In celebration of Kitchen and Bath Month, Kalco Lighting, a leading manufacturer of luxury lighting and furniture designs, hosted a timely virtual event on Wednesday, October 9th, about the popular colors, finishes and materials that create visually appealing spaces. Led by Moen’s Senior Creative Style Manager Danielle DeBoe Harper, hosts of HGTV’s Unsellable Houses Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis and Kalco Lighting’s Senior Product Designer Grace Denniston, the style spotters offered a unique perspective on these important elements and tips on how homeowners can navigate the overwhelming process of creating their dream home.
Identified by the panelists, these are the trends that are and will continue to shape the aesthetics of kitchens and baths:
A Balance of Form and Function
One important, but sometimes forgotten design element for these spaces is durability—how fixtures and faucets will resist exposure to water and the wear and tear of daily activities. Why is this important? For Lyndsay and Leslie, who also own their own real estate and renovation firm Lamb & Co., it’s a selling point!
“My head always goes to re-sale,” Davis says. “When you have a well-made product, it’s an investment, but it’s going to bring value five to 10 years from now when we go to sell your home.”
Kalco Lighting seamlessly integrates strength and beauty into its lighting by merging trendy finishes, like brushed gold, with advanced finishing technology that ensures fixtures can withstand wet or harsh environments. Similarly, Moen fuses its Smart Faucet with Motion Control technology with the use of natural materials, such as fireclay, granite and teak wood, in their sink and faucet designs to blend form and function.
“Whenever selecting faucets for a kitchen or bath, there are three primary consideration filters,” says Moen’s DeBoe Harper. “One is durability. The other is your style preference and the third is functionality. It’s important to understand how the room will be used and what the space will endure.”
Colors, Materials and Finishes that Set the Tone
Whether it’s the luxurious feel of brushed gold or the bold aesthetic of matte black, finish selections can personally spark joy or creativity, inevitably enhancing the mood of the atmosphere. What type of vibe should homeowners consider for the kitchen and bath?
“For many people, the kitchen is going to be more of a joyful, happy space, so you may want to aim for finishes that inspire energy and warmth, such as brushed gold or polished nickel,” DeBoe Harper suggests. “Increasingly, brushed gold is becoming a favorite because of its nod to luxury and beauty.”
Denniston says she lets popular personal preferences help dictate what materials and finishes she picks for a design. Today’s customers want their bathrooms to feel calm and tranquil, she notes, which explains the increased use of natural materials, like Kalco’s popular authentic Alabaster stone, that creates a softer ambiance.
Regional and cultural preferences also play a significant role in what’s trending.
“Here in the Pacific Northwest, layered neutrals and brass and golds are the focal points, even in the bathroom,” Lamb says. “Bamboo, recycled glass and reclaimed wood are also becoming more popular. When designing a kitchen in Florida, it was all about glass, and we needed more and more color.”
An Intersection of Biophilic and Personal Expression
Looking ahead to 2025, the designers expect macro design trends —personal expression and biophilic design —will continue to influence interior design, but they expect to see them evolve and even intersect.
“We’re seeing biophilia evolve from bringing plants and flowers into the home to greater applications and inspiration from the outside world, like pebble-shaped stools and unique applications of glass that evoke the movement of water,” DeBoe Harper says. “The result is rooms that are not cookie-cutter. You’re bringing in a connection of nature and ensuring your bath doesn’t look like your neighbors.”
Additionally, the panel predicts a rise in handcrafted elements along with a shift into more soothing earthy color palettes, such as muted olive and soft ivory, alongside rich jewel tones.
For more information, visit Moen.com, Kalco.com and LambandCompany.com.
