Spring, 2003

Finely tuned, thoughtful design sets the stage for the hottest products and trends hitting the kitchen and bath industry.

“The design community and consumers alike recognize the importance of integrating aesthetics with performance in products for the home,” said Melissa Birdsong, director of trend forecasting and design for Lowe's, who scouted this year's Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando. “Designers are refining, honing and building on trends we've seen emerge over the last few seasons that redefine form and function and give homeowners unique alternatives for customizing their homes, beautifully and comfortably.”

Shape, Line and Scale
Evidence product designers are embracing a refinement of scale and precision in design is revealed through clean-lined formats, minimalist style and enhanced performance.

• Elegant profiles in tempered glass vessel sinks – beauty with enhanced safety
• Precise, minimal proportions with ergonomic features in cabinet hardware and bath fittings
• Horizontal trend in cabinetry with larger drawers and flipper doors
• Solid surface materials featuring finely honed particles and subtle textural effects
• Streamlined formats in under-mounted sinks and tubs, including trough and boat-shaped styles designed for flexible use

Natural Selection
A continuing desire to transform the home into a naturally relaxing and personalized retreat drives the latest color, material and finish trends in the kitchen and bath.

• Airy to bold sky blues, a renewed appreciation for earthly elements
• Darker wood cabinetry inspired by Asian aesthetics, particularly in the bath
• More use of mixed materials – wood coupled with stainless steel, mixed wood with colored or tone-on-tone accents and creative combinations of acrylics and metals
• Acrylic countertops and decorative panels embedded with open weave fabrics, leaves and reeds and handmade papers
• Textured countertops, tiles and flooring enhancing the beauty of natural imperfection

Next: > More Kitchen and Bath Trends

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Universal Design, Entertainment Features

Blueprint for the Future
Today's designers improve everyday quality of life and ease of use through thoughtful, smart design with an amplified focus on resource conservation, convenience and universal design.

• Hands-free automatic rinse faucets for home use
• Modular self-contained shower tower systems designed for easy installation through the original plumbing and retrofittable shower units that replace standard 60-inch tubs
• Toilets with taller seats ergonomically designed for comfort
• Dual-use appliances and fixtures, including programmable ovens with refrigeration capabilities and single-unit washer/dryer combinations
• Products and features designed for accessibility – from low- and zero-curb shower units to open-based vanities and easy access inserts for closets and cabinets

Other Kitchen and Bath Trends

• Warmer tones in metals, including patinaed gold and bronze, and warmer finishes in nickel and antique silver
• New looks in lighting, such as modular low-voltage cold cathode systems and halogens integrated into matching wood rails
• More options in modular and free-standing bath furniture, including vanities, tables, bowl and stand combinations and etageres
• Added entertainment and relaxation features, such as whirlpool tubs with integrated audio/visual equipment, and chroma- and aromatherapy capabilities

“Homeowners understand the true measure of good design – both in how things look as well as how they perform – and are driving the demand for the integration of form and function in products for the home,” said Birdsong. “Today's manufacturers are rising to the challenge to offer better solutions to accommodate these needs through innovative and creative product design.”

About Lowe's With 2002 sales of $26.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 100 company that serves approximately nine million customers a week at more than 850 home improvement stores in 45 states. In 2003, FORTUNE named Lowe's America's Most Admired Specialty Retailer. Based in Wilkesboro, N.C., the 57-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world.

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