As we enter a new year—and a new decade to boot—now is the perfect time for many of us to seek a fresh start. Home décor is certainly a logical place to begin, and that usually means the kitchen or the bathroom, traditionally the two rooms that make up most remodeling projects. While some who embark on a renovation will have a clear idea in their heads, others need the guidance of a professional to help them determine which fads have come and gone and which have staying power. House & Home spoke to several experts to pick their brains about the trends to be on the lookout for in 2020 in kitchen and bath design.

“We’re seeing some natural wood elements integrated into islands for countertops. We’re also seeing glass that might be used for countertop extensions or eating levels. Granite is still part of the offering, but granite is one subsection of the countertop market. There’s a lot of softer natural stones out there and limestones that are not as busy as granite, and we’re using more matte finishes on these stones as well. The matte finishes will tend to absorb light rather than reflect light. We see these matte finishes in cabinetry, paints or three-dimensional laminates, and we’re seeing the same thing in countertops. It’s basically a low-sheen finish on a lot of materials throughout a kitchen. … Overall, it’s a much simpler presentation; a lighter presentation. Nothing heavy, nothing antique. We see a very simple, clean, fresh, technology-based project in the end.”
David Cerami, CKBR, president
HOMETECH RENOVATIONS | LOWER GWYNEDD, PA.
(215) 646-7477 | HTRenovations.com

 “One of the biggest trends we’re dealing with right now is the white countertops and white cabinetry, but what we’re sensing and what we’re getting a feel for is some of the warmer tones coming back into play. Grays are still in, but we’re starting to notice more of the earthy tones being introduced back into the color palettes. A lot of things that would typically be considered dated, such as gold handles, are starting to come back with different kinds of gold—the pewter finishes and things like that. People are choosing that for their trimming and finishing items as well. [For countertops], quartz is still very popular, but being that we’re seeing a little bit of an end to the trend in the whites, natural stones like marble are very hot right now, as well as some of the granites. [Marble] is not for every market, but in our market we have marble coming in and out of the yard like you wouldn’t believe. Compared to engineered quartz, marble has a similar look. The quartz is going to offer a little more ease in care and maintenance, but with all of the progressions they’ve made with sealers and different finishes, there is a strength in the longevity of a marble kitchen. If you don’t have heavy cooking tolerances or young children and the kitchen is going to be used more lightly, the beauty of the marble kitchen is a good direction to go in.”
Mike Werner, sales manager
AAA HELLENIC MARBLE & TILE
WEST CHESTER, PA.
(610) 344-7700
AAAMarble.com 

 “A lot of people are getting rid of their dining room and expanding their kitchen, and then creating huge islands for entertainment spaces as well as a breakfast area. Sometimes people just want an island but no seating; other times they want to incorporate a sitting area with an edge and bar stools underneath. A lot of people with kids find the breakfast area to be very useful during the mornings. As far as the trends with colors, gray has obviously been really popular the last couple of years; I read that gray was the color of the decade. But now it seems like black is coming back, and we’ve actually had a few clients who wanted to do black cabinetry. Two-tone cabinetry is also pretty big right now. For example, we recently did a project with cream-colored cabinetry with a dark chestnut [finish] for the island. It gives dimension to the kitchen and moves your eyes around to the different colors, making the cabinetry or the island pop a little more. Other standouts include the farmhouse sink, which everybody seems to be incorporating into their space because it gives them more room and it also adds a little bit of a pop, which you don’t normally see with a sink.”

 “For the bathroom, the No. 1 trend is definitely taking out the garden tubs. Nobody really wants that anymore; everybody wants large showers with glass shower doors and tile. Everybody is looking for a luxurious feel in their bathroom, but at the same time they want it to be functional. [Multiple showerheads] and rain showerheads are very popular. Another trend for both bathrooms and kitchens that not a lot of people are aware of is the LVT flooring. We have had a bunch of clients who didn’t want tile on the bathroom floor because of the maintenance with the grout. A good option is luxury vinyl tile, which is a laminate flooring that gives you the look of hardwood or tile with easy maintenance. You can just go over it with something like a Swiffer. That’s been huge with our remodels.”
Sophia Amiano, design-build consultant
AMIANO & SON DESIGN-BUILD
SOUTHAMPTON, N.J.
(609) 268-5923
AmianoAndSon.com 

 “I do not see the white color trends slowing down in 2020. What I do expect are several color adjustments between white and gray or cream tones. We are still designing with white cabinets but have seen new colors coming that are less bright, more subtle tones to keep the light feel without being so stark in contrast to traditional colors. Countertops are going quartz … due to the ability to make a quartz countertop any color versus granite, which is only made from minerals in the earth and that color palette has been maximized. The quartz companies are starting with a basic white background or a main color and changing the ‘veining’ inside the stone to various colors of gray, brown and blue, etc., to truly blend the counter with a floor or backsplash tile to bring cohesiveness to the space.”

 “Did the big corner tub in the master help to sell your house or [lead] you to purchase your current home? We all realized those tubs were for show and less for use, so now we are creating wonderful master bathrooms with tiled showers and less tub usage. Trying to find the time for a luxurious bath is difficult, but a shower in a beautiful space can lift your spirits. There are so many options, even if you still require a tub.”
Steve Matteo, co-owner
MATTEO FAMILY KITCHENS & FLOORING INC.
WOODSTOWN, N.J. @ (856) 769-2490  |  MatteoKitchens.com

Select images courtesy of HomeTech Renovations, AAA Hellenic Marble & Tile and Amiano & Son Design-Build.

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 20, Issue 6 (Spring 2020). 
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