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New Products that Wowed at KBIS

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The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is the largest and considered one of the most important annual events for the kitchen and bath industry in North America. At KBIS, manufacturers introduce new products, and kitchen and bath showrooms rely upon the show to spot trends and find new innovations for homeowners in Indianapolis.  

The 2021 KBIS was held virtually. Nonetheless, more than a few manufacturers stepped up and introduced new products that will help homeowners, remodelers and builders in Indianapolis create new kitchens that will be the envy of their neighborhoods.  Here are a few of the products that wowed at 2021 KBIS.

Engineered Countertops & Backsplashes

Engineered countertops and backsplashes trended toward lighter colors responding to consumer demand for uplifting tones that provide a sense of optimism and cleanliness. New quartz and engineered countertops offer homeowners a range of warm, whites, and marble looks.

Concrete-looking engineered countertops were another KBIS trend that responds to the industrial motif that is extremely popular.  

Touchless Faucets

Touchless faucets will turn more than a few heads of customers in Indianapolis. And not a moment too soon as many homeowners recognize that handling raw meat, chicken, and fish in a kitchen can easily transmit bacteria and germs from surface to surface.  Several of the new touchless faucets integrate with personal digital assistants and can be activated through apps with voice commands. 

Two-Tone Finishes + Two Texture Faucets

Two tone finishes and two texture faucets also trended at the 2021 KBIS. A number of new introductions featured a balance of rough and smooth textures, matte and polished finishes and warm and cool tones integrated into the same products. We saw faucets with matte black finishes and brass lever handles.  

More Storage

Manufacturers are upping the ante on storage and organization systems.  Rarely could you open a drawer or cabinet door and not find inserts, rollouts, pullouts, dedicated dividers, and in-cabinet lighting that enables homeowners in Indianapolis to effectively organize all of their kitchen items effectively.  

If you want to know how the new product introductions featured at KBIS can help you create the kitchen of your dreams, please call us or make an appointment to visit our showroom in person or virtually.

What’s Most Important in a New Kitchen?

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The Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) recently published a survey of kitchen trends the mirror the purchasing patterns we see among homeowners in Indianapolis who are creating their dream kitchens.

Not surprisingly, nearly 25% of homeowners are spending more time in their kitchens than they did two years ago. With many more homeowners in Indianapolis working and/or schooling from home, the kitchen has become a multifunctional room that serves numerous purposes beyond cooking, eating, and cleaning up. RICKI found that nearly 25% of homeowners spend an average of three hours a day in their kitchens.  The favorite activity is to socialize with family and friends. Other top non-cooking or eating activities include feeding pets, listening to music, gathering with family, reading, watching TV/videos, and paying bills.

The design features that are most important to homeowners in their kitchen according to the RICKI survey include:

  • Storage space – 49%
  • Walk-in pantry – 41%
  • Central island – 38%
  • Table space for eating – 31%
  • Better lighting – 30%
  • Built-in water filtration – 21%
  • Better ventilation – 20%
  • Germ-resistant surfaces – 17%
  • Connection to outdoor area – 15%
  • More than one sink – 10%

The desire for storage as a top feature of a new kitchen also comes as no surprise. Another finding that also corresponds to the experiences of homeowners in Indianapolis is the regret factor. RICKI found that 51% of homeowners who remodeled their kitchens regret not having spent more. Failing to invest more in storage, higher quality cabinetry, statement-making countertops, higher-end plumbing fixtures, and lighting design and fixtures are often the primary reasons for buyer’s remorse.

Approximately 33% of homeowners store kitchen items that they use frequently in other rooms in their homes. If you are in that number, there is no better time than the present to consider creating a kitchen of your dreams. Give us a call to determine what’s possible for you and your family or visit our showroom either virtually or in-person.

Kitchen Cabinet Trends: What’s Hot Right Now

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Kitchen and bath remodeling activity in Indianapolis is top of mind because many of our clients are spending almost all of their time in their homes.  Many homeowners in Indianapolis are making decisions to improve the quality of their kitchens, baths, and other rooms in their homes to respond to the paradigm shift in the way they want and need their homes to function and perform.

