KBDN December 2016 by Cliffside Industries

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The leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen & bath trade

COLOR TREND REPORT • 52

COLOR JOY

SPECIAL REPORT • 44

Most-Asked-About Products of 2016 KBIS PREVIEW • 65

Hot Products On Display KitchenBathDesign.com

12/16 CONTENTS

VOLUME 34 • NUMBER 12 • DECEMBER 2016

Photo: Courtesy of Kohler

SPECIAL REPORT

Most-Asked-About Products

Glass, organizational products and all things bath related generated plenty of interest among Kitchen & Bath Design News readers this year. This month, KBDN highlights the 20 most-asked-about products of 2016 as determined by reader requests.

DEPARTMENTS

COLUMNS

Editorial

Market Pulse

22 DPH Perspectives by Noah Taft

10 Barometers 12

28 Inside Today’s Showroom by Sarah Reep, ASID, IIDA, CMKBD, CMG, CAPS

Consumer Buying Trends

14 Industry Update 30 What’s App

COLOR TREND REPORT

Color Joy

The expansion of gray, a variety of ‘healthy’ greens and soft, nourishing blues, taupe, warm, deep violets and classic whites are expected to be on trend for 2017, while some brighter colors are also adding a bit of joy to the kitchen and bath.

32 Trend Spotting 38 Project Case Study 42 Designer Profile 72 New Products 74 Advertiser & Product Index 74 Classifieds 75 Product & Services Showcase

PRODUCT TREND REPORT

76 Transformations

Adding Function & Style

Decorative cabinet hardware enhances the design of a space while innovative functional hardware focuses on quiet operation, easier access and improved organization. Hot hardware trends right now include clean lines, bigger, bolder pieces and soft close as standard.

ON THE COVER

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A blend of Truffle, White Pewter and Moody Blue creates a colorful yet well-balanced kitchen that captures attention. This tricolored kitchen in Barboursville, WV was designed by Rachel Hernstrom of Kitchens by Woody’s and is featured in this month’s Project Case Study on page 38.

The leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen & bath trade

KBIS PREVIEW

KBIS Heads to Orlando

2017 marks the fourth year of the successful Design and Construction Week collaboration, as the KBIS and IBS shows move from Las Vegas to Orlando next month with expanded floor space, new educational offerings and a host of new products.

COLOR TREND REPORT • 52

COLOR JOY

Photo: Kaskel Photography SPECIAL REPORT • 44

Most-Asked-About Products of 2016 KBIS PREVIEW • 65

Hot Products On Display KitchenBathDesign.com

December 2016 • KitchenBathDesign.com

Photo: Dave Davis, DMD Photography

At first, she was thrown. “I’m going, ‘wait a minute, the refrigerator’s on the back porch,’” says Ruocco. “Because it’s cold in Barrow all the time, they don’t need a refrigerator per se – they use coolers most of the time for keeping their food and stuff. They don’t have to have a refrigerator. So the back porch was their refrigerator.”

For this project, a cramped cookie-cutter kitchen underwent a major redesign, allowing the designers to accommodate the homeowners’ desire for a sleek style, while also expanding the space’s utility.

contractor she knew, getting approximately 300 sq. ft. for her office/showroom. “As a single mom with no money, I took it in small stages. I was lucky enough to find someone who would take me under their wing and help me get started so I didn’t have to start with my own office, and that helped,” Ruocco states. The first two years were a little slow, but business picked up and Ruocco was able to maintain a steady ship. Within five years of opening her business, Ruocco moved to a new location with a 1,200-sq.-ft. showroom. She put out displays as she could afford them. Ten years ago, when Ruocco remarried, she and her new husband decided it was time to take on redoing the entire showroom. Today, she has successfully redesigned the entire space to her liking.

FINAL FRONTIER While Ruocco loves where she lives, she concedes that being in Alaska “is a challenge in itself.” “Because of the size of the state, there are times when we have clients that are a five- to six-hour drive from us, or even ones that can only be reached by a plane ride,” she notes. In addition to traveling long distances to be on the job and ensuring that products can be shipped to a remote location, Ruocco has faced the challenge of designing for homes in the Alaskan Bush, where there may not even be running water in the bathroom. She still recalls her first job in Barrow, Alaska. A family came in asking for a new kitchen and when Ruocco went to design it, they explained they wanted the refrigerator to be placed on the back porch.

