As a seasoned design influencer and a regular contributor to Daltxrealestate.com, my role offers a unique vantage point into the world of home design and construction. It means my inbox is perpetually buzzing with exciting announcements about innovative new products and exclusive invitations to experience groundbreaking developments firsthand. With Design and Construction Week (DCW) fast approaching, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the inspiring trends and remarkable innovations we discovered last year and to set the stage for the stunning new designs and technologies expected to emerge in 2020.
Design and Construction Week represents the pinnacle of industry collaboration, born out of a pivotal moment when the building industry faced significant challenges. Attendance at individual conventions had dwindled, prompting a brilliant strategic alliance between The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). They decided to merge their flagship conferences, creating an unprecedented unified event. This visionary decision paid off handsomely, transforming the landscape of industry trade shows. Today, DCW is a colossal gathering, attracting nearly 100,000 attendees, showcasing almost 2,000 exhibits, and spanning over a million square feet of exhibition space. The sheer scale and energy of this event are immense, promising a comprehensive overview of everything new in home design and construction. Just thinking about covering all that ground makes my feet ache with anticipation!
Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as the Lifestylist® for both LG Appliances and Signature Kitchen Suite. This involved orchestrating and staging their magnificent booths, a task that demanded immense creativity, meticulous planning, and more than a few 24-hour days. While undeniably arduous, this behind-the-scenes access offered an invaluable glimpse into the intricate ballet of coordination and innovation that brings such a massive event to life. This year, my focus has shifted slightly. Rather than being behind the scenes, I aim to immerse myself fully in understanding the prevailing trends, identifying the disruptive innovations, and discovering what truly sets the tone for the coming year in home design. I’m eager to share my findings, spotlighting both the best and, perhaps, the less impressive offerings after the show. Furthermore, I’m committed to maximizing the educational opportunities available and joining my fellow NAREE members for an insightful tour of the New American Home, a highlight for any design enthusiast.
Letting Smart Appliances Take the Reins: The Future of Connected Living
The conversation around artificial intelligence and smart home technology dominated last year’s Design and Construction Week, and it’s poised to remain a central theme this year. What’s even more exciting for many homeowners is the increasingly accessible price point of these time-saving and life-enhancing appliances. The integration of smart features is no longer a luxury reserved for the few; it’s becoming a mainstream expectation, transforming how we interact with our living spaces.
Thermador, a brand synonymous with luxury culinary experiences, truly embraced this revolution last year with the launch of its new line of products boasting advanced smart appliance technology. Imagine controlling your oven, refrigerator, or dishwasher with just a few taps on your iPad or smartphone, whether you’re across the room or across town. The convenience and precision this offers are simply unparalleled. Not to be outdone, Bosch brought in celebrity chef Curtis Stone to unveil their latest innovations. His captivating cooking demonstrations highlighted how Bosch’s smart appliances streamline the cooking process, making gourmet meals more achievable at home. I’m excited to see what new products he’ll be featuring this year, and I definitely plan to ask him about Georgie, his fantastic new restaurant in Dallas, while I’m there!
Another standout in smart cooking technology was the Hestan Cue. This ingenious system elevates home cooking to a new level of precision. Using an iPad or smartphone, the Hestan Cue intelligently communicates with its specially designed pan and burner, ensuring that your food is cooked at the exact, optimal temperature. The demonstration, where they effortlessly prepared delicious crepes for us, was a testament to its user-friendliness and effectiveness. This technology not only simplifies complex recipes but also ensures consistent, restaurant-quality results every time, truly empowering home chefs.
And for those fortunate individuals with no budget constraints, Hestan presented a true marvel: The Ultimate Island. This fully integrated kitchen island literally had everything, including the kitchen sink – and so much more! It’s a complete culinary workstation, designed for maximum functionality and unparalleled style. Available in a dazzling array of colors, The Ultimate Island isn’t just a kitchen appliance; it’s a bold statement piece, effortlessly merging cutting-edge technology with exquisite design, defining the essence of a modern, luxurious kitchen.
Color is Back: Bolder, Brighter, and More Personal than Ever
If you’ve been following design trends, you’ll know that the minimalist white aesthetic, while classic, is giving way to a more vibrant and expressive palette. Karen Eubank’s insightful article, “What’s Hot, What’s Not for 2020,” unequivocally declared that “white is washed up,” and we wholeheartedly concur. With a robust economy empowering consumers, buyers are increasingly confident in taking creative risks with their decorating decisions. There’s a palpable shift towards injecting personality and warmth into homes, moving away from the often sterile, bleached-out Instagram aesthetics that once dominated feeds. This resurgence of color signals a desire for homes that feel lived-in, unique, and truly reflective of their inhabitants.
This vibrant shift is particularly evident in bathroom design. Buyers are no longer content with a mere functional space; they seek a transformative, spa-like experience within their own homes. This translates into luxurious walk-in showers featuring multiple invigorating showerheads, elegant free-standing tubs that become focal points, and fixtures that transcend utility to become genuine works of art. The trend extends to materials, with floor-to-ceiling tile or stone creating an immersive, serene ambiance. Imagine stepping into a bathroom where an eggplant-colored tub dares to defy convention, adding a touch of opulent drama – because, truly, why not?