The big trends we see include upgrading of kitchen cabinetry that occurs with almost every kitchen remodel. Our experience is indicative of national trends found by Houzz.com which reflect that 94% of kitchen remodels include cabinet upgrades. The need and desire for improved and enhanced storage are driving kitchen cabinet upgrades simply because homeowners in Indianapolis are spending more time in their kitchens preparing meals, eating, cleaning up, working, schooling, and performing numerous other tasks. They simply need their kitchens to function and perform much better without necessarily having to increase the size of the kitchen.

Storage Upgrades

Not surprisingly, we are seeing greater demand for storage solutions and pantries that include walk-in, free-standing, pull-out, built-in, and wall pantries among others. Many homeowners in Indianapolis are pleasantly shocked when we show them how they can create pantry space in their new kitchens without having to change the size or footprint.

Enclosed Area

Another trend is a movement toward enclosed kitchens versus open floor plans that flow into other rooms in the home. Houzz’s national trend survey found that open-concept floor plans fell 10% from 2018 to 2020. With children schooling from home and parents working from home, having enclosed spaces that provide privacy and soundproofing are features that many homeowners in Indianapolis find extremely attractive.

Popular Choices

White shaker cabinets continue to be the most popular choices for homeowners in Indianapolis. Neutral tone cabinets, countertops, and wall coverings are most popular in our region. Gray, white and beige wall coverings are the most popular colors. However, there are many homeowners who favor a splash of color in their new kitchens. Blue and green tones are particularly popular for walls, countertops, backsplashes, and even appliances. Black stainless appliances continue to gain in popularity as they off provide a wonderful contrast to white cabinets. Many of our clients also are selecting different cabinet colors for their islands that complement their cabinets, countertops, backsplashes. Blue and gray are among the more popular contrasting colors.

What trends will work best for your new dream kitchen or bath?  Give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our showrooms either in-person or virtually. We look forward to working with you!

A Trip to the Islands

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Almost two out of every three kitchens renovated in the U.S. include an island, and that percentage holds true in Indianapolis. And for good reasons. Islands are multifunctional. Islands provide extra storage areas, serve as classrooms for children who are schooling remotely and provide additional seating for dining and entertaining. Islands improve the kitchens’ functionality by often including prep sinks, cooking spaces, refrigerated drawers, indoor grills, microwave or steam ovens, dishwashers, and cooktops. Islands increase countertop space that can be used for preparing meals and many other purposes. Plus, islands often serve as a focal point for a kitchen enabling homeowners in Indianapolis to make distinct and personal design statements.

Storage

Storage is the number one consideration for homeowners in Indianapolis opting for an island in their new kitchens. Most homeowners include cabinets and/or drawers for storage; however, we also have seen an increase in open shelving as a storage option for islands.

Shapes

The most common island shape in Indianapolis is square or rectangular, usually between six or seven feet long. Depending on the kitchen’s size and shape, islands can be L-shaped or U-shaped. For smaller kitchens, we often recommend a peninsula. Peninsulas are three-sided. The fourth side is attached to a wall.

Colors

Approximately 40% of homeowners in Indianapolis choose a color scheme to complement main cabinets. According to a recent Houzz.com survey, the most popular colors are blue, gray, and white. Another technique to create a stunning visual is the choice of countertop materials and colors. Houzz found that the most popular colors for island countertops are white, medium wood tone, gray, or light or dark wood. Some homeowners in Indianapolis select different materials for their island countertop than tops placed on cabinets. Popular choices include butcher block, granite, quartz, and marble.

Lighting

Lighting can make or break the look, feel, and functionality of a countertop. Pendants, recessed lights, chandeliers, and natural light can provide general illumination, task lighting for meal preparation and cooking, or highlight a particular focal point on the island.

What island size, shape, color, and functionality is perfect for your new kitchen? Give us a call or visit one of our showrooms either in person or virtually, and let us show you how your kitchen and island dreams can become a reality.