MOVING ON Ruocco’s partner in crime is 31-year-old Danielle Bohn, CKD, an NKBA 30 Under 30 recipient. Bohn, who is currently working towards becoming a CKBD, completed a summer internship with Ruocco while at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2008. Ruocco hired Bohn in 2011, and the two haven’t looked back since. Ruocco appreciates Bohn’s talent as well as her role as a link to the younger generation of clients. “Sometimes I think it’s so much easier for them to [work] with Danielle rather than dealing with somebody that reminds them of their mother,” she remarks laughingly. “I’m in my 60s now, so it gives me somebody that I know I can turn the business over to who will take good care of it for me,” says Ruocco. She is looking to retire within the next five to seven years. When asked whether it is something that she and Bohn have formally discussed, Ruocco laughs: “She says I can’t retire, so she’s not looking forward to it right away.” ▪

Hardware,

inspiring design.

R e q u e s t l i t e ra t u re a t c l i f f s i d e i n d. c o m / k b d n o r c a l l 8 0 0 .8 73 . 9 2 5 8

Circle No. 24 on Product Card

December 2016 • KitchenBathDesign.com

PRODUCT TREND REPORT

Function & Style

Hardware plays a dual role in the kitchen or bath, with decorative pieces enhancing design while innovative slides and hinges increase functionality. BY ELIZABETH RICHARDS

ardware, whether decorative or functional, carries a great deal of responsibility in any kitchen or bath. On the design side, decorative hardware adds the finishing touch, complementing the overall style or adding interesting contrast to the space. Functionally, hardware keeps drawers and doors working as they should. Personal choice is also an important element when it comes to hardware. Consumers want their space to demonstrate their personal style, and designers are tasked with making the right choices down to the smallest details. Hardware can add to both the visual style and the organization that allows the kitchen to function in just the right way. “Homeowners are enjoying the ability to organize their kitchen cabinets and drawers in exactly the manner they want, with the ability to change the design at any given time. The hardware is providing this luxury,” says Jan Fitzpatrick, customer & market relations manager for Kernersville, NC-based Grass America Inc. “Hardware truly is the jewelry in the room and can give your kitchen or bathroom a luxurious feeling or help pull a look seamlessly together,” says Amy Chamberlain, senior marketing manager at Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp., in Winston-Salem, NC. “In functional hardware, the addition of soft-close slides and hinges gives your room a quiet, highly engineered and upscale feeling. The right hardware is an easy and affordable finishing touch.”

Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016

The new Choice line from Cliffside Industries replicates the company’s most popular and timeless solid brass handles, knobs, bin pulls and cabinet latches in zinc in up to eight finishes. New collections such as the Oceano Suite, shown, come in up to five patinas in both traditional and contemporary styles. Circle No. 180 on Product Card

Designed for 18" wall cabinets, Rev-A-Shelf’s 4MR Series Mail Organizer comes in white or natural, with easy to clean acrylic panels. It holds standard and flat envelopes, has eight key hooks and features patented adjustable mounting brackets. It can also be installed at the end of a run of cabinets or on a wall. Circle No. 181 on Product Card

Parrot from Ferrari America is a locking shelf support designed to securely lock shelves in place while also adding a design touch to the cabinet. The Parrot is available for glass shelves (¹⁄8" to 1/2" thick) and wood shelves (1/2" to ¹¹⁄¹6" thick), and installs in any 5mm line bored holes. Circle No. 182 on Product Card

Each Simply Charming Cabinet Knob by Glace Yar Stained Glass Decorative Hardware is a unique piece. The knobs are fashioned using variations of stained glass, mother of pearl, ceramic and metal designs. Circle No. 183 on Product Card

