Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM MARCH 2024 32 9 INNOVATIVE DESIGNS THAT CAPTURE EMERGING KITCHEN TRENDS These designs by NKBA 2024 Design Competition winners feature the upcoming shifts in kitchen spaces expected over the next few years. A S S O C I AT I O N [ N E W S ] A t KBIS 2024, held in Las Vegas from Feb. 27-29, the winners of NKBA's 2024 Design Competition were unveiled at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Awards, sponsored by Diamond sponsors Material Bank and Miele, Platinum sponsors Cyncly and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Gold sponsor Kichler Lighting, Custom sponsor Perlick, and SDC sponsor F&P. In addition to representing the best and brightest of the K&B industry, the designers honored at the event demonstrated through their creations many of the emerging trends found in NKBA's recently released 2024 Kitchen Trends Reports. Here we'll explore how the winners in the three kitchen categories reflected the Kitchen Trends in their designs: 1. HARD-WORKING ISLANDS With its built-in sink, room for seating and plenty of storage, the island in this kitchen design, "Oak Oasis," by second-place Small Kitchen category winner Angel Yalda, designer at Two Tone Interiors of Bradford, Ontario, is built for function and form, serving as the space's central focal point. Designers in the report said the kitchen island is a focal point for most activity, and over half said their clients prefer an eat-in kitchen area instead of a formal dining room; and a slightly smaller number identified large islands as a top priority for serving and dining. Photography by Arnal Photography. 2. QUIET APPLIANCES "Tranquil Terra Cotta," designed by second-place Large Kitchen category winner Hannah Hacker, CMKBD, owner and lead designer at Adapt Interior Design in Beaverton, Oregon, has various appliance solutions, including a range, wine refrigerator, and French door refrigerator with a glass panel. As homeowners increasingly enjoy the kitchen as part of their daily life, making it a center for socializing, work, food prep, and enjoyment, they prefer appliances that produce less noise. Some designers said their clients are ditching noisy trash compactors in favor of traditional pull-out receptacles, while others reported clients want ultra-quiet dishwashers. Photography by Meagan Larsen Photography. 3. WELL-CURATED LIGHTING The various lighting solutions in this design, "Ultra Modern Kitchen," designed by Best Overall and First Place winners in the Large Bath category Bahar Zaeem, partner, and Shima Radfar, principal designer at RZ Interiors in Toronto, Ontario, reflect the well-curated lighting trend observed by designers in the report. According to report respondents, multiple layers of lighting are being used to support different functions: decorative statement lighting to showcase design elements, ambient lighting to create various moods, and nighttime lighting for aesthetics and safety. Photography by Ryan Fung Photography. 4. ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS "Respect for History," designed by third-place Small Kitchen category winner Karen Swanson, owner/designer at New England Design Works 1 3 2 4

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