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By Donna Heiderstadt

 

What do personalization, organization and textures and finishes have in common? They were all cited as important client-requested trends during a panel discussion at KBIS 2024, which took place at the Café Appliances booth. Featuring vibrant kitchens designed by TK Wismer, Café Creative Director, and Isabel Ladd, Founder of Lexington, KY-based Isabel Ladd Interiors, this space provided a colorful backdrop for a talk about 2024 kitchen and bath trends moderated by Pamela McNally, NKBA | KBIS’ Senior Vice President Marketing & Digital. She was joined by Nureed Saeed, Owner and Creative Director at Berkeley, CA-based Nu Interiors, and Brianna Weiler, Vice President & Interior Designer at Lahaska, PA-based Kitchens by Charles Weiler.

Style Meets Function

“I’m excited to see companies curating cabinetry to make them look like furniture pieces,” said Weiler, noting the use of decorative legs on islands as well as multi-level, multi-purpose islands. She also said she was pleased with innovations being offered behind cabinet doors in terms of organization solutions. 

Saeed said the most notable trend was color, which aligns with what her clients have been requesting: more personalization. She noted that she is seeing less of a focus on keeping things neutral for “resale value,” with clients now more intent on their kitchens and baths reflecting their personalities.

She also agreed with Weiler that the industry is seeing what she terms “Islands 2.0,” islands that more than just sit there. “Today’s homeowners need [an island] that functions,” Saeed explained.

Clients Want Creative Solutions

Saeed also noted several other trends as clients in her Northern California region renovate smaller homes: a move toward European kitchen design with smaller appliances and all-in-one ovens, and the installation of a beverage or coffee bar in the dining space in lieu of a traditional buffet piece.

Weiler agreed, noting that clients are more open than ever to creative solutions, either for space savings or convenience, such as having a coffee center in a walk-in closet on the second floor.

The Importance of Lighting

McNally turned the conversation to lighting, asking the panelists to address how it is evolving.

Saeed said that it’s always important to start by accessing a space’s natural light and then designing to accentuate it. She noted that with more and more people home all day in the work-from-home era, designers can use under-cabinet, above-cabinet and LED lighting to change and enhance the mood of a home depending on the time of day.

Keiler agreed. “I always think about lighting as I do my layouts — it’s not an afterthought,” she said. “Lighting is everything. It is going to make your design look better and the client’s experience better.”

A Focus on Textures and Finishes

Another buzzy design element is texture. Saeed said her design aesthetic has always been about layering textures and finishes. “An interesting backsplash is always a great choice,” she noted, adding that this is as long as it looks great and is low-maintenance.

Keiler noted the trend toward the availability of more matte finishes on kitchen and bath hardware. She said deciding when to use matte finishes in a space is all about balancing the design: Where do you need shine? Or is a space looking too glossy and you need to tone it down? 

The Future of the Kitchen

While the kitchen has always been the heart of the home, the panelists agreed that it has and will continue to evolve beyond a female-dominated place to cook and eat. “Everyone is there now,” Saeed explained. “We must create a space where everyone in the home belongs.” 

Weiler agreed. “Everyone ends up in the kitchen,” so it’s important, she explained, to make it a space that works for every member of the household.

Color Inspired by Nature

As the discussion turned to color trends, both Saeed and Weiler agreed that green is a stand out. Saeed cited requests for green in paler, dusty and warm tones, while Weiler stated that green is here to stay. She also sees interest in blues, browns and wood tones.

The Joy of Self-Expression

For the last part of the session, the panel was joined by Wismer and Ladd, who described the philosophy behind the kitchens they designed for the Café Appliances booth.

Ladd, who is a self-described maximalist, said it’s not about following trends but rather about being “unique and true to yourself.” Her Café kitchen, she said, is a “kaleidoscope of pattern and color” that’s a stark contrast to the minimalist white, gray and bleached wood that has dominated kitchens over the past decade. “The flip side is more is more is more,” she noted. “My trend is that there is no trend.” 

Wismer, who called her Café kitchen design Vibrant Vibes, noted that she “wants a lot of energy” in her kitchen. “This is a vibe. Your client might want a calming vibe or a clean aesthetic focused on organization. You need to know what your client’s vibe is.”

She pointed to her use of softer, rounder edges and pops of color — which can also work in more neutral kitchens. How? By using the client’s favorite color on the inside of cabinetry with just small amounts seen via select glass-front uppers or shelving. 

Design Philosophies & Expanding Influences

Ladd, who says two of her design philosophies are “design is never done” and “design doesn’t have to be permanent,” pointed to her use of wallpaper and unique hardware — both of which can be easily changed out when the mood strikes. “My barometer is, ‘Does it bring you joy?’” she said.

Ladd also noted that she tries to create balance in her maximalist designs by bringing in natural elements such as rattan, caning and brass and wood shelving. In her Café design, she also used dark matte appliances “to vibe with the intensity of the kitchen” and floral wallpaper as her “spin on grounded, earthy design.”

In conclusion, Wismer told the design professionals gathered to pay attention to how social media is expanding the universe of design influences — including among their clients. “We are all scrolling and are exposed to a lot of great design,” she said.