“Hardware is perhaps one of the most important components of kitchen and bath design,” adds Keith Reifsnyder, director of operations for Cliffside Industries, Ltd in Lititz, PA. “It can help to unify a design through color, style and size, and it can link together different spaces or elements, like wall cabinetry and an island, or it can set them apart from one another if desired.” Hardware creates visual interest, he says, and can be cohesively integrated or used as dramatic contrast, depending on the finishes chosen. Top decorative hardware trends include a shift toward bigger, bolder pieces, simple clean lines and new finish selections. On the functional side, concealed hinges are on the rise, soft close is increasingly viewed as standard as the desire for a quiet kitchen increases, and offering a wide variety of organizational solutions is essential. That’s according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

DECORATIVE FLAIR Decorative hardware, manufacturers say, is the final detail, the accent that pulls the design together. But that doesn’t mean the hardware should demand all the attention. Sometimes a simple, understated piece is exactly what a room needs. “Decorative hardware is bling for the kitchen and bath industry, and big isn’t always better,” says Birdie Miller, designer/craftsman for EuroButt II in Stockton, NJ.

Hardware Renaissance’s Grande Manhattan pulls are sand cast and then hand finished. Fashioned from solid bronze, the pieces have a hand-textured bronze inlay, with optional dual patinas for a large range of finish options. A minimum of 90% recycled material is used for the solid bronze hardware. Circle No. 184 on Product Card

Federal Brace has added the Ashbury Corner Bracket, which can support both the standard kitchen countertop overhang and the overhang created at the junction of an L-shaped counter or island. Specifically built for difficult support situations, the Ashbury is a fit for L-shaped islands, bars or countertops. Circle No. 185 on Product Card

North River Mint’s library of decorative hardware pieces includes approximately 300 designs in nine categories. The collections include cabinet knobs, pulls and hooks handmade in the U.S. of leadfree jeweler’s metal, offered in antique pewter or antique bronze. Shown is one of the firm’s larger-scaled knobs. Circle No. 186 on Product Card

Grass America’s Tiomos M0 has a screw connection between the hinge and the cabinet door without requiring a cup hole, making it possible to use door materials between 6mm and 10mm thick. It offers a 125° opening angle, and includes 3-D adjustment, soft-close action, and frame and frameless applications. Circle No. 187 on Product Card

Häfele’s Beaulieu collection features a sleek and elegant transitional design. Available in a variety of sizes and pull applications, the line includes a range of knobs, handles and appliance pulls in a number of sizes. Finishes include oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel and brushed bronze. Circle No. 188 on Product Card

The EuroButt II Butt Hinge for cabinets allows cabinetmakers to use concealed hinges to achieve a traditional butt hinge look. The patented design has the advantages of high-tech hinges while providing a specific design element and ease of installation, according to the company. Circle No. 189 on Product Card

Hettich's new Actro 5D runner system allows for adjust reveal alignment accurate to ¹⁄10 of a millimeter. The firm fit on the runner, and the high level of vertical and horizontal stability permit a narrow reveal, notes the company. The integrated Silent System closes drawers gently. It is designed for loads of up to 80 kg. Circle No. 190 on Product Card

Serene is a collection of decorative hardware styles in six contemporary finishes from Top Knobs. Available in 35 shapes in five series, the Serene Collection showcases elegant, transitional shapes and includes 12" pulls, a first from the company. Products include Lydia, Juliet, Lily, Eden and Kara (shown). Circle No. 191 on Product Card

Indeed, sometimes the most understated pieces are the most impactful. As Billy Peele, marketing manager at Doug Mockett & Company Inc. in Torrance, CA, notes, “As much as we love to have our hardware on display, sometimes it’s more about what you don’t see. Custom continuous drawer or cabinet pulls and clean line contemporary hardware can really define a distinct design without demanding high visibility.” “Decorative hardware is like the perfect accessory you pair with your little black dress – the right knob or pull can really complement and complete the design of a kitchen or bath,” says Christine Zimmer, product manager/decorative products for Top Knobs in Hillsborough, NJ. Mihai Subran, product manager at Richelieu in Montreal, Canada, says decorative hardware can change the entire perception of value and design orientation of the furniture it adorns. “It can achieve several roles,” he says. These roles include blending, as with a back door edge pull, or attracting all the attention, such as the addition of a crystal knob. Hardware can create a variety of looks – classy, elegant, unique, distinctive, extravagant or daring, Subran adds. Greg Sheets, decorative hardware product manager for Häfele in Archdale, NC, has another perspective. He says, “The way in which decorative hardware is currently being used in kitchens and baths has transitioned from an accessory – like jewelry for your cabinets and drawers – to a more subtle and functional addition within the greater design.”