Keys to a Healthier and Environmentally Efficient Kitchen

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Health and wellness are top of mind among homeowners in Indianapolis, and many of our clients have expressed interest in creating healthier spaces in their homes. Key components of kitchens, baths that contribute to a healthier and more environmentally efficient home include:

  • Material quality
  • Airflow
  • Effective lighting
  • Thermal comfort
  • Comfortable movement throughout the space
  • Acoustical comfort

Material Quality

Cabinets, paints, hardware, countertops, floor and wall coverings and other materials you select for your new kitchen can contribute to a healthier space and lifestyle. We specify paints, glues, cabinets, and other materials with low to no volatile organic compounds for clients who want a more environmentally friendly and sustainable space. VOCs are chemicals found in many products used to build and maintain homes. Once the chemicals are in the home, they are released into the indoor air we breathe. Natural wood cabinets, stone countertops and glass backsplashes are all environmentally favorable.

Airflow

A healthy kitchen needs adequate airflow and ventilation. The ability to provide fresh air and create cross-breezes from open windows or doors contributes to a healthier kitchen as does a properly sized vent hood or fan that meets your range and cooking style needs. Clients that want to be on the cutting edge may be intrigued by an interior garden that grows vertically, also known as a living wall. Another healthy kitchen option is to create indoor herb gardens or strategically locate herb planters. Living walls and interior plants help reduce stress, improve air quality, enhance creativity and absorb sound, among other benefits.

Healthy kitchen design also accounts for the way you and your family cook and eat. A healthier kitchen should contribute to a healthier lifestyle that includes the use and consumption of fresh ingredients from an outdoor garden, living wall, indoor plants and herbs. Refrigerated drawers near the stove can help to keep foodstuffs fresher for longer periods. Open shelving, glass containers, glass-front refrigerators and glass-front cabinets showcase foodstuffs and can encourage you and your family to consume more wholesome foods than processed packaged goods.

Effective Lighting

Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Natural light from windows, doors, skylights and other sources contributes to health and well-being. The use of lighting controls, dimmers, switches and motion sensors can help boost your productivity and energy and enhance your sleep quality.

Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort is another crucial component of designing a healthy and environmentally friendly space. The use of smart thermostats, heated countertops and floors and a tight building envelope around a new kitchen keep the area toasty in winter and cool in the summer in an environmentally responsible way.

Comfortable Movement Throughout the Space

A new kitchen should allow all users to effectively and safely navigate the space. The three main areas of a kitchen referred to as the golden triangle comprises storage areas, including the refrigerator; the cleanup area, including the sink; and the cooking area, including the stove.  The sink should ideally be located between the refrigerator and the stove to ensure a comfortable and unencumbered traffic flow and efficient use of the space. Each leg of the triangle should be between four and nine feet, and the total distance of the triangle should be between 13 and 26 feet to promote safe and easy navigation throughout the space.

Comfort also is derived from clean lines and a sense of calm that results from uncluttered countertops and islands.

Acoustical Comfort

Acoustics are the final element of a well-designed healthy kitchen. Noisy dishwashers, appliance motors, clangy sink bottoms, and surfaces that enhance sound disturb what otherwise is a peaceful kitchen. Eliminating unnecessary noises is part of a healthy design that homeowners in Indianapolis welcome and deserve.

If you want to learn more about additional design elements and strategies to promote a healthier and more environmentally efficient space in your home, give us a call or make an appointment to visit one of our beautiful showrooms.

Benefits of a Galley Kitchen

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Apartments and smaller homes often have galley kitchens. These narrow spaces are called galley kitchens after the galleys on boats. A small and narrow footprint can in reality be a highly functional kitchen space if the appliances are laid out in a proper work triangle.

The benefit of a galley kitchen is that there are very few steps between the stove, fridge and sinks, the work triangle of any kitchen. It may not be possible to open the fridge and the oven at the same time, as in this kitchen, but when does that ever really happen.

Galley kitchens can work if you have one chef in the family.  Getting two or more people in a galley kitchen can be tricky. Having enough counter space can also be tricky. Having a microwave built into a cabinet or above the stove is a good way to save valuable counter space in a galley or any small kitchen.

When placing flooring in a galley kitchen, don’t fight against the natural narrowness of the space. Wood floors should be installed with the planks running the same direction as the counters.  Emphasize the length of the kitchen to make it feel larger.

In smaller kitchens, the total amount of materials will be less than in a larger kitchen. This means you can splurge on the granite countertops, the more expensive cabinets and the better quality floors. The bulk of your budget will still be on the appliances. To save space, use a counter depth refrigerator. Every inch counts in a galley kitchen.

If you need help choosing the right products for your galley kitchen, ask us for help!