Inviting Organization

With the ever-increasing trend toward multi-tasking and the advent of technology that makes everyone accessible 24/7, it’s no surprise that there’s a growing interest in the bathroom’s role as a last refuge from the stresses of the world. At the same time, there’s a need for bath spaces designed to feel clean and uncluttered, helping to further the sense of serenity so desired by today’s homeowners.

“A need for calm and organization in our lives perpetuates the trend for minimalism, spa qualities and a feeling of tranquility,” says Jeff Ptacek, CKD, product manager, StarMark/Fieldstone Cabinetry, in Sioux Falls, SD.

However, most consumers are unwilling to give up the wealth of products cluttering so many baths, which drives the need for vanities to offer copious functional storage.

As a result, when it comes to trends in vanities and bathroom cabinetry, manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News are seeing a desire for clean lines, plenty of storage and a move toward furniture style vanities, particularly in the master bath.

“Specialty and dedicated storage are important,” says Laurie Galbraith, design & training manager for HomeCrest Cabinetry, in Goshen, IN. “[More sophisticated] interior storage features for bath vanities are now being offered. The type of cabinets we have used for years in the kitchen – such as spice and condiment storage – are now showing up in the bath for toiletries, medications and all kinds of beauty and spa tools,” she notes.

Becky Bertch, vice president, Bertch Cabinet Mfg., in Waterloo, IA, also sees many trends carrying over from kitchen cabinetry into the bath, including open shelving, darker finishes and contemporary styling.

Furniture Styling

Manufacturers also note high-quality, furniture-style vanities still top the wish list for many designers and homeowners.

“Furniture-style is still hot,” says James Lin, president of Fairmont Designs, in Buena Park, CA. However, he notes quality here is key: “The companies making good quality, well-made products are sticking around – the lesser quality companies have disappeared.”

“[The furniture-style vanity] is a trend that’s here to stay,” says Angela Scarbrough, senior director of marketing for Decolav, in Deerfield Beach, FL.

Rod Brewer, v.p./marketing and product development for Mid Continent Cabinetry, in Eagan, MN says, “The overall trend is cabinetry as furniture. Consumers don’t want the look of boxy vanities with cultured marble tops.”

“In many cases, the cabinetry has given way to plumbing fixtures in the sink area [such as pedestal sinks]. This is forcing the designer to be more creative with storage solutions. The need for storing toiletries is still there [so] the designer needs to use cabinetry in creative ways,” he adds.

Furniture-style doesn’t necessarily mean ornate design. “Today’s vanity doesn’t have to show Victorian styling to be rooted in concepts more commonly associated with furniture,” says Chris Stookey, director of marketing & engineering for Huntwood Custom Cabinets, in Liberty Lake, WA. “The popular Asian design theme illustrates this nicely. Some designers have recognized the common ground Mission and Asian concepts share. We’re seeing some fantastic bath themes mixing these two themes to stunning effect.”

Steve Wilcox, director of marketing and product development at Sagehill Designs in Cerritos, CA adds, “From an aesthetic perspective, we are seeing the need for more furniture-like design and decorative finishes. Features like inset doors, select veneer treatments and hand-detailed finishes are important.”

Sachin Sharma, account manager for Lacava, in Chicago, IL, has a different point of view. “Right now it seems as though furniture-style vanities are quickly fading,” he says. “Although still popular for a master bath, the trend is slowly shifting toward a more contemporary style, especially in metropolitan areas such as apartments and condos.”