HIDDEN HARDWARE In contrast to decorative pieces used to make a personal statement, the trend in functional hardware leans more toward hardly knowing it’s there at all. More and more, says Shawn Pressley, marketing manager for Salice America Inc. in Charlotte, NC, the move is toward concealed hardware. Though hinges from Salice have always been considered concealed, he adds, customers are asking to see even less of the hardware than before. Häfele’s functional hardware product manager Karen Armour cites Salice’s new AIR hinge as exciting in a number of ways: “It’s a fully concealed hinge, meaning when the door is closed, the hinge is completely concealed as it is routed into both the horizontal panel of the frameless cabinet box, as well as back of the door. If designing with glass doors, this will become your favorite hinge. No mounting plate is visible. It is an ‘invisible’ hinge, which plays right into the open look and feel so favored by designers,” she says. The desire for concealment holds true for slides as well, but performance can’t suffer. “Concealed undermount slides are still a big trend. Only now, functionality is even more important,” says Fitzpatrick. “With so many undermount choices, the movement action is primary.” ENHANCED FUNCTION The kitchen is where much of the entertaining takes place – and this makes the functional aspects of the cabinets and drawers essential.

December 2016 • KitchenBathDesign.com

PRODUCT TREND REPORT

King Slide’s six-way adjustable soft-close hinge provides three-tier soft-close adjustment by users’ preference. This built-in soft-close feature provides enough buffers to protect the hinge and cabinet from damage caused by slamming. Either on big or small cabinet doors, users can finetune the soft close to get the most desired smooth closing of cabinets. Circle No. 192 on Product Card

Reimagine the style of campaign hardware with the external mount design from Liberty Hardware. Designed in a classic geometric style, the pieces are readily available in four finishes: Bayview Brass, a modern take on gold; Heirloom Silver, which exudes a smoky richness, Classic Satin Nickel, and Muted Bronze with subtle gold highlighting. Circle No. 193 on Product Card

The Rae Collection has been added to the Jeffrey Alexander line of decorative hardware from Hardware Resources. The contemporary hardware, which features a smooth, arching design, includes three knobs, six cabinet pulls and two appliance pulls in five finishes. Circle No. 194 on Product Card

Topex Design's Swarovski Crystal All That Glitters Collection features 15 knobs and six pull handles. The Swarovski Crystal knobs resemble large diamonds including the roundcut Crystal Ball, the four princess-cut crystals of Cuff Link, the emerald-cut Lights On and the old-European-cut High Gear. Diamond Bar, the pull handle, has nine princess-cut crystals. Circle No. 195 on Product Card

The Waterworks’ Stockton Collection of pulls combines hand-finished solid brass and solid walnut for a mid-20th century modern feel. With transitional appeal, these pieces share a streamlined flavor. The hardware is available in two-tone with walnut and solid metal finishes, including Unlacquered Brass, Nickel and Architectural Bronze. Circle No. 196 on Product Card

Alno Inc.’s three new series of cabinet hardware – Cloud, Linear and Moderne – include multiple knob and pull sizes, and numerous finishes. The Cloud collection has a beveled contour; the Linear collection features straight lines; and the Moderne collection (shown) is made up of concentric lines. Circle No. 197 on Product Card

Richelieu Hardware’s new Modern Metal Pull provides unlimited finish combinations. Each pull is made of two metal parts with a black edge band in the middle, and can be cut to size. The center piece of the pull can easily be replaced with any piece of edgebanding to mix and match cabinetry color and style. Circle No. 198 on Product Card

