“It’s all about the sleek modern line”, says Maria Stapperfenne, 2014 president-elect of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Families are looking to downsize and simplify their lives, and new contemporary designs fit perfectly. Mixing glossy colors and woods are on the rise as well as mixing of materials and styles. For instance, different base and wall cabinets in a kitchen and bath can be mixed.

Mixing wood with other materials in a modern kitchen can bring a sense of warmth and coziness to the space.

“It’s all about the sleek modern line”, says Maria Stapperfenne, 2014 president-elect of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Families are looking to downsize and simplify their lives, and new contemporary designs fit perfectly. Mixing glossy colors and woods are on the rise as well as mixing of materials and styles. For instance, different base and wall cabinets in a kitchen and bath can be mixed.

Wood is the #1 floor choice, according to the NKBA trend survey, though wood is also being used on countertops. Wood brings warmth and a suggestion of coziness to any space. Using brushed finishes on tile surfaces is another means of bringing in warmth.

Open kitchens remain a big trend, and designers are creating various stations for work within them. A prep sink might be added to the bar, or a second refrigerator near the door to the garage. Most designers include a docking/charging station in the island of the kitchen.

White retains the #1 spot as the most popular kitchen paint color, though gray is becoming more popular, while bone and beige is receding.

Features in demand are LED lighting, induction cooktops that don’t heat up like gas or electric cooktops and are safer and easier to clean, steam ovens for efficiency, French door and bottom freezer refrigerators, and no-touch faucets or touch activated faucets.

This Article From Remodeling Special Report by Hanley Wood Strategic Marketing, July 2014.