Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2023 32 Homeowners looking for more sustainable solutions in their homes are using popular products such as 100% LED lights, electric radiant flooring, energy-efficient appliances and EPA WaterSense faucets. FOSTERING WELLNESS THROUGH DESIGN As we move into 2023, baths have become an oasis retreat for both body and mind. Designers are crafting spa-like environments in palettes of earthy and muted tones, blues and greens to create a sense of unity and calmness, as well as hints of glamor through metallic accents or other rustic elements, all on easy-to-clean surfaces. Not unlike kitchens, homeowners are opening up primary baths with large windows to connect with nature, and flood rooms with beautiful natural light. Large two-person showers, custom seats, multiple shower heads, and steam/thermostatic features are being incorporated to give the appearance of a spa. Some integrated smart tech features include controls for heated flooring, showers, lighting, and even mirrors. THE CREAM OF THE CROP COUNTERTOP Quartz countertops will take the crown in 2023, and for good reason. The material is much harder and more durable than granite or other stones, making it incredibly resistant to damage. Not only that, quartz is also non-porous, meaning it's resistant to stains and easier to clean because of its nonabsorbent composition. Coming in a close second is quartzite. A close sibling of quartz, the only difference in quartzite is that it's a natural stone – sandstone, to be exact – fused with sparkly quartz crystals. Both are available in a wide array of colors and patterns, the demand coinciding with a trend in light countertops, different- colored island tops, and backsplashes of slabs and long subways. Add a traditional or waterfall edge and you've got a countertop to please just about any discriminating taste. A MOSAIC OF MATERIALS Though interior designers are having a field day mixing bold patterns and various textures, practicality still ranks among the important attributes consumers want in materials. Beyond the many aforementioned qualities inherent in quartz that make it the most popular choice of materials used in kitchens, patterned tiles in larger format are being implemented due to the minimal use of grout. If you're in the mood for beauty for beauty's sake, many homeowners are turning to the interwoven graininess of wood for kitchen floors, such as hardwood, engineered wood, and luxury vinyl plank/tile. For bathrooms, elegantly sculptured sinks and other components are crafted from vitreous china, porcelain and ceramic. Popular finishes range from brushed and matte in black, pewter, nickel, and stainless. A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S Designer: Sandra Velasco-Diaz Photo: Eugenio Wilman Designer: Gina Photo: Tim

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