said.

At the recent “Insights Sum­mit,” an annual event sponsored by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), Jie outlined four key wellness trends that he believes will have the greatest impact on home improve­ment in the post-pan­dem­ic world. Among them:

• Indoor Air Quality: Because virus­es spread through the air much eas­i­er than by sur­face con­tact, the pan­dem­ic shed light on the impor­tance of indoor air qual­i­ty, or IAQ, as a com­po­nent of a healthy home, Jie said.

“Air fil­tra­tion is vital to the reduc­tion of par­ti­cle trans­mis­sion,” he observed. “Not only can air-clean­ing tech­nolo­gies improve peace of mind when it comes to invis­i­ble health threats like COVID-19, they also tack­le vis­i­ble parti­cles in the air such as smoke and oth­er harm­ful particles.”

Jie said that ven­ti­la­tion and/​or ion­iza­tion tech­nol­o­gy will be at the fore­front of the fight against con­t­a­m­i­nat­ed air in home spaces. ​“For this rea­son, IAQ may be the biggest well­ness trend to have emerged from the pan­dem­ic,” he noted.

• Mental Wellness: Men­tal well­ness issues per­sist­ed long before the emer­gence of the coro­n­avirus, but the amount of atten­tion devot­ed to the top­ic increased sig­nif­i­cant­ly after­ward, Jie said, noting that men­tal health came to the fore­front of con­ver­sa­tion due to iso­la­tion dur­ing stay-at-home orders.

Jie observed that one result of this for the home-improvement industry is the gen­er­al migra­tion away from con­gest­ed cities in favor of larg­er res­i­dences, more nature and less com­mut­ing time. Jie also point­ed to the effect of men­tal well­ness on increased demand in cer­tain prod­uct cat­e­gories, including home enter­tain­ment, artists’ sup­plies, sports equip­ment and pets.

• Home Offices: Anoth­er major change emerg­ing from the pan­dem­ic is the increased impor­tance of the home office.

“Many employ­ees have made invest­ments in their home offices and have got­ten used to work­ing from home,” Jie said, pointing to surveys which found that 80% of work­ers want to be able to work from home three days per week, and 92% want at least one remote work­day per week.

“There has been a rise in office fur­ni­ture and acces­sories that sup­port health and well­ness, such as the stand­ing desk or ergonom­ic key­board,” Jie said, adding that 20-25% of com­pa­nies are cur­rent­ly reim­burs­ing their employ­ees for well­ness-relat­ed home office sup­plies and fur­ni­ture, “hint­ing at the prospect that work-from-home may be around well into the com­ing years.”

• Fitness: While the spread of COVID-19 led to the tem­po­rary clo­sure of most gyms and ath­let­ic insti­tu­tions, it gave rise to new home fit­ness technolo­gies, as peo­ple sought to stay fit with­in the con­fines of their own homes, Jie pointed out.

“Com­pa­nies like Pelo­ton and MIRROR are chang­ing the way we think about fit­ness (and) com­bin­ing the phys­i­cal and vir­tu­al,” he said. “Con­sumers not only pur­chase a piece of gym equip­ment for their home, but they buy into an entire online social and con­tent expe­ri­ence.”

“I expect to see more inte­gra­tion with online fit­ness plat­forms and home décor,” he said. “Peo­ple want con­vert­ible spaces, so the eas­i­er their equipment blends with their home and lifestyle, the bet­ter.”

The post Wellness Features Termed a ‘Necessity’ for Today’s Homes appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Kitchen Transformation by Kitchen Solvers of Columbus

Project Location: Dublin, Ohio 

Remodel Style: Traditional 

Remodel Type: Cabinet Refacing 

Type of door style: Glen Haven 

Door Material: Cherry – Natural Stain 

Door Color: Java (V3) 

Countertop type: Cambria – Quartz 

Countertop color: Ellesmere 

Backsplash: Quayside 

Flooring: Pre-engineered hardwood 

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Columbus’ Blog.  

Find a location near you.  

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• Project Location: Pembroke Pines, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: 1300 series
• Remodel style: Contemporary
• Color: Matte White
• Countertop: Carrara Quartz
• Backsplash: Tile backsplash

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Fort Lauderdale’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Plantation, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: 1300 series
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Matte Grey
• Countertop: Quartz
• Countertop color: Silestone Pulsar Polished
• Backsplash: Natural Stone Tile

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Fort Lauderdale’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Eau Claire, WI
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Modern
• Color: Fog on base, Pewter on uppers
• Door Material: Maple
• Countertop: High Definition Laminate
• Countertop Color: Spring Carnival
• Backsplash: 3×6 white subway tile

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Eau Claire’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Eau Claire, WI
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Modern
• Color: Classic White
• Door Material: Maple
• Countertop: High Definition Laminate
• Countertop Color: Spring Carnival
• Backsplash: 3×6 gray subway tile

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Eau Claire’s Gallery page.

