What's New in Bath Design? Here are NKBA's Top 10 Bath Trends for 2017

Last month, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) published their Top 10 Bath Trends for 2017. Conducted online in August/September 2016, the NKBA surveyed 562 of its members from across North America. Here's a look at the major trends that came out the survey.

1. As with kitchens, contemporary and transitional designs have overtaken traditional styles for the first time.

Shaker is gaining momentum, with mid-century modern emerging. Many survey respondents described clients' tastes as modern, clean and sleek. 

White bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

2. Whites, off-whites and greys continue to be the most popular colour schemes.

Blue is also trending upward, with younger design professionals choosing violet and purple colour schemes. Stainless steel is niche and emerging.

3. Storage solutions such as linen cabinets and wood vanities are most common.

Floating vanites and open shelving continue to be a popular and growing choice. The use of toilet topper cabinets is declining with requests for specialized storage options (custom medicine cabinets, drawers for hair dryers/curling irons, tilt-out hampers) on the rise.

4. Ceramic tile is the most popular floor option for the bath.

High-quality vinyl appears to be on the rise, with wood-look porcelain gaining ground.

5. Undermount sinks are in the most demand.

Use of vessel and pedestal sinks continue to wane, with trough sinks growing in numbers.

6. Freestanding tubs are on the rise.

Essencia Design from BainUltra

Although more than half of NKBA members eliminated a tub or whirlpool in a bath remodel over the past year, 60 per cent of respondents expect to specify more of them in 2017.

"An increase in soaker tub requests is a direct reflection of the lifestyle changes we have seen over the last two decades," says Monarch designer Chantal Miller. "People are spending more and more time commuting, longer hours at work, shuttling kids to activities, and less social down-time outside of the home as a result.

"The idea that your bathroom becomes your private oasis and escape from the chaos is a trend that will only continue to rise. Homes have now become a space for relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation. Bathrooms are becoming less utilitarian and more about sustaining both your mental and physical health. The popularity of soaker and hydrotherapy tubs is a direct reflection of the trend toward the focus on personal wellness."

7. White fixtures are trending higher while bone-bisque units are declining.

Chrome and polished nickel continue to be the most popular faucet finishes, with gold and brushed brass emerging.

 

Self-cleaning toilet from American Standard

8. Safety- and comfort-improving amenities are still popular.

These include comfort-height toilets, shower seats and lighting, and no-thresold showers. Emerging trends include smart toilets and toilet seats, music in the shower and radiant floor heating.

9. Water-saving toilets and faucets are becoming more mainstream.

 

10. Technology-wise, video, audio and wiring pathways for future integration are beginning to emerge.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Uses Schluter-Ditra for Beautiful Floors that Last

Seeing your ceramic or stone floor installed in your new kitchen or bath design is an exciting part of the renovation process. Flooring often puts the finishing touch on a room’s design and ties in all of the design elements you’ve spent months choosing with care.

Proper installation is key to keeping your floor beautiful and protecting the integrity of the tile assembly. At Monarch, we use Schluter-DITRA.

From Schluter.com: 

Ceramic and stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing the ideal surface coverings. However, today's lightweight construction methods can make the installation of hard surface coverings particularly challenging. In order to protect the integrity of the tile assembly, an underlayment that performs multiple functions is required. 

Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. Schluter-DITRA is bonded to the substrate using thin-set mortar. The anchoring fleece on the underside of Schluter-DITRA is fully engaged in the mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. Tile is installed over Schluter-DITRA using the thin-bed method in such a way that the mortar becomes mechanically anchored in the square, cutback cavities of the Schluter-DITRA matting.  

Designed specifically for ceramic tile and dimension stone installations, Schluter-DITRA serves as an uncoupling layer, waterproofing membrane, and vapor management layer that accommodates moisture from beneath the tile covering. Further, DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering.

“Monarch uses Schluter-DITRA when tiling because it ensures that the tile will stand the test of time and look spectacular for many years to come,” says Monarch president Neil Samson.