Trending: Beautiful Bathrooms
Q&A with Hills Showcase
What has been the biggest design trend for bathrooms?
As home décor evolves, rooms that were seen as more utilitarian are now deserving of their own style. Beauty and function can coexist, meaning rooms like your bathroom should be a space that continues the design theme of the rest of your home. While this has been a trend for a few years, we are seeing more people opt for vanities that look like furniture. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see dressers and chests repurposed into unique vanities. If a DIY project isn’t on your list, there is a wide range of vanities to choose from that have been manufactured to look like furniture and will match any style. The coastal chic trend has hit Southwest Florida bathrooms and I think it will continue this year. Vanities have gotten lighter and the lines are now sleeker in keeping with the shift to transitional design. Another trend that will continue is wall-mounted vanities that maximize storage while looking very contemporary. For a more modern look, don’t worry about legs. Floating vanities with mounted under-lighting are all the rage and they look great in a transitional or modern space. If you feel like you want to anchor the vanity, then legs can be used; really the sky’s the limit.
What are some tech trends should we look for this year?
Along with the idea that vanities are becoming their own furniture-grade pieces, you can now find options with interesting drawer liners like velvet or leather and many have electrical packages so hairstyling tools can be plugged into drawers. This helps keep counters clutter-free. In fact, technology is now a large part of the bathroom as a whole. From mirrors with USB ports that play music, to frameless or waterproof televisions, the bathroom can be a very tech-friendly space. My one word of caution is to not invest too much in the latest technology and talk to an expert. I’m pragmatic when it comes to mixing water and electricity and I believe in simplicity with plumbing. You shouldn’t have to call an electrician to fix your plumbing. I also find that people don’t know exactly what they are getting when they purchase something like a no-touch faucet. Batteries have to be changed, since the technology is new. Not many companies know exactly what to do when something goes wrong, and there can be unforeseen issues. I know someone who installed a motion censored kitchen faucet and when they left to go out to dinner, the cat jumped onto the counter top and activated the faucet which led to a flooded kitchen! People just expect their faucets to work and keep working for years to come. While new technology is great, you might find the “old fashioned” route fits your needs just fine. I’m not disparaging new technology, but as a company, we sell the fixtures and we install them, so I see the pros and cons firsthand and want to pass that knowledge on to my clients so they can make the most informed decision.
What changes have you seen in your clients over the last few years?
They are much more educated and more interested. I love working with these new savvy consumers! They come in knowing what they want and we can have a much deeper conversation about their plumbing and bathroom needs. I also find Southwest Florida to be a unique market because people tend to be very mobile. I’ve noticed a seven-year trend with people moving into a new kind of home in the local area. People like to start in a condo, then move to a home, then try a golf course community, then go back to a condo, so I wind up working with clients in all kinds of different homes which is both fun and challenging. We have to know how each kind of home functions since a condo is different than a single-family home downtown.
What are the local trends when it comes to color and finishes?
Locally, people are drawn to lighter tones both in their vanities and fixtures. I also notice they don’t want to deal with odd finishes but are interested in unique shapes. There is a desire for fixtures that are low maintenance and easy to clean as well. Most people I deal with are making the area their second home so the focus is on fun, not cleaning a faucet that shows watermarks. Chrome and polished nickel will continue to be popular and there is a shift towards satin gold. It’s not as loud but still brings in a warm tone to the bath or kitchen. I believe the trend of high gloss vanities will continue to pick up locally. These are beautiful pieces that work in any color and are a great option for our transitional coastal style.