Kitchen and bath products that combine design trends with functionality

While the number of kitchen and bath remodels are expected to decline this year, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association's 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Outlook, consumers still are more likely to upgrade these rooms than invest in new construction. Kitchen and bath products that combine design trends with functionality are sure to top consumers' must-have lists. Here are some recent introductions that fit the bill.

Gaggenau's First Professionals kitchen package enables amateur chefs to own restaurant-grade appliances with a cutting-edge European design. Priced around $15,000, the standard package features a 30-inch convection oven, a 36-inch bottom freezer, a 36-inch gas or glass ceramic cooktop, a 36-inch wall hood, a 24-inch automatic dishwasher and optional upgrades.


Available to consumers in early 2009, Miele's CVA 5000 series built-in coffee system takes the guesswork out of making the perfect cup of coffee, latte, cappuccino or espresso. Features include an integrated milk tank that keeps milk cool for up to 12 hours, a height-adjustable central spout, an automatic conical grinder and Miele’s Clean Touch Steel™ finish, which resists fingerprints, scratches and smudges.


Stainless steel continues to be consumers' material of choice when purchasing kitchen appliances. St. Charles Cabinetry, a division of Viking Range Corp., enables homeowners to surround themselves with this easy-care metal by offering a contemporary, frameless, full-overlay line of cabinetry in brushed stainless steel, as well as in 23 colors of powdercoated, cold-rolled steel. Design trends include doors up to 96 inches tall; adjustable hinges; integrated eco-friendly lighting in wall cabinets; and 12 cabinetry pulls and knobs.


It twists. It turns. It delivers water exactly where the consumer wants it. The Kohler Karbon™ articulating faucet from Kohler Co. has five pivoting joints that offer limitless flexibility and precise height and direction adjustment. It's made from brass and carbon fiber.






Walker Zanger's Contessa Collection comprises hand-finished, terra-cotta tiles sporting Old World-inspired patterns in today's hottest design trends' colors and finishes, including genuine gold and silver leaf. Consumers can choose from 34 patterns for their backsplashes, walls, showers and other decorating projects.


Acclaimed Spanish designer Jaime Hyon's first line of bath art furniture brings contemporary baroque silhouettes and precious metals to the bathroom. Available exclusively from Chicago-based Hydrology, the collection includes Bosa ceramic sinks plated in 24k gold, platinum, yellow, black or white. The sinks come with or without a built-in mirror or lamp. The line includes a square black tub, basin stands, tall cabinets, wall hangers, towel rails, mirrors, lamps and accessories.


Like all pieces in Rohl's Wave Collection, Wave single-lever, deck-mounted lavatory faucet has no extraneous detailing, making for a sleek design that adds a contemporary twist to a bathroom. Part of the Rohl Modern group, this collection comprises a variety of faucets, a tub filler with a hand shower, an integrated shower arm and showerhead, and a shower bath panel.


Jaclo's stainless steel Quadro showerhead lets homeowners easily bring high-fashion style to the shower. Sporting a patterned, semitransparent cover that resembles a glowing lamp, Quadro fits on existing shower valves and outlets. It's part of the Lumiere Collection, which offers showerheads in several design trends and colors.



Villeroy & Boch's ongoing exploration of organic shapes continues with its Pure Stone line, introduced at the 2008 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. Inspired by the natural formation and surface of water-washed pebbles, the collection's lavatory basins, bidets and toilets have an asymmetrical shape resembling that of a stone gradually sculpted by water. Available finish options are Grey Stone and white, with and without the company's proprietary, dirt-resistant ceramicplus surface finish.