Watch Out For These Two Kitchen and Bath Trends in 2018
Kitchens and baths are notoriously expensive and time-consuming to update, so they tend to evolve slowly. But like tectonic shifts, when changes in style do occur, they can be durable and dramatic. (Recall the hegemony of stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the aughts). As 2017 draws to a close, we have our eye on two phenomena in particular.
First, kitchens and baths are getting darker. To meet consumers’ suddenly insatiable demand for smooth, ebony finishes, manufacturers from LG to Vipp are cranking out entire collections of matte-black products. Expect to see monochromatic, Scandinavian-inflected interiors dominating Instagram in 2018.
Second, the number of high-performing but pint-sized fixtures and appliances is proliferating. In the kitchen, the trend is fueled at least in part by the rise of celebrity chefs, cooking shows, and food blogs, which has created huge demand for commercial-grade chef technology that can fit in a home.
Here, we assemble 32 of our favorite products in the matte-black and small-space categories. For more kitchen and bath inspiration, including expert advice and real-life results, pick up our January/February issue, on newsstands January 23.
Paint It Matte Black
Litze articulating faucet with industrial handle by Brizo From $732 A matte-black and gold-tone faucet by Brizo features a dual-jointed articulating arm with a semi-flexible hose and a convenient magnetic docking system.
Built-in refrigerator by BlueStar From $9,850 In addition to its large capacity and commercial-level performance, BlueStar’s Built-in refrigerator offers unrivaled customization, with more than 750 colors to choose from, plus metal trim and door swing options.
Dedica DeLuxe manual espresso machine and cappuccino maker by De’Longhi $350 Housed in a slim body with stainless steel accents, the professional-grade De’Longhi espresso and cappuccino maker promises a barista-quality cup.
Matte-black stainless steel gas single-oven range by LG $1,249 LG’s large-capacity oven boasts a fingerprint- and smudge- resistant finish, as well as intuitive glass controls that are as easy to operate as they are to wipe clean.
Trim set in custom Montreal Black finish by Aquabrass $869 Aquabrass recently introduced Montreal Black, a smooth finish that is plated rather than painted for durability. It’s seen here on the Demi-Totem 1/2-inch thermostatic shower valve trim set.
Tray by Vipp $95 Following the success of Vipp’s matte-black soap dispenser, the Danish company introduced a sleek 13.4-inch-diameter tray. Though it’s meant for serving, the disc’s slip-resistant surface is well-suited to holding washroom accessories, too.
Fontane Bianche showerhead by Salvatori + Fantini From $1,707 Elisa Ossino’s bath collection for the Italian manufacturers Fantini and Salvatori is named after a white-sand beach town in Sicily, but it features an elegant, midnight-black rain showerhead.
Shropshire tub by Victoria + Albert From $4,688 A dapper matte-black finish adds a contemporary edge to the Victorian-style, claw-footed Shropshire bathtub produced by Victoria + Albert, a British company best known for its
freestanding basins.
Bathroom accessories by Vipp From $69 Vipp’s sleek line of black washroom accessories provides the perfect finishing touch. Made of powder-coated and stainless steel, the collection includes a soap dispenser, soap dish, container, toothbrush holder, and tray (see above).
K21 kitchen by Boffi Prices upon request Norbert Wangen’s K21 kitchen system for Milan-based Boffi, introduced in 2017, offers extruded aluminum handles in an anodized matte-black finish and upper cabinets in dark wood and PaperStone black Slate.
30" refrigerator column by True Residential From $9,000 True’s home refrigerators now come in a high-contrast combination of powder-coated matte-black stainless steel and bright copper. The finishes are available on the 30-inch refrigerator column, freezer, and wine storage unit, and on the True 42 and True 48.
Hällviken sink by IKEA $211 For a relatively low-cost splash of black in the kitchen, try IKEA’s Hällviken sink. The stone powder and acrylic basin is completely non-porous for easy cleaning.
VVD kitchen collection by DADA Prices upon request Belgian architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen’s new kitchen system for DADA includes a number of black finishes for cabinets and worktops, such as Ferrovia steel (shown here on the short cabinets) and Pewter Metal Matt Lacquer (on the tall cabinets).
