Top trends from the builder’s show that should be hitting stores now…

Back in February I attended the annual Builder’s Convention in Las Vegas and snapped a few pictures of my favorite trends that seemed to repeat themselves throughout the different booths of the show.  Things like the plumbing fixtures were all scheduled to be available for retail purchase- Fall of 2019!  So here’s a look back at the things that captured my attention!

Appliances go back to White

We’ve had a shake up in the appliance color pallet over the past couple of years.  Ever since stainless turned more black and matte, it seemed the sky was the limit on what this metal could evolve into.  I didn’t expect the next big thing to instead be a glamorous polished white.  What really takes these to the next level are the professional style details.   Over sized gauges, beautifully designed badges, rivets and accents of chrome or copper trims.  From European manufactures to the GE Cafe’s take on the new trend, there are options in a variety of price points.

Lighting on Pulleys

Although not a brand new trend (as I have been eye-balling pulley themed chandeliers and pendants for my stair case for years now) the SCONCE pulley theme kept popping up everywhere at the show.

From this modern and sleek shiny pendant to the fixture below by Kohler- they each display a hanging element and a unique projection from the wall.

Shower Doors that are meant to be Seen

While frame-less shower doors are a beautiful luxury that focuses on a trim free, trackless piece of non obscured glass, this trend is quite the opposite.  The bold black designs of these shower door manufactures were all about drawing attention to the door and turning the glass into a fun piece of eye candy.

Basic plumbing handles that are anything but Basic

The plumbing trend that could be seen at every booth from the most elite plumbing distributor to the more accessible brands you find at Home Depot, was what I like to call the “back to basics” handles.

From simple old school faucet handles you would associate with an outdoor water spigot to levers that look like the shut off valves most of us have on our water mains, the elevated metal finishes take them to a level beyond basic.

A New take on 3-panel Doors

A three panel door used to mean one of two things- you were either looking for a Craftsman 3-panel with a single square on top and two vertical panels side by side below it, or you were after a contemporary look with three evenly divided horizontal panels, sort of broken up into three squares.  These three-panel designs are neither modern nor Craftsman.

The white and stained options above offer a more traditional option, that still feels fresh and new.  While the blue door below would be fun to incorporate into any modern aesthetic.

Back splashes focused on Texture

One of the funnest things to look at during any home show is tile!  Tile back splash manufactures still struggle to reinvent the success of white subway tile that is so classic and safe it remains a tried and true choice for almost every kitchen.  However, we need more options!  To combat this, tile has moved away from busy patterns and too much color and focused on adding a strong textural element.

Larger scale tiles that are basically one tone, pop with interest as the raised patterns reflect and shadow light within the design.  Busier herringbone options with glazes still feel organic and soft when presented in the same tone on tone color pallet.

I had so much fun reviewing my cell phone snap shots from the show.  It was amazing how these trends revealed themselves through the handful of photos I had.  As the year draws to a close the predictions for next years big design trends are already surfacing.  The major paint distributors recently announced their 2020 Colors of the Year.  While these are fun to read about, I urge you to always consider what is the most “you.”  The best designs come from taking a few suggestions and inviting the new trends into your house that already feel like they are at home there.