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See the inventions that are changing the design world in real-time.

By Nicholas Tamarin

Whether it’s through renderings, home automation or the optimization of business practices, technology is playing an increasingly important role in kitchen and bath design. Designers and homeowners will need to adapt to these shifts to create functional, aesthetically pleasing and sustainable spaces. Ultimately, the future of K&B design will be shaped by a combination of technological advancements, environmental concerns, changing lifestyles and evolving design aesthetics. The range of tools available today is vast, so let’s narrow it down and take a look at what’s on top.

1. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

AR and VR technologies are increasingly being used for design and visualization in the K&B industry. With immersive 3D web, consumers can preview how various products would look in different spaces before making purchasing decisions. VR allows a user to experience the feeling of being in an actual space. Additionally, a user’s likeness or avatar, location and possessions can be included in metaverse activations. The metaverse can also provide reams of data that help manufacturers, designers and consumers make smarter financial allocation decisions based on what links people are clicking on.

2. Highly Customizable Appliances

As consumers seek out more personalized design solutions, manufacturers are offering highly customizable appliances so that K&B spaces will be more individualized than ever before. One example is the MyStyle refrigerators and refrigerator freezer available from Liebherr. For the exterior of an appliance, consumers have the options of color, photograph or design (Liebherr offers designs and allows uploads). And for the interior, they can select whatever equipment is best for their personal use, such as extra shelves, a bottle shelf or more door storage — with packages available from Liebherr, though consumers can also select each interior piece individually.

3. 3D Printing 

Customized faucets, fixtures and even elements of cabinetry can be created using 3D printing technology, which allows for both more flexibility in design and the use of more sustainable materials. Already a portable toilet, the Throne, has been created by Nagami, a Spanish furniture design company, using a 3D printing technique. This toilet is sustainable in more than one way. It’s created from recycled plastic — specifically, plastic medical trays — making the manufacturing process more eco-friendly, and it’s also equipped with a waste management system that converts solid waste into compost that can be later used locally as a fertilizer.

4. Voice-Activated Bath Mirrors

Bath mirrors are undergoing a technological makeover with the integration of voice-activated features. These mirrors can connect to virtual assistants and offer a wide range of functionalities, including weather updates, news briefings and smart home controls. They can also adjust lighting conditions for makeup application or create personalized lighting scenes to match different moods. One example, Kohler’s Amazon Alexa-enabled Verdera Voice mirror, provides optimally bright, shadowless light, full stereo sound and a motion-sensing night light.

5. Next-Generation Materials

Materiality is changing what’s possible for sustainable K&B design. For instance, Seastex, founded by Belgian designer Sander Nevejans, uses mussel waste into high-quality acoustic, insulation and other products. This material is 100 percent biodegradable, renewable and recyclable — and their sound-absorbing ABC tiles, made with Acoustic Byssus Cores, outperform most traditional and sustainable alternatives.