Written by FBN
There are so many new and exciting design trends in the kitchen and bath industry. The annual Kitchen and Bath Show (KBIS) was held in late January this year in beautiful Las Vegas Nevada. The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is the world’s largest tradeshow event dedicated to exhibiting products intended for the kitchen and bath. With this informative show in our own backyard, the designers at Mallett Design Works decided to take a road trip to learn more about the latest innovations in the industry.
Technology
Technology in the kitchen and bath was trending at this year’s show, with smartphone research leading the way in the latest innovations. There was prototype display at KBIS developed by the Virginia Tech Center for Design Research called FutureHAUS. This futuristic display explore how technology can be used to enhance user experience throughout the kitchen. There is a ca mera in the oven that allows bakers to monitor their confections from anywhere in the house and sensors in the refrigerator that detect when staples such as milk are running low or are out of date. There are high definition displays mounted in the backsplash where they can serve as a virtual window or a handy place to display recipes while cooking and a giant tablet referred to a “social table” that is mounted in the kitchen island. A smooth glass countertop provides an uninterrupted work surface, but with convection burners mounted beneath it, it serves as a cooktop when needed. The designers say the FutureHAUS will adapt to owners’ needs, automatically adjusting “temperature, security, lighting and more, based on voice recognition, touch, gestures, and motion.”
The best of show for KBIS 2015 belongs to Tech Top by LG Hausys. Tech Top provides a wireless charging soIution for your devices. LG Hausys produces Hi-Macs, an eco-friendly soIid surface and Viatera surfaces, a natural quartz stone. Tech Top can be embedded into any Hi-Macs or Viatera surface by a certified fabricator. The back of the surface is routed out and the Tec h Top transmitter is embedded. The AC adapter is then plugged in and your device can be charged without wires by simply placing it directly above the transmitter.
Plumbing
Niagara Conservation introduces the HotStart showerhead. When you open the shower valve, no water will actually come out of the showerhead until the temperature of the water reaches 95 degrees. Once the water reaches 95 degrees, water will begin to trickle out of the showerhead, thus saving the consumer water, energy and money.
Just by using water-efficient plumbing products, the average American can reduce his or her daily water use from 70 to 43 gallons. A family of four would save 39,000 gallons of water per year!
Brondell has introduced a revolutionary integrated faucet series that delivers pure filtered water, in addition to the hot and cold tap water, directly from your main kitchen faucet. These faucets are easily installed in the existing faucet space at your sink, with no need to drill your counter top or install a separate pure water faucet. Brondell also offers an innovative toilet seat that will allow you to say goodbye to freezing cold toilet seats and glaring bathroom lights during those midnight trips to the bathroom. Lumawarm is a heated toilet seat with the cooI glow of a nightlight. Its long-lasting and illumination bIue LED nightlight is one of a kind while be ng energy-efficient and has three adjustable temperature settings.
With all of this technology at our fingertips, it may only be a matter of time until we live in the same world as our favorite futuristic, cartoon characters, the Jetsons! FBN
By Michelle Mallett
Michelle Mallett is the owner and principal designer at Mallett Design Works, a design firm specializing in customized kitchen and bath design. Michelle is a certified in kitchen and bath design by the NKBA and is an Allied Member of ASID. To discuss how Mallett Design Works can help you achieve a space that exceeds your design expectations, call Michelle at 928-699-1405. You may also visit her website at www.mallettdesignworks.com to see a full list of services and portfolio.