Design Trends from KBIS 2024: Part 2

Last week I brought you 3 of the 7 main trends I observed at the Kitchen Bath Industry Show (KBIS 2024) from Las Vegas.

In this VESTA Blog I will highlighting 3 more.

As you recall, the first 3 KBIS 2024 Trends I observed were:

1. Kitchen Cabinet Interior Lighting
2. Fluting and Reeding Details
3. Curves and Soft Geometry

Read on for my next 3 trends.

4. Colorful Appliances

With stainless steel being the go to “high-end” material choice for appliances for the past 20 years, there was bound to be shift in finish material.

This year at KBIS, appliances were being featured in almost every color imaginable.

Even though it was a trend seen throughout the show, it will be interesting to see how strongly it will take hold.

Let’s look at some of the displays.

Colorful Displays

This display took it one step further and added a colorful backdrop to their display.

This approach really drew you in and got people excited about all the color!

Appliance Color Palettes

It was very popular for manufacturers to display color palettes of their offerings.

Some featured vibrant hues while others were more subdued.

Again, something for everyone.

Enamel and Metal Mixes

Enamel and metal were a popular material mix in this colored appliance trend.

Both warm metals like brushed brass and cool metals like polished nickel mixed with colors were seen on the KBIS 2024 show floor.

Colored Range and Hood Combinations

In many cases the colored enameled range featured a coordinating ventilation hood in the same enamel and metal mix.

I definitely see these range and hood combinations becoming the focal point of a kitchen design.

A great way to add some luxury to a kitchen design.

White Enameled Appliances

In one display, the designer took a different approached and specified white enameled appliances in a colorful kitchen.

White was the perfect choice to highlight the colorful cabinetry in the display.

Matching Cabinetry

Another colored appliance trend I witnessed at a few booths was the introduction of matching cabinetry.

This custom cabinetry had metal doors that matched the appliances and could be configured along a wall or as an island installation.

This could be a trend that takes sales away from traditional cabinet manufactures, especially in the luxury end of the market.

Colored Refrigeration

Refrigerators have always been an appliance that designers could customize with colored panels and now there are multiple options for factory painted colored refrigeration.

On the floor show there were a variety of paneled refrigeration options but the enameled colored refrigeration was everywhere.

I even saw the “Barbie” influence in a fridge, freezer, wine refrigerator, connector panel combo in hot pink!

5. Open Shelving Change

The next trend I saw was the switch away from floating shelves to new display options.

Again, we have been seeing floating shelving incorporated into many kitchen designs over the past several years and it is time for a change.

Here are some of the open display shelving options seen on the show floor.

Wood Cubbies

These accent wood cubbies was also a trend I saw at EuroCucina in 2018.

It can take awhile for these looks to reach our shores, but I do see this as a fun way to add a wood element into a solid colored kitchen. It also provides that “organic” look many designers are looking for.

What I liked about this display was the additional mitered frame on the wood cubby. A great detail!

Glass Front Display

Positioning a solid glass panel in front of an open shelf was an interesting approach seen on the end of an island in one of the displays.

A good way to include a display area, with the glass protecting the items, but access is still good from the sides.

In another display a combo of wood cubbies and glass door panels were shown within a bank of tall units.

This would be a nice way to break up an expanse of tall cabinets in a kitchen design.

Metal Framed Shelving

This was also a big trend at EuroCucina and was a look I saw last year at KBIS 2023.

Black metal shelving is a favorite of mine and I like how the black grounds the display area but still keeps it feeling light.

There were a variety of companies displaying this look and I see it becoming even more popular in the coming years.

Thick Shelving

I included these last two examples to illustrate how the floating shelf may be shifting.

In the first example the thick shelf has been installed inside a cabinet. It was actually a metal glass holder/shelf unit.

This vanity installation was interesting with thick shelves installed vertically to provide storage niches for towels.

Just a couple of innovative examples of things to watch for.

6. Sinks with Built In Faucets

I have included this 6th Trend as something to watch for.

In the last few KBIS’s, we have seen a plethora of work station sinks and I think this is going to be the next iteration.

This sink by Artesian Streams, was in the KBIS Kickstarter zone and featured a sink with an “undermount faucet”.

Water streams for different needs, projected from three different sides. The forth side had sensors for temperature control.

There was also a built in soap dispenser in the design.

I could see this type of sink working well in the “Hidden” kitchen or as the sink on the island if you wanted a streamline look.

Another example I saw was a work station sink that had a traditional faucet, but also included water spray options across the back wall of the sink.

It also had a glass washing area across the back deck of the sink.

The glass washing accessory was something seen at other sink manufactures booths, I just didn’t get any pics!

So, 6 of the 7 Trends I observed at KBIS 2024 are:

1. Kitchen Cabinet Interior Lighting
2. Fluting and Reeding Details
3. Curves and Soft Geometry
4. Colorful Appliances
5. Open Shelving Change
6. Sinks with Built In Faucets

Next week I will reveal the Big Trend I think could change the course of kitchen design.

In the meantime, leave me a comment below about what you think of these trends.