The latest innovations in kitchen cabinet and hardware design and installation will be on display later this month at the National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) 48th annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) at the Las Vegas Convention Center April 26 to 28, 2011. Nearly 40,000 people are expected to attend and nearly 600 exhibiting manufacturers from around the world will display the newest products and latest trends available to the marketplace.

NKBA released its "Top 11 Kitchen & Bath Trends for 2011" report in late January. It lists the following five kitchen trends related to cabinets and hardware:
* Shake It Up: The Shaker style began a rise in popularity in 2009 and gained momentum in 2010. By the end of the year, Shaker has supplanted Contemporary as the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. Traditional remains the most popular.

* Maple Cabinetry: As 2010 began, cherry was specified by more NKBA member designers for use in kitchen cabinetry that any other wood. This year, while cherry still remains a popular choice, maple overtook cherry for the number-one most used wood.

* Dark Finishes: Dark natural finishes won out over medium-natural, glazed, and white painted finishes to become the most specified type of finish toward the end of 2010. Light natural and colored painted finishes also remained fairly common.

* Solid Surfaces: While granite and quartz will retain the number 1 and 2 spots in the countertop market in 2011, solid surfaces have emerged as the clear number 3. Additionally, laminate dropped slightly in preference, while solid surfaces rose somewhat. Niche products like butcher block and marble also increased in popularity.

* Goodbye, Color: Homeowners seemed to be afraid of color as 2010 drew to a close. The use of every color except beige and gray was either flat or down across the board from a year earlier. Even neutral browns have been deemed too bold by many clients. Whites and off-whites dropped only slightly, while instances of grays, beiges, and bones increased a touch.

Posted by Michaelle Bradford