Hot off the heels of KBIS 2026, we are excited to talk about kitchen and bath fixtures and fittings. We saw everything from a colorful rainhead with a unique water pattern to a faucet with a hydro-powered LED task light to a plethora of stunning statement tubs.
Above photo: This bath project designed by Shea Pumarejo of San Antoni-based Younique Designs features unlacquered brass fixtures by Waterworks, which sparkle against the black marble in the steam shower by Mr. Steam. Photo credit: Armando Vara
Our recent survey on plumbing fixtures and fittings polled the industry on desired finishes; specialty faucet, sink and toilet fixtures; wellness elements included in recent projects; favorite tub styles; wet room popularity; and trends to come.
Quick Stats
- Gold/bronze is the top finish for today’s bathrooms.
- Integrated water filtration is the most popular specialty faucet element in the kitchen.
- The modern freestanding tub is the most coveted style in the bathroom.
- 2% of clients are not concerned with having a tub in the home for resale value.
Finish Fancy
Gold/bronze won out for most popular finish for faucets, shower fixtures and tub fillers in the bathroom over the last year at 29.4%. Brushed/satin nickel came in at 26.6% as a close second, and matte black, chrome and polished nickel rounded out the list. Write-in answers included stainless steel and unlacquered brass.
“I don’t follow the trends but rather choose finishes based on what is right for the project,” said Shea Pumarejo, owner of San Antonio-based Younique Designs. “I have recently been using a lot of unlacquered brass, but I don’t have a go-to finish.”
In the kitchen, brushed/satin nickel took first place for favorite fixtures and fittings finish at 33.9%, with gold/bronze in second place with 28.4%. Matte black, chrome and polished nickel were the other popular choices, and other answers included graphite, unlacquered brass and colored finished.
All the Bells & Whistles
When it comes to popular specialty faucet elements incorporated into kitchen projects over the last year, integrated water filtration came in at the top spot at 50.5%. Instant hot (46.7%), touchless/gesture control (43.8%), multiple spray modes (42.9%) and magnetic docking (35.2%) took second through fifth place. Integrated glass rinsers, increased faucet reach, multiple water choices, LED temperature indicators and programmable filling rounded out the list, and one addition was reverse osmosis faucets.
Comfort-height was the most coveted specialty toilet element in today’s bath projects at 85.7%, and bidet function and soft-close lids tied for second place with 66.7%. Adjustable-height toilets are somewhat new to the market and came in at 5.7% in our survey. Heated seats, nightlights, dual-flush capacity, self-cleaning function, wall-mount units and touchless flush were other specialty toilet elements specified in this year’s projects, while bio-analysis features ranked a little lower at 2.9%.
“Comfort-height is standard in every project I design unless it’s a child’s bathroom,” said Pumarejo, who won for Best Overall Bath in this year’s NKBA Design Awards. “Soft-close is another favorite function – or even better, an automatic lid.”
This beautiful island in a kitchen by Allie Mann, a senior designer with Case Architects & Remodelers, features dual single-hole faucets by Moen in brushed gold with a Kraus Kore 2-Tier 45-inch workstation sink in stainless steel. Photo credit: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Workstations were the most popular specialty sink featured incorporated into today’s kitchens at 71.4%, and scratch resistance (47.6%), secondary sinks (46.7%), sound dampening properties (40%) and stain resistance (38.1%) took the second through fourth spots. Double bowls, integrated garbage disposals, low-dividers, fingerprint and heat resistance and rear drainage completed our list. Write-in answers included drains offset to the right and units large enough to accommodate oversized cooking vessels.
“Our clients tend to be split on the actual use of workstation sinks with the different facets for tools vs. a traditional large single bowl sink,” said Allie Mann, a senior designer with Case Architects & Remodelers, a firm that serves clients in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The Bathroom Sanctuary
When it comes to wellness elements in today’s baths, our survey results found that hand showers (84%) and dual showerheads (66%) are in the most demand. Steam features and bidets tied for third place at 46.2%, and overhead/horizontal shower sprays (45.3%), tubs with air or water jets (34.9), massage jets in the shower or tub (33%) and customized shower pressure (30.2%) are additional popular wellness elements in the bath. Saunas, aromatherapy, chromatherapy, audio/soundscapes, cold-plunge tubs and snow rooms/showers rounded out our list. Write-in answers included rainfall showerheads and curbless/zero-entry showers.
“I think the pandemic had a big impact on the way we think about how our homes need to serve us and what we should be demanding of them,” said Pumarejo. “I love using anti-microbial treatments and finishes, steam therapy, chromatherapy and aromatherapy. A new find from KBIS 2026 is the Dekoda device by Kohler, which attaches to any toilet, analyzes your urine and sends health information to an app on your phone. This is the future of home design.”
The demand for a wet room – space that incorporates a tub and shower – in the bathroom is growing in popularity. Only 26.2% of our respondents claim not to have included at least one in their projects in the last year. Pumarejo says she has completed many wet room projects but feels the trend is waning. Mann says her firm is still creating these dual-use spaces but agrees they may not be as popular as they once were.
What’s New, What’s Coming
When asked which kitchen and/or bath plumbing fixtures and fittings trends will gain in popularity this year, our respondents had a ton of feedback. Traditional styles; more copper, brushed-stainless and black finishes; textured and easy-grip faucet handles; side-handle and wheel-handle faucets; and mixed metals topped the list for what we may see regarding fixture and fitting design.
Specific to the kitchen, design professionals expect to specify more instant hot and sparkling water faucets, glass rinsers, pre-rinse faucets, air-powered garbage disposals, pot fillers, water-filling stations, bridge-style faucets and bar sinks. In the bath, homeowners may be increasingly interested in incorporating sauna and steam elements, washlets and bidets, detachable showerheads, wall-mount body sprays, larger tubs, separate toilets, pulldown faucets, ceiling-mounted showerheads, cold-plunge tubs and ice showers and temperature control.
The KBB editors share their favorite plumbing fixtures and fittings from KBIS on page xx, including the Cranach Wellness Shower System, the Closiq Collection from Fleurco, a new Champagne Bronze finish from Native Trails and TOTO’s Aurora Toilet. At KBIS 2026, Pumarejo was impressed by a new shower system from Kohler that captures and reuses a percentage of the water and recycles it as the shower experience continues.
“Products that improve sustainability and wellness are going to be hot over the next few years, as design focuses more on aging in place, wellness design and eco-conscious design,” she added.
