Housing and Design Newsletter
Kenneth R. Tremblay, Jr.
Summer, 2007
Kitchen and Bath Trends
I had the opportunity to attend K/BIS 2007 (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and Conference) held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in May. It is most likely the best source for the latest trends and newest products in the kitchen and bath industry.
K/BIS was attended by over 44,000 kitchen and bath professionals and educators during the four day event, according to K/BIS owner the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). The event featured professional development courses, roundtable discussions, keynote speakers, and special events in approximately 610,000 square feet of exhibit space. There were more than 900 exhibitors.
Trend spotting was an issue of considerable interest. Robyn Waters, author of The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscape, gave a presentation on trends and countertrends. She suggested that for every trend there is a countertrend, and often they are both valid. This was certainly apparent at K/BIS. There were energy- and water-efficient products (good for green design) but in many cases they were so large they would require an extremely big kitchen and bath (bad for green design). Many of the products displayed were also extremely expensive, including $20,000+ ranges and ovens.
Green design was one of the hot trends showcased at K/BIS. Manufacturers and designers are clearly recognizing that there exists a growing movement among consumers who want to help the environment without sacrificing great design. There were numerous eco-friendly products ranging from energy-efficient appliances, countertops and surfacing made from recycled and sustainable materials, products whose parts are almost all recyclable, induction cooktops, low-VOC cabinetry, flooring offered in sustainable materials such as bamboo and cork, plumbing fixtures such as low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads, lighting products that use LED (light emitting diode) technology, and longer-lasting and color-corrected fluorescent bulbs.
Health and wellness was another major trend that could be clearly identified. Products reflecting this trend included a variety of air purification systems, advanced water filtration and purification systems, steam ovens, hands-free faucets that create a cleaner environment, built-in refrigerators that feature pure water and air, hygienic stainless steel appliances and sinks, and countertops with eco-friendly and sterile sealants. There were also showerheads and systems that featured aromatherapy and chromatherapy, and walk-in whirlpool baths that featured therapeutic hydrotherapy. Designing the bathroom as a mini-spa creates a feeling of wellness and peacefulness for the homeowner.
Universal design remains a key issue. Many products were exhibited that make design more accessible than ever. Universal design is becoming more prevalent as the kitchen and bath industry recognizes that baby boomers and their families and friends who visit are getting older and are demanding products that do not remind them of that fact. It is suggested that following universal design principles can improve the functionality and viability of kitchens and baths. Some ideas for the kitchen are rounding off corners on all countertops, using contrasting colors on counter edges, suspending a mirror above the cooking area to allow vision into pots for a seated person, and pull-out shelving or accessible counter space near ovens and microwaves to allow for transfer of hot items. For the bathroom, ideas are a curbless shower, an integral or folding seat in the shower, and a hand-held showerhead with adjustable height capabilities. As seen at K/BIS, products that have a place in universal design are more attractive and come in more selections than in the past.
 There were also high-tech appliances that can turn the kitchen into the digital control center of the home such as the Digital Entertainment Kitchen presented in the NKBA Industry Trends Marketplace. In an effort to show what the home of the future would look like and how it would be run, this year's NextGen Demonstration Home was equipped with remote and touch panels that powered a home automation system called Life|ware 2.0. This digital entertainment and automation solution controlled everything from the appliances and the lighting to the home's security, demonstrating a new level of digital living into the kitchen, the bath, and throughout the home. Other high-tech touches the NextGen Home showcased included a one-touch refreshment dispenser in the kitchen and a mirror that also served as a nightlight in both baths.
 In terms of aesthetics, there is growing demand for more transitional product designs that reflect contemporary and the Asian-inspired (Zen décor). There is an increasing amount of nature-inspired colors in both saturated and muted tones that are finding their way into everything from faucet finishes to glass-paneled appliances. Treating the ceiling as a fifth wall is becoming more common, for example a sculptured ceiling reflecting the floor design with built-in lighting and a sound system. We are seeing the return of the claw footed and freestanding tubs, essentially creating a bath island. Increasingly furniture is finding its way into the kitchen and bathrooms.
Other trends noted by NKBA based on their annual design competition entries were: exotic veneers on table tops, countertops, and cabinetry (such as jade wood), freestanding vent hoods in glass or stainless steel, curvilinear shapes that offer softness and visual appeal, painted finishes and techniques applied to cabinetry, stainless steel hardware, vessel and shaped sinks that combine art with function, dark wood (such as mahogany and deep cherry), and integral flooring of slate, wood, or ceramic tile.
