Personal Choice matters most

Chic looks

For Nancy G. Henry, registered interior designer, DDK Kitchen Design Group, many of the same trends and client desires noted by previous designers are evident in her area of Glenview, IL. Zero-threshold showers, chrome finishes, wall-mount faucets, floating cabinets and LED lights are all popular, as are porcelain tiles.

“Elongated drains offer a very fashionable, clean look,” she elaborates. “And we’re still seeing a lot of polished chrome, as well as brushed nickel finishes in fixtures.

“Over the past couple of months, I’ve also had a lot of requests for wall-mount faucets,” she continues, “especially from clients who live in the city. It’s a very chic, contemporary look, as are floating cabinets.”

LED lighting is a growing request that offers an array of benefits. “I’ve floated vanities and put LED lighting underneath them, as well as above and inside cabinets. It can be very attractive to see something [in the bathroom] that doesn’t look like it’s in a bathroom,” she says, adding that xenon lighting is also frequently used.

“Lighting is incredibly important in any room, especially one where women put on makeup and men shave,” she continues. “Wattage [of LED lights] is extremely low and output extremely high. The technology is still growing, and the price will come down. It’s already headed in that direction.”

Many of Henry’s clients are also trending toward porcelain tiles. Those that resemble brushed granite are especially exciting, she indicates. “We recently installed some in a master bath that was complemented with a quartzite vanity top,” she says. “Everyone actually thought the floor was granite.”

Henry is also noticing clients choosing a variety of tile shapes to create patterns on the floor as well as in the shower. “It’s less expensive than granite,” she notes. “It’s available in a variety of different colors, and it isn’t slippery.”

Another product Henry hears many requests for is the large rain showerhead. “They’ve been ‘in’ for quite some time, but people still really like them,” she says.

Vessel sinks, as well as those in various shapes, and free-standing tubs that can be placed in the middle of the room as a focal point, are also popular.

“We’re also seeing a lot of exotic veneers, including Wenge and Afromosia,” she says. “They provide a contemporary look. Horizontal grains are very popular now.”