Now Trending: Kitchens & Baths

I just got back to Sweet Home Alabama after a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas for the annual Design + Construction Week. This huge industry event is put on by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) every year.

It’s always fun to see people I see there every year and meet new people in the trade. And what better way to see the up-and-coming trends to share with you!

The funny thing about trends is that they don’t just pop up and then disappear all of a sudden. The change is gradual. According to the NKBA’s annual Design Trend Report, kitchen and bath trends have slowly been evolving towards clean lines and personalized luxury.

Personalized luxury are those features added to a kitchen or bathroom for lifestyle enjoyment not with future resale in mind. Everything is getting more personal and less cookie-cutter. And personally I couldn’t be more on board.

I always try to make whatever I do personalized. Whether it’s making a tray from an old picture frame or DIY-ing some Roman shades, I love making something different than what the neighbor down the street can pick up in a store. I like to call it putting a little “Chelsea” in it.

Another thing the report found, and was backed by the vendors’ booths at the show, was the desire to maximize storage with the help of tilt-outs, tilt-ins, and pull-outs. I must say I have a few in my kitchen and they’re great!

I use this pull out spice rack multiple times a day and find it really easy to find spices. If you’ve got room for one in your next kitchen remodel, do it!

Other hidden-behind-the-cabinet treasures I have are nothing new to the market, but they can be added to existing cabinets to revolutionize the way you move about your kitchen. This baking sheet divider is also something I use on the regular!

I like to minimize what I keep on my countertops, although sometimes it’s easier said than done! So my “appliance pantry” comes in handy! It’s to the right of the fridge and helps keep those smaller kitchen appliances in line and out of sight.

And finally, I’ve got to mention the classic Lazy Susan…It’s classic because it just works for giving you access to an otherwise dead corner.

Believe it or not, there are kitchens that don’t incorporate these and other nifty features! They’re readily available at retail home centers to add to existing cabinets, so it couldn’t be easier! Consider this a PSA to go out and make your life easier with kitchen pull-outs, roll-outs, tilt-outs, and tilt-ins!

Smart storage is on the rise, so beat the crowds and be a trendsetter!

Thanks for Checking In! ~ Chelsea