Veteran-owned Scott Systems offers the Float-Frame, which has the ability to levitate any surface: granite, marble, concrete, etc. FloatFrame can be used in kitchens, baths, garages, mud rooms, laundry rooms and outdoor spaces, and provides overhang possibilities for kitchen islands. Circle No. 199 on Product Card

Excess sound impacts the enjoyment of the space, so addressing this issue is important. Pressley says the addition of features like soft-closing or touch-to-open doors and drawers addresses this need for a quieter kitchen. While soft-closing drawer slides have been standard for several years, he says, the hinges have been slower to follow. Now, soft close on doors is becoming standard as well. Travis McElveen, product manager/functional & commercial hardware for Hardware Resources in Bossier City, LA, agrees: “For functional hardware, soft-close options on everything continue to dominate the market.” Karen Smith, brand communication manager for Blum, Inc. based in Stanley, NC, says consumers are leaning toward products and solutions that provide convenience and effortless workflow, like full-extension drawer slides that allow better access to cabinet interiors. “Additionally, just like consumers have come to expect a quieter dishwasher, soft-close drawers are now a must. We are seeing soft close become the standard in all cabinet lines,” she says. Though some elements are standard, others must be customizable depending on how the kitchen will be used. “Functional hardware manufacturers are offering more options in drawer dividers, cross rails, plate racks, bins, boxes and more,” says Fitzpatrick. “The possibilities are endless, providing the homeowner the ultimate in organization and efficiency.” “While functional hardware is important to the visual design, feel or functionality win out every time,” adds Armour. Fully concealed, full-extension

drawers are a must-have, she says. “The days of opening a base cabinet with mere shelving as the storage option is fast coming to an end. Some kind of pull-out accessory or pull-out drawers now reside behind those beautiful doors. These additions provide easy access to cabinet contents – and also commonly feature pull to open with integrated soft close or push to open with or without a soft close.” Pressley agrees there is a push to make things more functional, accessible and organized. Full-extension products, pull outs and organizational systems are important, he says, as is increasing load capacity on products. “When it’s organized, it makes it much more accessible,” Pressley adds. Two big concerns for functional hardware are quality design details and high-tech hardware advantages, says Miller. The EuroButt II, a faux butt hinge brought to the market in 1996, is the only piece of hardware that addresses these two issues simultaneously, she notes. “It allows cabinetmakers and designers to include the traditional design element of the traditional butt hinge while retaining all of the high-tech advantages of the European Concealed Hinge.”

Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016

BOLD ACCENTS Manufacturers say clean and sleek designs are more often in demand. At the same time, hardware is getting bigger and bolder, according to many manufacturers.

PRODUCT TREND REPORT

Artist Pete Barszcz hand draws original designs for his hardware, Barz Decorative Hardware, that are inspired by nature, current design trends and timeless, classic looks. Lead-free pewter is poured into hand-crafted molds, and finished in a variety of pewter, nickel, brass, bronze or copper finishes. Each piece is available in any of these 22 finishes. Circle No. 200 on Product Card

Baldwin Hardware’s Estate collection of decorative hardware offers signature looks with a wide range of customizable styles and finishes. From soft and subtle curves to crystal bling, the collection offers an array of choices that can work with a diversity of styles. Master craftsmen create each piece by hand, according to the company. Circle No. 201 on Product Card

Blum, Inc.’s newly launched Tip-On Blumotion for Legrabox combines the mechanical opening support of Tip-On with the soft and silent closing of Blumotion. Both work together to enhance opening and closing for handleless drawers. There are different Tip-On Blumotion units to choose from to suit various drawer lengths and weights. Circle No. 202 on Product Card

Hickory Hardware’s Pipeline reflects the interest in the rustic industrial trend. Imitating salvaged elements from old warehouses and factories, these pulls and knobs feature life-like patinas. The line includes a knob and pull in Black Nickel Vibed and Vintage Bronze finishes. Circle No. 203 on Product Card

