>> WHEN IT COMES TO kitchen and bath trends,
Generation X is inching ahead of baby boomers as the
demographic most likely to incorporate custom design elements
into a home, and millennials are gaining ground.
In its 2022 Design Trends report, the National Kitchen & Bath
Association (NKBA) predicts that over the next three years, younger
consumers will be driving demand for more home technology,
primary bathrooms that are 25% bigger and paint colours that are
several shades bolder.
A surprising number of entries in the Fall
Parade of Homes already fill the bill. Smart-
home automation is a given for some builders,
including Foxridge Homes, which kicked the
kitchen tech up several notches in its show
home at 8 Stone Hearth Lane in Oak Bluff West.
Designer Tara MacTavish says the Invisacook
induction cooktop lives up to its invisa-billing.
It's installed out of sight, underneath the counter,
to create a big open island countertop that you
can also cook on.
Coincidentally, the NKBA report predicts
that multi-functional spaces will only grow in
popularity, and younger homeowners want
kitchen islands that do it all — with space for
food prep, school or office work, dining and
entertaining.
Built-in cutting boards and drying racks, pantry
storage for small appliances and coffee stations
make the grade for consumers of all ages.
Appliances and lighting that can be controlled
via smartphone apps or voice-activation, hands-
free faucets and dedicated spaces for recycling
and composting are also topping wish-lists.
Cont'd on page 94
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