Written by Colleen Coleman of CMC Design studio LLC | Photos Provided
[From the 2026 Home & Garden Magazine]
Wow! The future of the kitchen and bath world is rapidly changing with entertainment and leisure taking center stage. Homes are becoming more of an oasis than a place to drop your workbag at the end of the day. Entertaining is a focal point in design and upscale details in the kitchen and bath world are directing our attention to distinctive spaces over the expected. Here’s what’s coming in your future world!
One of the biggest moves in mid-range appliances is the shift toward the all-white matte finish.
The trend is shifting from stainless steel that we’ve had in the forefront since the 1990s and leaning toward a clean, fresh look. Panel ready is also creeping in at this price point, as noted at the GE Café Showroom, to compete for the truly finished kitchen while not upsetting the financial applecart. For the higher end appliances, stainless steel is holding its own along with designer details such as leather wrapped pulls or even an entire refrigerator upholstered, including nail-heads (!!) as spotted in the Monogram Showroom, creating curated spaces that feel more leisurely in lieu of a workhorse status.
Let’s talk water conservation.
How would you like to recycle your shower water and use 80% less water? To some, this may seem dirty, but if recycled correctly, it’s actually genius! Introducing the Kohler’s Anthem Evocycle Smart Shower System. Simply stated by Kohler, “The water is collected in a 4.5” deep reservoir beneath the shower base…Once its full, the system switches to recirculating water through the rainhead. It blends approximately half a gallon of fresh water with recirculated water to maintain a consistent temperature and ensure hygiene.” The multi-stepped filtration system also continues to clear debris and prompts a deep clean every 60 showers with a 15 minute cycle using only .75 gallons of water. Now where was this smart shower when my Dad was paying for 6 kids to shower every morning before school?!
To top it off, Kohler also developed areas to relax
and rejuvenate.
One new item, the Remedy Place Ice Bath with a refined silhouette and dramatic lighting offering a cushioned headrest, integrated hand grooves and an upright sitting position “to allow you to focus on the experience.” They even went so far as to integrate a timer and breath light aid for tracking your session length and aiding in breath regulation while soaking.
Toilets are always an interesting subject at KBIS but a necessity all the same. Kohler has introduced their new Leap Smart Toilet with the first feminine front wash bidet seat. Typically, a bidet toilet targets rear washing. This new dual-wand system adds a dedicated wand for feminine hygiene, complete with remote control to adjust spray shape, position, water pressure and temperature for both front and rear washes. Move over toilet paper, you’ve got technology knocking on your dispenser!
Onto a cabinet feature that just might turn heads! Hettich introduced Furn Spin, a translatory rotational movement to turn an entire cabinet body 180 degrees! Basically, the mechanism allows the “closed” cabinet to turn and reveal its interior by spinning, not opening! So, there’s no door in the way…it’s a clear opening! And because there’s a balanced torque in the rotation, even small objects remain in place while in motion. I can’t wait to use this in one of my projects!
And this is just the tip of the iceberg! I’ll be posting videos on my Instagram page @cmcdesignstudiollc demonstrating some of these unique new items! There’s always something to learn…and I love soaking it all in and sharing what I’ve discovered!
