WITH Carol Kurth

PRINCIPAL OF CAROL KURTH ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS

Q. How do you, as a designer, determine what to choose with so many available choices (as seen at the recent KBIS), and what “trends” do you see as being very popular these days?

I was honored to attend KBIS as part of the Baldwin Design Authority, a new launch by Baldwin of industry design experts. I was involved in the launch of their new Graphite Nickel hardware and developed a visual experience via creation of a mood-board showcasing inspiration as to how I see the new finish being through my lens of design.

There are indeed many options out there! The project typology and inspiration for the design drives the selection process. I am always on the lookout for new and innovative, and at the same time have a goal of collaborating with like-minded and quality purveyors and suppliers.

Spa and health-conscious design inspired products — especially in the bath segment — are trending with amazing water-focused options for showering, automated controls and sanitary touchless features.

There is also a mixed materials narrative that can be seen across industries, such as the two tone and textured GE Cafe series appliances and Monograms new metal finishes, to Baldwin — door hardware components that can be mixed and matched to create a signature look, combining textures and an array of finishes, providing amazing possibilities. Many of the plumbing industry fittings I saw at KBIS also incorporated the mixed metal/texture approach to design. This also ties in with both the ‘maximalist’ approach to interior design and plays to modern genres such as industrial inspired and new variations on modern Brutalism, which is enjoying a resurgence.

I saw a wide range of color at KBIS 2023, from a rainbow of hues and bold pops of intense color to the ever-popular contrasts of grey, black and white.

Selections for color stories and design typologies are individually presented to our clients and we can then gauge the extent of incorporating these elements in their project — whether an intensely rich colored cabinet story or a pop of color for an appliance or a backsplash. As a vital element of our design process, my team and I develop renderings for client visualization and decisions, showcasing options for selection.

Q. What challenges are you experiencing in the industry, and in what ways are you facing and overcoming those challenges?

We’re finding market challenges abating a bit on the supply side for some products, such as domestically made items, but other products (particularly those involving chips and electronics, including lighting fixtures) still have longer lead times.

Baldwin revitalized their simply chain to provide 5-7 day turn around on a wide range of products. I personally tested this, and my exterior door handle set arrived on day six, including a weekend in between!

Q. With rising interest rates and economic uncertainty, many people are choosing to renovate their homes instead of moving. What are the best returns on investment for renovations and do you have any advice for sticking to a budget?

Budgets are a tough one, especially now. I’d suggest making each selection before starting the work, pre-order what you can, since time is money. Have orders delivered and ready and waiting if at all possible, to keep the project moving forward.

Kitchens and baths are traditionally a good return on investment. But I think outdoor living is a great area to invest these days. Adding or improving outdoor experiences with pools, hot tubs, BBQ areas, shaded covered seating, built-in umbrellas or cabanas can help expand beyond the confines of your home and create the effect that your home is larger and more spacious.

And first impressions and outdoor entertaining go a long way in enhancing your lifestyle. It may be that replacing windows with French or sliding doors makes that transition feel more welcoming. s p

Carol Kurth, FAIA, ASID, is an award-winning licensed architect and interior designer and Principal of Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors. Carol is passionate about designing distinctive architecture that layers modernism with traditional elements and textures, and her work has won numerous design awards and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, national shelter publications, and on television broadcasts including NBC News and MTV Cribs. Carol is a Registered Architect in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Florida; a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), a Member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); and a LEED Accredited Professional. www.carolkurtharchitects.com