Spring is the time of year when people like to sweep away winter doldrums and invigorate their space with something fun and new. The kitchen and bath industry is full of innovative companies leading the market with exciting products and looks, from fresh colors, shapes and patterns to combining materials or introducing new finishes. 

Technology is playing a key role in today’s trends too, giving rise to improvements that foster healing therapies or help to create healthier, more sanitary environments. 

Spring is a natural time to seek out design inspiration, to look for cool ideas and fashion-forward iterations of favorite brands and styles. Here is a quick look at some of the most intriguing trends for spring 2019.

Farmhouse Fashions

Farmhouse style continues to be one of the spring’s hottest interior design trends. Details are key when it comes to achieving this look — and no detail is too small to be overlooked. Nostalgic Warehouse has the perfect hardware for a farmhouse-themed kitchen or bath. Its Farmhouse pulls are simple and rustic, yet their dramatic curves add a real dose of style. They are crafted from solid forged brass for exceptional quality and are meticulously finished to gleaming perfection. 

Ideal for a restoration project or use with kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers, the Farmhouse pulls come in large and medium sizes. Finish options include antique brass, antique pewter, bright chrome, polished brass, polished nickel, satin brass, satin nickel, timeless bronze and unlacquered brass. 

Reflective Finishes

We love the glamour of the new high-polish finish options recently unveiled by Rocky Mountain Hardware. The company has built its brand by creating singular designs with true artisan appeal. Its new silicon bronze high polish and white bronze high polish finish options bring a mirror-like gleam to sinks that add a heightened sense of luxury and sophistication to the bathroom. These finishes are a natural choice for their contemporary Alice basin. 

Available as a vessel, self-rimming or undermount design, the sink’s angled sides and metallic finish created beautiful reflections that make the Alice a true-standout. The high-polish finishes are developed through a time-intensive by-hand procedure that will grow richer and deeper over time. 

All Rocky Mountain Hardware products are made in the United States using old-world casting techniques and 90-percent post-consumer recycled bronze for both residential and commercial markets.

The Bliss of Bubbles

As a leading innovator of hydrotherapy tubs, MTI Baths brings cutting-edge technology to the luxury bathing experience. Its latest innovation — called Microbubbles — uses the power of millions of tiny bubbles to gently cleanse and polish the skin, leaving the body feeling soft and oh-so-relaxed. By infusing bath water with up to 50 percent more dissolved oxygen than regular water, the Microbubbles system turns bath water a soft, milky white. 

A rush of countless tiny bubbles gently exfoliates the body, detoxifies pores and moisturizes the skin, not to mention they provide an incredibly soothing soak. As an added benefit, the popping bubbles release energy that helps to keep the bath water hot and the bather’s body temperature warm. This extraordinary sensory therapy is available on most Designer drop-in or Sculpted Finish soaking or air bathtubs.

Sleek Sophistication

Style is important in every part of bathroom design. Icera has given a chic makeover to one of its most popular toilets. With a sexy new squared tank and elegant transitional lines, the Karo II combines balanced proportions and advanced engineering to create an impressive one-piece toilet with exceptional water efficiency. 

Consuming just 1.28 gal./flush due to the company’s signature EcoQuattro technology, the Karo II features an ADA-compliant chair-height bowl, a Duroplast soft-close seat with quick-release and a MicroGlaze finish for easy cleaning. Covered by a limited lifetime warranty, the Karo II comes with a polished chrome tank lever and seat hinge caps, with other finish options available.

Urban Oasis

Even city sophisticates appreciate a soothing soak in the bathtub. BainUltra has added a new model to its VIBE Collection, which is designed specifically for urban living spaces and lifestyles. The VIBE 6033 is a deep, double-ended freestanding tub with timeless elegance. Engineered to fit into small bathrooms without compromising comfort or ergonomics, the 6033 is part of the company’s Thermomasseur line of therapeutic tubs. This extraordinary bath aims to relax the body, ease pains, reduce stress and eliminate toxins. 

It offers a full range of the company’s signature therapy options, including the Geysair hot air system, Illuzio chromatherapy and WarmTouchShell thermotherapy. The 6033 tub measures 60 in. by 33 in. by 21 in. and is available in BainUltra’s 100-percent pure acrylic and UltraVelour matte finish.

