Personality Plus

Clean, warm and comfortable describe today’s hottest kitchen trends, and this is particularly evident at the kitchen water station. The days of creating a full-blown, commercial-style workspace have taken a back seat to creating a more relaxed gathering place, and that means some of the pro-style elements have been toned down. However, that doesn’t mean consumers are willing to sacrifice personality in their sink and faucet choices.

“People still want the feeling of a professional kitchen, but they now desire it in a softer statement in order to keep the space comfortable and warm, rather than [doing] an entire [pro-style] kitchen,” says Tim Maicher, director of marketing for Blanco America, in Lumberton, NJ. “Maintaining warmth and personality in the kitchen is high on the design checklist for today’s consumers.”

Maicher expects elements of the professional look to remain strong through 2011, and he believes that faucets and sinks that can deliver the combination of professional style, while working in transitional formats, will see growth.

Al DeGenova agrees that the trend toward truly commercial style/professional kitchens is waning. “Though there is still demand for the commercial-style products in stainless steel, the move is toward softening kitchens with more wood elements and other ‘organic’ features,” says DeGenova, director of marketing communications for Grohe America, in Bloomingdale, IL.

Softening the kitchen naturally leads to cleaner and simpler designs, which keys into consumers’ changing design preferences, he notes.

“From our perspective, and the perspective of our customers, the trend seems to be simple and clean,” concurs Dan Sullivan, president of Affluence Seamless Sink, in Cincinnati, OH. “People seem to be saying ‘the less to look at, the better.’”

Quantity VS Quality

While adding square footage to the kitchen may be trending downward, adding quality is on the rise. Kitchen sink and faucet manufacturers note that consumers are buying long-lasting, quality products that offer additional functionality or innovation beyond what’s expected, to help them enjoy their homes.

For faucets, this may mean choosing a high-arc, pull-down faucet with a multi-function spray to make kitchen chores a little easier, according to Beth Wallick, manager of marketing communications for Moen, in North Olmsted, OH.

“Since people are spending more time dining and entertaining at home, they may choose some professional-style amenities, such as larger sinks, pot fillers or appliances that do more to enhance their lives,” says Wallick. “Practical – not conspicuous – purchases are the trend.”

High-quality, durable products that will stand the test of time are the key, according to Ann Rottinghaus, marketing communications manager for Elkay Manufacturing Co., in Oak Brook, IL.

While traditional stainless steel sinks continue to be popular, many designers are upscaling the island using sinks of the heavier 16-gauge quality as opposed to the thinner 18-gauge variety.

“Thicker is better,” confirms Chuck Volga, v.p./business development for Artisan Manufacturing Corp., in Newark, NJ. “The 16-gauge [material] is stronger and more dimensionally stable and, if insulated, it will also be quieter and retain the temperature. The price point plays a part in this selection, but not as strongly as the marriage of quality and design.”

Quality and design are the most important elements today as clients look to personalize their kitchens, manufacturers agree.

“People will always demand products that combine quality, functionality and clean design,” says Darryl Jones, director of U.S. sales for KWC America, in Norcross, GA. “However, in today’s market, this does not limit designers’ opportunities to personalize kitchens. There are plenty of products with all of these core attributes, so there is plenty of scope to accommodate a client’s personal preference in terms of style.”