Industrial thermostatic shower valve trim by Samuel Heath From $4,116 The Bauhaus-influenced LMK shower controls from British maker Samuel Heath come in a combination of satin nickel and matte-black chrome.
Master series by Bertazzoni From $4,149 Matte black is the latest color choice in Bertazzoni’s Master series. Available in spring 2018, the new option will be offered in all-gas, dual-fuel, and induction models and in sizes starting at 24 inches.
Via Manzoni single-lever washbasin mixer by Gessi $676 Italian manufacturer Gessi’s Via Manzoni collection now includes a stylish matte-black option for its right-angled single-lever faucet.
Big Things, Small Packages
24" integrated
column
refrigerator
and freezer by
Sub-Zero $6,665 With a refrigerator and freezer hidden behind one solid door, Sub-Zero’s 24-inch combination column looks sleek while fitting in
the tightest nooks.
iMove by Kesseböhmer From $399 The pull-down iMove system goes inside hard-to-reach wall units, offering easier access to items. The shelf comes down at
an angle, then locks automatically, freeing both your hands
to load and unload.
24" induction cooktop by Fisher & Paykel $1,399 Fisher & Paykel’s 24-
inch cooktop has four cooking zones that
can be bridged to create two SmartZones. The versatile appliance
comes in a 12-, 30-, and 36-inch version as well.
Zera food recycler by WLabs of Whirlpool $1,199 Soon to launch, the fully automated Zera Food Recycler turns food scraps into homemade fertilizer within 24 hours. Measuring 11 by 22 by 33.75 inches, the unit slips into narrow spots.
AXOR Starck Green 2-Jet handshower by Hansgrohe From $280 Conceived by Philippe Starck and equipped with 134 no-clog spray channels and two
spray modes, AXOR’s
Green 2-Jet Handshower merges state-of-the-art
engineering with streamlined design.
43" Simone soaking tub by Signature Hardware From $2,985 With a deep basin and integrated seat, the
43-inch-diameter brushed stainless steel Simone tub allows full-body immersion. Massaging air jets
are available as an optional add-on.
WP.FO Powder
sink by Alape $2,200 Alape’s WP.FO Powder sink is almost a perfect cube, with each side measuring 14 to 15 inches. Its body houses a small cabinet that features a push-to-open door made of MDF wood with a smooth silk-matte finish.
Ypperlig mirror
by Hay for IKEA From $13 Part of a collection
of more than 60 products designed by Copenhagen-based cult brand Hay for Swedish giant IKEA, the Ypperlig mirror and shelf provide maximum functionality in a highly compact form.
Flow oval washbasin with integrated shelf by Simas $925 The sculptural wall-mounted sink basins by Italian manufacturer Simas come in square,
rectangular, oval, and circular forms—making them suitable for a wide variety of small bathrooms.
C2 vanity by Wetstyle From $2,195 Designed by Pierre Belanger with Wetstyle Design Lab, the C2 vanity is made of a stainless steel frame with rungs on the sides for hanging accessories. It comes in two sizes, 24 and 30 inches, and has an optional matte-black finish.
Eldon tub by Victoria + Albert From $5,600 Measuring 69 inches long, the Eldon back-to-wall tub was born from a collaboration between manufacturer Victoria + Albert and design studio Conran + Partners. The long-lasting Quarrycast material is made of a combination of volcanic limestone and resin.
Revel pivot shower door by Kohler From $861 Available in many different sizes, Kohler’s minimalist frameless shower door Revel is a flexible design solution for bathrooms of all scales.
DishDrawer dishwasher by Fisher & Paykel From $649 Available in single- and double-drawer models, Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer is a godsend for compact kitchens.
ME wall-mounted toilet by Philippe Starck for Duravit From $430 Philippe Starck’s toilet for Duravit measures only about 14.5 by 19 inches and comes in a wall-hung version.
Vertical bar block by Henrybuilt From $3,500 Henrybuilt’s six-inch-wide shelving system transforms useless nooks and corners into slender storage units for kitchen necessities.
18" Futura Dimension Slimline dishwasher by Miele $1,399
Miele’s ultra-slim dishwasher isn’t just efficient in terms of space, it’s also capable of washing and drying a full load in 31 minutes.
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