Pretty Patterns

Adding texture and color through decorative tiles is a favorite trend for spring. StoneImpressions offers an array of beautiful choices, including its new Petals pattern, which is notable for its unique 3D features and floral-inspired design. It’s a wonderful way to bring a feeling of luxury to an elegant master bath or to enhance a refined powder room. The Petals Collection comes in four colors — traditional white, soft blue, soothing green or light pink. Its seamless blend of classic hues and a modern design make this tile collection particularly adaptable to a variety of decors. 

Petals is available on 6x6 Carrara marble tiles. All StoneImpressions tiles are sealed with a clear three-part acrylic topcoat for amazing durability and offered through a quick-ship program for hassle-free delivery.

One-Touch Technology

Lenova leverages its advanced technology to make the kitchen a little cleaner. Its TKO touch kitchen faucet allows busy cooks to control water flow with a simple touch of the wrist or forearm. It’s a great way to cut down on the potential spread of bacteria from raw foods. This elegant contemporary faucet is constructed of the highest-quality lead-free brass and is coated with an advanced PVD finish for long-lasting beauty. 

The battery-powered TKO touch faucet includes smart features such as automatic shut-off and integrated sensors with LED lights to indicate water temperature. The TKO line is available in brushed nickel or polished chrome and includes a pull-down adjustable sprayer and single lever handle.

A Mix of Materials

Mixing materials is a fun and trendy way to add interest to a design space, such as pairing stone with wood or using different metal finishes. Sun Valley Bronze introduces a new hardware line incorporating clear lucite and white oak into its bronze and brass casings. The look is eclectic and contemporary, calling attention to light and the distinct contrast between the disparate materials. 

The Lucite and White Oak hardware collection features grip handles and cabinet pulls in a variety of configurations, including custom sizes. There are 12 different finish options to choose from, such as silicon bronze and burnished brass. All Sun Valley Bronze products are made in the United States.

Stress-Saving Software

MTI Baths takes the intimidation factor out of ordering integrated countersinks with its new MTI Configurator program. This interactive software guides users through a step-by-step process to measure and choose sink options and provides a “final look” rendering. The system is perfect for designers but simple enough for anyone to use. It even generates a summary with all part codes and retail pricing for easy ordering. 

The Configurator prompts users to consider factors they may not have thought of, such as drain types, edge treatments, and bowl colors and finishes. It also offers a variety of finishing touches such as a backsplash, sidesplash and a matching cover to protect the bottom of the sink.

Hipster Hardware

Add a touch of “California cool” to buttoned-up decors with the Dot Collection from Atlas Homewares. This simple curved bar pulls pairs with oversized backplates and knobs to create a strong, impactful look that is visually appealing. Its simple silhouette allows Dot hardware to go well in any design space, from traditional to mid-century modern. 

The collection includes a notable 2-in. knob, a 1 1/4-in. knob and five sizes of pulls ranging from 5 1/16 in. to 12 in. Choose from four different finishes — vintage brass, matte black, polished chrome and brushed nickel.

Hands-Free Faucet

Convenience and good hygiene are always in style, which probably helps explain the rising popularity of touch-free faucets. These impressive faucets are showing up everywhere, from home kitchens to commercial restrooms. Chicago Faucets is leading the charge on the commercial side with its new E-Tronic 80, a sleek touch-free faucet with the added benefit of integrated scald protection. Its stylish modern design looks great, while its above-deck electronics makes this faucet a smart choice with speedy installation, easy maintenance and reduced clutter. 

The E-Tronic 80 is available with ASSE 1070-compliant thermostatic protection to help prevent hot water burns and eliminate the need for a separate temperature control valve below the sink. As an added benefit, the optional Commander handheld unit allows owners to program the faucet, set operating modes and access usage data. 

This is just a sampling of the exceptional products and styles inspiring the latest design trends in the kitchen and bath industry. We feel confident you will see these innovations popping up in showrooms, homes and commercial establishments as they continue to grow in popularity. Stay tuned as we examine future trends and look for even more examples of the best our industry has to offer.