By Gale
Trade shows can be intimidating for many of us. There are the rows upon rows of exhibits, the commotion of the music and of course the crowds of people. However, I have just braved the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas and returned home with my head filled with ideas to share with you.
There was the big theme of the show and naturally, the smaller emerging themes as well. Water, water, water was the big theme, with most of the plumbing companies sporting WaterSense tags on their new merchandise…that is water-saving, in case you did not guess. And from toilets to showerheads, that label was everywhere. It is a good reminder for most of us that like Energy Smart, this is a program that will save money as well as water.
The smaller themes were equally intriguing: Universal Design appeared inside cabinets, outside cabinets, on backsplashes, on countertops, and inside drawers. This is recognition that we need to make our storage of all kinds more accessible. This trend is not just for the physically challenged – it is for everyone – the young, the young at heart, and those in-between who are looking for convenience. Clever cabinet inserts means the contents stay organized, and who would not want that?
New countertop designs were another theme at the show: great new looks in laminate, quartz, recycled materials for easier living. They include marble and stone look-alikes without the fuss of maintenance as well as bolder patterns that differentiate an island countertop. What a way to make a statement without a major investment!
Lighting is going through major changes with 100 watt incandescent light bulbs heading off the market in 2012. New options in compact fluorescent, LED and halogen are appearing, and the more the merrier so that the price heads down to a more reasonable range. Keep an eye out for these energy-efficient alternatives.
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