Here are Monarch Lane we do a lot of Remodels and New Construction projects. So to stay current with new innovations and materials, we go to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (known as KBIS). The show is put on every year by NKBA National Kitchen and Bath Association. This year KBIS was back in Vegas and it was also a year to celebrate our Lead Designer, Alyssa Weardon. She was chosen to be one of 2023 NKBA’s -30 under 30 designers!

The 30 under 30 designers are part of the prestigious program put on by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and they select 30 designers that have a mark of excellence and are “designer rock stars”, and you guessed it – they are under 30 years old, which is quite amazing! With over 300 applicants, we are proud of Alyssa for being one of the chosen and glad she is on our team!

Now I want to share with you the New Trends in Kitchen & Bath Design that we were excited about.

Trend #1 – A countertop you can cook through

Did you know you could cook directly on Caesarstone’s Porcelain countertop? High heat resistance porcelain pairs uniquely with the technology of Invisacook – an induction cooking system that sits underneath your countertop.Chef Kev D is shown in picture above showcasing the capabilities & benefits of the new Porcelain collection. Above are two of my favorite colors. There are 22 designs to choose from. This would also be weather resistant for outdoor kitchens. We are excited for this!

Trend #2 Cool Cabinet Upgrades

One of the cabinet lines we carry, Wellborn, showed some great features we loved. Our favorite things were Bathroom mirrors that have side storage. The option of a two-toned hood was a hit. They can be designed with any stain- or even their rough sawn wood at bottom. Hoods can also match a door style or island end panel. And lastly, we really loved their components to create a cool pet area in a Mudroom. We will explore this more with a design and a blog in the near future.

Trend #3 – Work Sinks

Works sinks are long sinks that have purposeful accessories to make your life easier. While work sinks have been around for several years, only a few brands made them and they were expensive. Now that they are becoming popular, we saw a lot more options and price points that offered great accessories. These pictured anbove are from Ruvati. There were lots of options for size, install type, and finishes. And we really loved the bronze infused apron sink.

Trend #4 Luxury Tubs

We saw a lot of new luxury spa tubs. The Mendocino by Native Trails has a jute enforced concrete tub that is 40% lighter than other reinforced concrete. What is great about a stone tub is it holds the temperature for a longer time. They are just usually so heavy. This sustainable option makes this type of tub more accessible.

The flotation tub by Toto was especially impressive. The thing about Toto is they focus more on engineering and wow this one knocks everyone out the water! This tub has all the jets at the bottom of the tub so it is zero gravity & you are not touching the bottom, which is great for your back and muscles. Then the adjustable pillow flows water over your shoulders to put you in a relaxing state.

The Konkretus tub was just a fun color and texture that would add so much style to a bathroom!

Lastly, the Stillness Infinity Tub by Kohler was a dream. It was inspired by a Japanese Forest Spa and holds a luxury tag of $6,198- 15,998, depending on what you get. It features a minimal exterior with a base surrounded by a Hinoki wood grate. In other words, it functions and looks like a tub you’d find at a world-class spa. The Infinity Experience begins with water filling from the bottom of the tub and overflowing onto the Hinoki wood mote, creating a soothing sound. Then, you can set the mood with chromatherapy thanks to the full spectrum lighting that surrounds that the tub. After, fog envelops the surface of the bath. You can even add essential oils to the experience tower, which gently emits soothing aromas. This smart tub can all be set up with an app so you can plan the experience you want.

Trend #5 – Metals in Design

The use of metals for shelving is not a new concept, but we love the ideas of incorporating more metals throughout the space. This bar top above has a gorgeous brass detail that is delicate and functional. The island designed by my friend Richard Anuszkiewicz with Monogram has a stunning mix of materials and a very intentional placement of the brass detail. His entire booth was my favorite (this year and last!)

Trend #6 Lighting in new ways

We love to have levels of lighting in every project so you can create the mood you want and highlight key features. The green cabinets on the left are lit up by Hafele. Glass shelves have always been easy to light up, but wood shelves would be a new light each shelf. However, the new tech around this lighting is the way the wood shelves are able to house the lighting seamlessly. Each shelf contexts to a strip on the side that gives it power. Each light is routed in under each shelf. Just beautiful!

In the Monogram booth, Richard’s use of lighting was so innovative. I love the LED lighting in the beams. The idea is what design features can we highlight? What will extenuate and accent a feature? Lighting really changes how we feel and with dimming capabilities we can always create the mood we are after.

Trend #7- Large format stones

Large format stones for wall treatments & countertops are all the rage. We see lots of options for book matched stones, textured marbles, and some thin enough to back light. It was great to see all the new stones out there.

This one is not a trend but a crazy idea- Ceiling Mounted faucet

Introducing Kohler’s Purist faucet mounted from the ceiling. Sounds crazy right? But in an age where we want everything off the countertops, this gives a minimal appearance and an artistic approach. This suspended kitchen faucet mounts from your ceiling and is out of your way until you want to use it. With its seven-foot braided hose, you have the freedom to move the sprayhead around your kitchen to fill a kettle on your stove or water a potted plant on your floor, eliminating the taxing chore of lifting heavy items in and out of your sink to fill or clean. Or if you were me, I would end up in a spray fight!

What do you think? Would you enjoy that faucet in your home?

Let me know in the comments below what you think of these trends and new products.