For more information on kitchen and bath design trends visit www.nkba.org. The consumer site is extremely interesting. Kitchen and bath guidelines developed by NKBA as professional standards can be downloaded.
Housing and Society
The first 2007 issue of Housing and Society: Journal of the Housing Education and Research Association featured the following articles:
- Kitchen and Bath Trends for Housing
- Housing Education and Research Association: Our 40th Anniversary
- Influence of Lifestyle on Housing Preferences of Multifamily Housing Residents
- Assessing the Barriers to Community Living: Accessible Housing in a Rural State
- Exploring the Impacts of Ballot Box Land Use Measures on Affordable Housing
- The Changing Nature of Housing Markets in Upstate New York
- Work and Home Boundaries: Socio-Spatial Analysis of Women's Live-Work Environments
- Accessible Housing for the Growing U.S. Elderly Population
This journal is published twice a year and is a benefit of membership in the Housing Education and Research Association. For more information contact me.
Help Yourself to a Healthy Home
 The Healthy Homes Partnership for which I represent Colorado has reissued the booklet Help Yourself to a Healthy Home. The 56-page booklet covers a variety of tips geared toward children's safety. If you need copies let me know. The booklet is now available in English, Spanish, Bosnian, and Vietnamese. I will be writing a proposal for approximately $7,000 to support Colorado's efforts in the partnership later this year. If you have ideas for what your county might need e-mail them to me. There are approximately 30 states involved in the Healthy Homes Partnership, funded jointly by USDA and HUD. For more information visit www.healthyhomespartnership.net
Resources
Three new resources are:
New Asthma Guidelines Stress Importance of Safe Pest Control
New guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) for diagnosing and treating asthma emphasize the management of potential asthma triggers such as pests and pesticides.
Asthma is one of the most common health problems in the U.S., and it can significantly affect peoples' lives at school, at work, at play, and at home. Asthma is a chronic, treatable disease that causes narrowing of the airways, making breathing difficult at times. More than 22 million people in the U.S. have asthma, including 6.5 million children under age 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Without appropriate treatment, asthma can significantly limit individuals' activities and result in asthma exacerbations, which can lead to hospitalization and even death. The CDC estimates that 4,000 Americans die from asthma exacerbations each year.
In response to this rising concern, the NAEPP recently issued the first changes to its clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in 10 years. It includes an expanded section on childhood asthma, new guidance on medications, new recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician's office, and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms.
"Environmental factors that can trigger asthma and asthma symptoms include pests, such as cockroaches and mice, pest by-products such as feces, cast skins and urine, as well as the pesticides used to treat pests," says Lyn Garling of the Pennsylvania IPM Program. "Indoor air quality has a big effect on asthma sufferers, especially children who spend most of their time indoors at home and at school. One component of indoor air quality includes the levels of pests and pesticide use inside buildings."
An integrated pest management (IPM) approach to pest control can effectively reduce pest populations while simultaneously reducing pesticide exposure in indoor environments. IPM is a safe, effective, and scientific approach to managing pests. IPM uses knowledge of pests' habits and needs to help residents implement pest prevention tactics as a first line of defense. Because pesticides are poisonous, they are chosen only as a temporary tool, and may not have to be used at all. Only pesticide products that pose the least toxic, least risk of exposure to residents are chosen. Information about proper use, storage, and disposal of pesticide products is also critical to avoid personal and environmental contamination.
According to the NAEPP guidelines, recent studies suggest that mouse and rat allergen exposure and sensitization are common in urban children who have asthma. The NAEPP suggests mouse allergen exposure can be reduced by a combination of IPM tactics such as blocking access, low-toxicity pesticides, traps, vacuuming, and cleaning.
In addition, the NAEPP says cockroach sensitivity and exposure are also common among patients who have asthma and live in inner cities. In a study of asthma in an inner-city area, asthma severity increased with increasing levels of cockroach antigen. The NAEPP guidelines recommend that cockroach control measures such as good sanitation and using poison baits, gels, boric acid, and traps are preferred to other chemical agents, because the later can trigger asthma attacks.