Further enhancing this spa-like sanctuary, linear drains are rapidly gaining popularity. Beyond their sleek, contemporary aesthetic, these drains play a crucial role in the growing trend of curbless showers. This design choice is particularly significant as more individuals plan for “aging in place,” ensuring that homes remain accessible and safe through all life stages. The LUXE Linear drains exemplify this trend, offering clean lines that create a seamless, uninterrupted floor plane, enhancing both the visual spaciousness and the practical functionality of the shower area. Their versatile placement options mean designers have greater freedom to achieve a truly bespoke look, making these drains a subtle yet impactful element of modern bathroom luxury.
Nothing quite elevates the sense of luxury and comfort in a bathroom, especially during colder months, like a heated towel rack. More than just a practical amenity, these elegant additions offer both beautiful form and exceptional function. Imagine stepping out of a warm shower to a perfectly toasty towel – it’s a small detail that makes a significant difference. What’s more, many modern heated towel racks are remarkably eco-friendly, consuming roughly the same amount of energy as a few standard light bulbs. Amba Products stands out in this category, offering an extensive collection of over 150 styles, available in various mounted and free-standing profiles. This ensures there’s a heated towel rack to complement every aesthetic, from ultra-modern minimalist to classic and traditional, seamlessly blending into any luxury bathroom design.
Prepare to be astonished by the innovative use of concrete in high-end designer goods! This raw, industrial material is being redefined to create pieces of incredible beauty and sophistication. Brizo made waves with the debut of Vettis, a single-handle lavatory faucet meticulously crafted from concrete. Released as a limited edition of just 500 pieces, Brizo aptly describes Vettis as “both a force of nature and a work of art.” Each faucet possesses a unique character, an inherent beauty that comes from working with a material like concrete, ensuring no two pieces are exactly alike. This celebration of individuality and organic texture is a testament to the evolving philosophy in luxury design.
The allure of the Brizo concrete faucet was undeniable; it was a magnet for photographers and design enthusiasts alike, with everyone eager to capture and share its striking aesthetic. This natural variation is indeed part of the charm and intrinsic value of such artisanal pieces. Extending this embrace of concrete’s raw elegance, Marrazzi Tile showcased a stunning collection of concrete-styled tiles. These gorgeous tiles, with their rich textures and earthy tones, have the power to instantly elevate any space. Imagine them as a dramatic backsplash in a contemporary kitchen, as robust and stylish flooring in a modern pool house, or adding a sophisticated edge to a chic guest bath. They offer a perfect blend of industrial strength and refined aesthetics, making a powerful design statement wherever they are placed.
To truly revolutionize the look of any tiled surface, consider the often-underestimated power of grout. A refreshing and innovative grout can instantaneously update the entire aesthetic of a room, transforming even basic tiles into something extraordinary. Grout, far from being just a functional filler, is an incredibly easy and cost-effective tool to inject personality and interest into any tiled space, making almost any tile appear far more expensive and custom. Tile Doctor’s Litokol Starlike Grout offers a remarkable solution, available in a broad spectrum of colors, including stunning jeweled and metallic styles. This “designer” grout allows you to elevate ordinary ceramic or glass tilework into unexpected and visually stunning designs. It’s perfect for new tile projects, but its versatility truly shines as it can also be applied over existing grout, giving an old backsplash, tub, or shower surround a vibrant new lease on life. What’s more, their recently launched ZHERORisk® grout from Litokol represents a significant stride in sustainable building materials, being non-toxic, emitting no VOCs, and consequently being safer and healthier for installers, consumers, and our planet.
Now, for an exclusive sneak peek at some intriguing new products that manufacturers have shared with us, expected to hit the market soon and redefine convenience and luxury in the home:
This next product has truly captured my attention. Wine preservation is a topic of great interest to me, and the innovative unit by Plum appears to be an ideal solution for any wine aficionado who wishes to savor a bottle over several days. According to their press release, “Plum is the first appliance that automatically identifies, chills to the perfect temperature, preserves for 90 days, and serves bottles of wine one glass at a time.” This bold claim promises to revolutionize home wine consumption, ensuring every glass is as fresh and perfectly chilled as the first. The idea of having a system that handles all these steps seamlessly is incredibly appealing, and I am eager to put it to the test. Rest assured, I’ll provide my honest assessment after I get to experience it in person at DCW.
Another exciting innovation making its way to market is Natufia’s Kitchen Garden, proudly billed as “the world’s first fully-integrated and automated hydroponic kitchen garden.” The prospect of cultivating my own fresh lettuce and herbs year-round, right in my kitchen, is incredibly enticing. This ingenious system addresses the growing desire for fresh, organic produce and the convenience of farm-to-table living, even for those in urban environments. It promises not only culinary delights but also a sustainable approach to daily living, bringing the freshness of a garden indoors without the need for soil or extensive gardening knowledge. Count me in for this revolutionary way to enjoy nature’s bounty!
Beyond these exciting product launches and trend forecasts, Design and Construction Week is a whirlwind of activity. There are countless culinary tastings with celebrity chefs, providing both gastronomic pleasure and inspiration. The anticipation builds for prestigious awards ceremonies, including the highly coveted Design Influencer of the Year – an award for which we are proudly nominated, so please cast your vote for us here! And, of course, there are literally miles of new products, invaluable networking opportunities with industry leaders, and endless possibilities for discovery. It’s important to note that while many of these cutting-edge products are showcased, some may not become publicly available for a year or more, and a select few might never reach the market. However, we promise that after navigating through countless pages of notes and thousands of photos, we will diligently sift through the information and share our curated findings and the most impactful insights right here, providing you with a definitive guide to the future of home design and construction.