• Project Location:  Columbus, OH
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Seamless Shaker
• Remodel style: Traditional
• Color: Isle of Pines
• Door Material: Maple
• Countertop: Quartz
• Countertop color: Calcatta Alta MSI
• Backsplash: White Bevel 3 x 6 with Silver Mapie 27 Grout

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Columbus’ Gallery page.

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HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Ongoing supply-chain disruptions coupled with labor shortages, higher material costs and emerging uncertainties wrought by COVID-19 are cooling the pace of kitchen and bath market growth in the wake of an exceptionally strong year in 2021.

According to the latest Market Forecast Report issued in recent weeks by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the 2021 kitchen and bath industry posted healthy, double-digit gains over 2020, although growth projections were “pared back a bit” compared to the NKBA’s previous (July 2021) forecast, “as lingering issues caused by the pandemic seem to be catching up to consumer sentiment.”

The NKBA projected total 2021 revenues of $167 billion, a 19% increase over the $141 billion that was posted in 2020, but lower than earlier forecasts, which predicted that full-year revenue totals would reach $171 billion.

“2021 has been like none other for our industry, as strong growth across virtually every sector led to record revenues,” said Bill Darcy, CEO of the Hackettstown, NJ-based NKBA. However, some homeowners, faced with price increases related to supply chain disruptions, “are deferring projects until they’ve enough saved to get exactly what they want, or in the hope that costs will come down,” Darcy added.

The NKBA reported a nearly 10% year-over-year growth in the kitchen and bath remodeling sector in 2021, and a 26% growth in the new construction sector. Premium projects were up by more than 22%, while low-end projects grew about 11%, “suggesting a cooling of the DIY trend,” the NKBA said.

“These findings are very encouraging and indicate that…growth should be sustained into 2022,” Darcy said.

In related news, the latest NKBA/John Burns Real Estate Consulting “Kitchen & Bath Market Index,” issued in December, remained in “solidly expanding territory,” but cooled from the record number posted in the previous quarter. Expected future activity “also tailed off a bit,” having peaked in the first quarter of 2021, reported the NKBA and John Burns.

“In relative terms, the outlook remains quite positive,” with association members projecting about a 9% sales gain in 2022 – “impressive if it holds true, given 2021’s strong growth,” said the NKBA, adding that supply chain disruptions, cost of materials and availability of skilled labor are hampering the industry’s ability to take full advantage of strong demand…as NKBA members scramble to meet client needs, with most resorting to brands they’ve never previously used.”

Other findings of the NKBA/John Burns Report were as follows:

n The challenging business environment has forced the industry to become “supplier/vendor agnostic” – prioritizing product availability above other factors. The industry has also moved toward sourcing more domestic-based products in an attempt to circumvent global supply chain issues. Manufacturers are prioritizing high-value products to protect profit margins while stockpiling excess materials to help ease lead times and overall constraints.

n The kitchen and bath industry continues to feel the pains of ongoing supply chain challenges. Port congestion is further compounding strained supply chains that are still recovering from the effects of Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Ida, while labor shortages are causing delays in the trucking industry. Meanwhile, lead times for domestic and foreign raw materials are well over 6+ weeks and has many within the sector struggling to keep up with demand in today’s economy. As a result, product backlogs extend well into 2022 as these difficulties prevent those in the industry from staffing full production schedules.

n Even in the face of ongoing challenges, the industry remains cautiously optimistic about the health of the sector. Despite projects being pushed into 2022, the industry is continuing to see demand for building and construction projects as 84% of firms report low postponement rates and 90% report low cancellation rates relative to their overall project volume.

 

The post Pace of Market Growth Seen Cooling After Strong 2021 Gains appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.culturekitchen.net/?p=834

• Project Location: Gages Lake, IL
• Remodel type: Cabinet Refacing
• Type of door style: Shaker Bevel
• Remodel style: Traditional
• Color: Antique White with a Walnut Glaze

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Grayslake’s Gallery page.

The post Spotlight Kitchens of May – Cabinet Refacing appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Kitchen Transformation by Kitchen Solvers of Emerald Coast

Project Location: Shalimar, FL

Remodel type: Cabinet Refacing

Remodel style: Modern

Door Style: Shaker door in Supermatte

Countertop: Quartzite

Countertop Color: Berwyn

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Emerald Coast’s Blog.

Find a location near you. 

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for Cabinet Refacing for May appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Kitchen Inspiration by Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast

Project Location: St. Petersburg, FL

Remodel Style: Transitional

Remodel Type: New Cabinets

Type of door style: Portland

Color: Snow Paint for perimeter cabinets and Koala Stain for Island

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Gulf Coast’s Blog.

Find a location near you. 

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for New Cabinets for May appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.