The new asthma guidelines emphasize that while asthma can be controlled, multiple approaches are needed to limit exposure to allergens and other substances that can worsen asthma. "Research shows that single steps are rarely sufficient. Using preventative practices and systematic monitoring of buildings and surrounding grounds, IPM can stop a pest infestation before it gets out of hand."
Garling has some tips to keep pests at bay in your home and limit the use of pesticides:
- Keep living areas clean and uncluttered.
- Keep yards and vacant lots maintained (mowing and trash pickup).
- Repair holes and cracks in walls, windows, and screens.
- Seal routes of pest entry using caulking, copper mesh, or other pestproof materials for gaps in walls, windows, and pipes.
- Share information with neighbors. Pests do not stay in one place.
- If you decide to use a pesticide, read the label. Choose the least toxic product (one that says "Caution") that will target the pest of concern.
- Avoid home sprays and foggers and use powders and baits carefully.
- Fine aerosol mists can easily be breathed and coat surfaces with pesticides.
- Find a reputable pest control specialist, and ask about IPM.
To view the new asthma guidelines visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/06_sec3_comp3.pdf
Fire Prevention Month
October is fire prevention month. For resources, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (www.nfpa.org) includes information and teaching materials for homes and schools. The Home Safety Council is presenting a series of Webinars (www.homesafetycouncil.org).
 Among materials available from the NFPA is the fire escape checklist. Also there are tips for children from Sparky the Fire Dog. Games and materials for teachers and parents can all be downloaded for free. Following are NFPA's recommended questions for creating a fire escape checklist:
- Do you have working smoke alarms in your home?
- Is there a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and outside each sleeping area?
- Is there a smoke alarm on each level of the home, including the basement?
- Do you test your smoke alarms at least once a month?
- Do you know the sound of your smoke alarms?
- How old are your smoke alarms? (If they are more than 10 years old, you need new ones.)
- Does your family have a home fire escape plan?
- Do you know two ways out of each room in your home?
- Do you know what to do when you hear your smoke alarm? (Get out and stay out.)
- Are all the exits in your home clear of trash and toys?
- Has your family picked a meeting place outside the home where everyone can go when they have escaped a fire?
- Does everyone know how to call the fire department once they are outside?
- Do you and all family members practice your escape plan at least twice a year?
Clean Ideas: The Well-Stocked Laundry Closet
According to the Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.org), detergent is the mainstay of your laundry closet. All-purpose laundry detergents come in two forms: liquid, which is especially effective on food, greasy and oily soils, and also for pretreating spots and stains; and powder, which is ideal for general washday loads. They are also available with additives such as bleach and fabric softener, and in formulas designed for specific use, such as cold-water wash or high-efficiency washing machines. But for optimum washday results, here are some other products to have on hand.
- Oxygen bleach. Although it is often referred to as all-fabric bleach, it is not recommended for silk, wool, acetate, and some flame-retardant fabrics. Read the fabric care label to be sure it is safe for the fabric.
- Chlorine bleach. It is designed to take out stains, but can remove color too. It also acts as a disinfectant, which is why it is recommended for items like baby bibs, dishcloths, and cloth diapers. Read the fabric care label to be sure it is safe for the fabric.
- Enzyme presoak. It can be especially effective in removing protein stains, like baby formula, blood, body fluids, dairy products, eggs, and grass. When added to the wash water, it also boosts the cleaning power of the detergent.
- Fabric softener. Decreases static cling, which can be especially useful when washing permanent-press and synthetic fibers. Fabric softener is designed to make fabrics softer and fluffier, reduce drying time, reduce wrinkling, and make ironing easier. There are two versions: one goes into the final rinse cycle; the other goes in the dryer.
- Prewash soil and stain removers. Available as liquids, sprays, gels, sticks, and soap bars. They can be effective in pretreating heavily soiled and stained garments, especially those made from polyester fibers. They can also work well on oil-based stains like animal fats, body soils, cooking oils, cosmetics, and motor oils. Soap bars can work well on fabric softener, perspiration, and tobacco stains.
- Starches, fabric finishes, and sizings. Available as powders, liquids, and sprays, these products are designed to give body to fabrics, make them more soil-resistant, and make ironing easier.
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Any comments, needs, ideas or suggestions can be sent to:
Kenneth R. Tremblay, Jr.
Housing Specialist and Professor
Department of Design and Merchandising
155 Aylesworth
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-5575
Fax: (970) 491-4855
tremblay@cahs.colostate.edu
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