Amerock has added two new finish extensions: Gunmetal, an industrial look with a dark and sultry metallic finish; and Polished Nickel (shown), a vibrant silver that offers the mellow luster of sterling silver without the maintenance. The two finish options will be offered in several collections including Blackrock, Candler, Revitalize, Mulholland and Bar Pulls. Circle No. 204 on Product Card

Accuride International’s 3135EC Eclipse Undermount Easy-Close slide is a concealed commercial-grade undermount slide. The slide offers full-extension movement with a 100lb. load rating, and it slides smoothly with less than 5 lbs. of pull force. The 3135EC enables soft-close action and adjusts via a horizontal, vertical and front-to-back adjustment feature. Circle No. 205 on Product Card

The Positano collection by Schaub and Company features Polished Chrome or Satin Nickel accents and a choice of clear or smoke colored high-grade acrylic. Made in Italy, the drawer pulls provide seamless integration with existing furniture, while adding a modern spin, the company notes. Circle No. 206 on Product Card

Atlas Homewares' new Tableau Collection can create a custom look. The pieces come unassembled and feature round or square bases that work with rectangular or arc handles. The hardware can be installed horizontally or vertically, and the finishes – Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome and French Gold – can be mixed and matched. Circle No. 207 on Product Card

Reifsnyder says customers are searching for the “four Bs,” – bigger, broader, bolder and better quality hardware. This year marks the first time they have seen larger-sized pulls outselling the smaller, more traditional cabinet sizes, he says. “Customers are looking for simpler, clean designs that can be applied on many different styles of cabinetry: traditional, transitional or modern,” he adds. Stephanie Lowe, product manager – Decorative Products for Hardware Resources, has also seen a shift in pull size, with longer lengths or multiple lengths throughout the kitchen being used more often. Many of their newer product lines have pulls in several different lengths to provide the options customers crave, she says. Subran also sees increasing demand for more lengths, as well as multiple center-to-center dimensions per pull. “Yesterday’s extreme dimensions are today’s normal ones due to different new applications such as walk-ins or mud-rooms. Dimensions ranging from 12" to 6' are increasingly common,” he points out. Chamberlain notes designers are craving larger pieces that make a statement. “From bold and chunky knobs to sleek oversized pulls, large-scaled hardware is becoming the focal point of the kitchen,” she says. “Most of our hottest styles have clean and simple lines to complement the larger sizes.” Zimmer, on the other hand, doesn’t see a strong pull toward either larger or smaller sizes in hardware. “Overall, most designs have clean, soft and/

or geometric lines to them and are more simplistic in design, but could still be substantial in feel and weight if the design fits,” she says. Sheets says handles are less ornate transitional or contemporary designs that tend to be longer and cleaner in execution. “Tab pulls, which can be nearly imperceptible on frameless, European style cabinetry, have also been especially popular,” he says.

Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016

DIVERSE STYLES Manufacturers agree that styles today lean toward transitional design. “Transitional kitchen design provides a happy medium of contemporary and traditional design elements that is ideal for smaller spaces,” says Peele. “The sleek minimalist style of clean line contemporary design might not be a realistic option for busy family homes. Mixing it up with a more sensible approach that will absorb some of the clutter can be a great solution for achieving that desired modern aesthetic.” Zimmer says, “The big trend we’ve seen is the desire for the brass or gold finishes in hardware and the modern traditional – taking a traditional shape and adding contemporary details or finish.” “Anything goes in today’s style, and consumers and designers have more confidence creating unique, one-of-a-kind looks. We are seeing a lot of mixing of gold and silver, as well as glass and metal. This eclectic blend creates an artistic, customized look,” says Chamberlin.

