White and grey have been extremely popular for kitchens and baths in recent years, but color really surged at this year’s Design & Construction Week in Las Vegas. The combined International Builders Show and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show event was vibrant with emeralds, plums, cobalts and colorful patterns.
Cosentino, known mostly in the U.S. consumer market for its Dekton and Silestone countertops, showcased a new glossy green that looked more like polished glass than ceramic or quartz. True, a refrigeration manufacturer with commercial and residential divisions, showed off its newest color for the home, Emerald, which can be paired with an array of six hardware finishes. (Brass and matte gold were among the most popular metals at the show this year.) Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet showed off its colorful outdoor Arcadia kitchen cabinets, for those bored with stainless steel, masonry or wood. The company brought in a group of designers to choose color palettes to inspire the show crowd.
Dacor and Victoria + Albert offered clients the opportunity to select their own exterior colors on their appliances and tubs, respectively. BlueStar, known as a premium cooking appliance manufacturer, went a step further in customization: The company can take virtually any image and print it on a range, hood or refrigerator. It was shown off at DCW on a prototype Nova Series pro style range with a playful floral stripe from the aptly-named Madcap Cottage design firm.
Smeg, popular for its quirky, retro appliance styles, has also played successfully with pattern, introducing a boldly-colored Dolce & Gabbana appliance suite at past DCW shows that went from custom (as a test) to mass-produced on its large appliances, and now available on countertop appliances, including toaster, juicer, stand mixer, blender, coffee maker and kettle.
Judging by designer response on social media and at the show, the colorful new releases are welcome additions. The Arcadia series from Kalamazoo even won a Best of KBIS award. A burst of color allows you to personalize a room, providing that the homeowner is comfortable with a non-neutral in a major feature. Countertops, appliances and bathtubs are not easy or inexpensive to change later. Design trend surveys show that homeowners do want personal touches in their space, and color can help them achieve that. After all, if every kitchen and bath has grey floors, white shaker doors, marble look counters and bar handles, it’s hard to put your stamp on a space.
