2012 Trends in Kitchens and Baths

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, national kitchen and bath trends for 2012 include...

• While cherry is still popular for natural wood cabinetry, the trend is leaning toward darker finishes, with white popular for painted finishes
• Glass tile kitchen backsplashes are increasing in popularity
• Pull-out sprayer faucets are replacing the standard kitchen faucet
• Kitchen islands are downsizing because anything wider than 5 feet makes it hard to reach across for cleaning purposes; minimum size of 3 feet by 4 feet is recommended
• Polished chrome is replacing brushed metal finishes in popularity in both kitchens and baths
• Medicine cabinets are making a comeback over framed mirrors popular in bathrooms in recent years because of the benefit of additional storage
• Colors are trending toward gray and neutral tones; green is popular in bathrooms, while bronze and terra cotta are more popular in kitchens
• Trend toward energy efficiency is reflected by use of LED lighting in 70% of home redesigns

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Twin Cities Realtor