PRODUCT TREND REPORT

These leather scroll bar pulls sport a rounded front edge that creates a natural grip surface. The hardware from Doug Mockett & Co. is set on a complementary base, with end caps that match the base and provide an elegant finishing touch. The pulls are available in three sizes with a choice of five leather finishes and two base finishes. Circle No. 208 on Product Card

ZEN Design from Solua introduces the KALIO handle home collection. Shown here in antique copper, the distinctive pull makes a unique design statement. The collection is also available in antique rust and polished chrome. Circle No. 209 on Product Card

The all-new AIR hinge from Salice gets mitered into both the cabinetry and the door it closes. Available from Hafele, the hinge is fully adjustable in three directions by way of an eccentric cam. The AIR features a choice of integrated soft close or push to open. Circle No. 210 on Product Card

Inspired by sea vistas and the horizon lines of the ocean, the Wave collection from Du Verre Hardware plays with light and texture. Fashioned from eco-friendly recycled aluminum, the hardware is offered in two knobs and four pulls in Satin Nickel, Antique Brass and Oil-Rubbed Bronze. Circle No. 211 on Product Card

Handmade in the U.S., the Motif Collection of decorative hardware from Soko by Jaye Design is fashioned from bronze or high-grade stainless steel. The knobs and pulls feature a rugged, hand-wrought look, and are available in 10 finishes: antique, black, gunmetal, lustre, mink, natural, oil-rubbed bronze, wrought, polished stainless and satin stainless. Circle No. 212 on Product Card

A hammered look is now offered on Turnstyle Designs’ brass parts, including D-handles, scrolls and other cabinet hardware. The technique is produced by hammering the surface by hand using planishing hammers to beat the pattern into the metal. Scroll lengths come in 101mm, 155mm and 196mm, in Polished Nickel, Burnished Brass and Bright Chrome. Circle No. 213 on Product Card

A Horse Chestnut design embellishes a knob, pull and wood knob from Notting Hill Decorative Hardware. Chestnut leaves frame a center circle on the pull, allowing the beauty of a wood cabinet to be seen. The matching knob and coordinating wood knob come in Antique Brass (shown), Antique Copper, Antique Pewter, Dark Brass and Brilliant Pewter. Circle No. 214 on Product Card

Sietto’s recently introduced Bandwidth collection is created from glass and features simple patterns and neutral colors that are designed to work well in a wide variety of spaces. The handcrafted pieces are available in two distinct pulls and two knobs. Circle No. 215 on Product Card

“While classic finishes such as brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze continue to lead the way, bold new finishes are on the rise,” adds Chamberlin. “Glamorous brushed brass is one of our favorites – it offers a look that is both modern yet luxe,” she says. Golden tones are currently trending, Subran notes, from polished and shiny to matte, in combinations with other colors such as bronze, chocolate, caramel, champagne, beige and pink. Colors to follow next year are champagne bronze, caramel bronze, rose gold, black, and different variations of blues, reds, oranges, yellows and greens, he adds. “Our top finish choice is still the brushed nickel and has been for years, but polished nickel has now overtaken oil-rubbed bronze as the second most popular in our line,” says Reifsnyder. “We are also starting to see more requests for warmer-toned hardware – again, seen in the influence of polished nickel surpassing polished chrome on the ‘want list,’” he states. Pressley sees a desire for functional hardware in darker tones that give a warmer look and feel.

“Clean, contemporary looks are all the rage right now. Touch-to-open mechanisms, with either electronic or mechanical components, are the key element to achieve this handleless look,” adds Smith. In addition to the sleek appearance, she says, touch-to-open options are easy to operate for people of all ages and abilities. “Push to open has taken the kitchen industry by storm, allowing for today’s kitchens to have a clean, sleek look,” states Armour. “Updates in undermount drawer slide technology have made this all possible. While in years past you had to choose between push to open and soft close, functional hardware has improved to where you can now have the best of both worlds in one design.” Fitzpatrick notes that Grass has seen an increase in demand for touch-toopen cabinet doors and drawers as well. McElveen believes electronic components are still cost prohibitive for the majority of kitchens. “For the most high-end kitchens, we’re seeing trash can pull-outs as the most common feature with electronic components,” he says. “Smart homes, specifically kitchens, are changing the way we live at home,” notes Peele. “They are also changing the way we look at design. Accessibility, convenience and the overall user experience are all very important elements to consider when integrating accessible power options throughout the kitchen, especially into countertops.” ▪

NEW APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY Technology is always part of the conversation these days. “We are seeing the emergence of self-closing technology on many kitchen cabinets, as well as integration of smart devices,” says Chamberlin.

Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016