By Jenn Andrlik​
Four experts pick what’s in, what’s good, and what’s not going anywhere soon in the K&B industry.
Senior Designer, Leicht Kitchens
When considering a design, I like to start with the cabinet finishes, then go on to countertops and hardware, and last choose the backsplash and floor tiles. It’s always easier to start with the big choices and work your way forward.
I love modern, clean, and simple lines with some element of surprise tucked away.
Cabinets from Leicht Westchester
200 Main St.
Mount Kisco
(914) 244-9099
www.leichtwestchester.com
Paneled appliances never go out of style, and they always make for a striking kitchen, especially when designing modern. With the new models today from Miele and Gaggenau, they are completely camouflaged.
Cabinets from Leicht Westchester
200 Main St
Mount Kisco
(914) 244-9099
www.leichtwestchester.com
For the counters, I like the 12-millimeter-thick porcelain tops from Neolith.
12-mm porcelain countertop,
Price available upon request
www.neolith.co.za
Gorgeous faucets act like the jewelry in the room. When designing modern kitchens with clean and simple lines, I love the new line by Jason Wu for Brizo—that matte black finish with the touch technology. You always need a few areas to add that pop of excitement, and faucets can offer a great way to add sculptural elements to the space.
Solona single-handle, single-hole, pull-down kitchen faucet with SmartTouch in matte black,
$720
www.brizo.com
Designer, Terra Tile and Marble
Worried about too much white? There is never too much white. Nothing makes color pop better. When focused on counters, cabinets, and tile, people sometimes forget the other elements in a room. Paint, dishes, rugs, and accents all add color.
Our goal is to help all our clients achieve a look that is right for their homes and that comfortably fits the budgets allocated for their kitchens. We want every price point to look great.
For lights over the island, we like the PB classic Pendant with Flared Glass.
$99-$159
www.potterybarn.com
For the backsplash, a polished Carrara marble in a 1-by-3-inch herringbone pattern will work beautifully ($22/square foot). The polished finish contrasts nicely with the honed countertop. It has an interesting pattern and eliminates the need for a border or decorative accent.
For paint, try Benjamin Moore Classic Colors. There are multiple options depending on your shade and color preference, but always look for a color that feels good. With the tile and stone we chose, gray works as well as shades of blue. We chose Silver Mist 1619 for walls, with trim in First Snowfall 1618.
These classic yet colorful dish towels add a fun punch of purple that is not part of the permanent fixtures but gives the kitchen that not-so-serious look.
Williams-Sonoma Seasonal Contrast Striped Towels in Grapevine,
$19.95 for Four
www.williams-sonoma.com
For the floor, try a 24-by-24-inch porcelain tile like Polis Montagne Zermatt ($5.34/square foot). It is a color blend of blues and gray. The large format works in a contemporary way without being too modern.
Backsplash and Floor from Terra Tile and Marble
525 N State Rd.
Briarcliff Manor (914) 923-4295
www.terratileandmarble.com
Founder and Principal Designer, Clean Design Partners
When designing bathrooms, we work hard to make the aesthetic timeless and neutral. Given that bath renovations are expensive and intricate, we want to make sure the client is happy with the design and materials for a very long time.
I love this sink console. It’s clean and modern, and the shelf provides just enough storage for a powder room. Even the polished stainless steel stretcher across the front is functional for hanging a hand towel.
Wetstyle Mirror Console,
Price Available Upon Request
www.wetstyle.ca
This is my go-to medicine cabinet. I love the metal frame and inset mirror. The tiny knob to open the door is so functional and ensures against fingerprints. This cabinet also lights up when opened and has an interior outlet, which is indispensable for an electric razor or toothbrush.
Framed Lit Inset Medicine Cabinet,
$799-$899
www.restorationhardware.com
The exposed screws and hinge on this utterly simple yet elegant vanity light add just the right amount of detail to take it from plain to well-designed.
Mercer Long Box
Sconce, $630
www.circalighting.com
These little marble squares make this mosaic tile sparkle in a way that cannot be replicated with larger square pieces. It’s feminine and completely classic. You will never tire of it.
New Ravenna 1-cm Grid Shown in Calacatta Radiance Tile,
Price Available Upon Request
www.newravenna.com
Simplicity defined. I love these finger pulls. These pulls are surprisingly ergonomic and allow you to showcase the beauty of your cabinetry design without sacrificing functionality.
Berenson Bravo Finger Pull in Polished Chrome,
Price Available Upon Request
www.beresonhardware.com
Founder and President, Debra Funt Interiors
Bathrooms are so much fun to do. They are an opportunity to mix functionality with straight-up fantasy. My challenge is always to create the most luxurious experience possible every time clients walk into their bathrooms, without forgetting the everyday things: a convenient plug for the blow-dryer, a place to put away toothbrushes, and an accessible place for bath towels.
For vanities, furniture-type cabinetry, with furniture legs, is still strong. For the brave: floating, wall-mounted, contemporary vanities, particularly in powder rooms, are great. Clients are beginning to embrace painted finishes in light gray or taupe. I’m loving the look of mirrored or metal inserts in cabinet doors. I even like metal beading, instead of molding, on vanity doors.
Martens Double Vanity Sink,
$4,145
www.restorationhardware.com
My clients are now more receptive to mixing different materials and creating accent walls. I can use one unique tile for the shower enclosure and a simpler option for the bathroom floor—or the other way around. I feel like we have finally moved beyond Carrara marble.
Paco Tile from the Atelier Collection,
Price Available Upon Request
Studium NYC
150 E 58th St. 7th Floor
New York, NY (212) 486-1811
www.studiumnyc.com
I am using sleek, modern plumbing fixtures for faucets, hand showers, and tub fillers, even where the bathroom is a little more transitional or industrial. Wall-mounted toilets provide a sleeker, European look. In small bathrooms they are also space savers. I love the way a free-standing tub looks, if there is room for one. There are great tub options now that are sculptural, sexy, and organic, and I think that’s what makes all these trends feel new. They are an amalgam of influences—minimal, textural, but with an organic component that keeps the look grounded. I call it the “new modern.”
2040 Widespread Lavatory Faucet,
$738
www.newportbrass.com
I’m seeing a shift toward taupe and cocoa colors in stone and porcelain tiles. It looks warm and fresh and nothing like the old beige-and-brown marble combinations of the 1990s.
Origami Tiles,
Price Varies By Style
www.akdo.com
