AUGUST 26 • 2021 | 35
E
vents from the past year
have all of us reconsid-
ering what we want and
need out of our homes. From
work and play to wellness, our
homes have become the epicen-
ter of, well, everything — lead-
ing to an emergence of design
trends focused on adapting to a
new normal. The design experts
at Wilsonart, a leading provider
of engineered surfaces, have
identified three new lifestyle
trends that are affecting lasting
design changes.
1. BACK TO NATURE
It’s no secret that nature has the
power to inspire, invigorate,
restore and refresh. Research
has shown that interacting with
nature can offer mental health
benefits — decreasing stress and
anxiety. Likewise, incorporating
elements of nature into the home
has been proven to improve hap-
piness and well-being.
Whether as a room’s canvas
or a pop of color on an accent
wall, paint is an easy and
affordable way to bring nature’s
beauty into the home with col-
ors that evoke a sense of calm
and serenity. “Dark blue hues
reminiscent of water and the
sky are trending, along with
lush greens that infuse spaces
with the fresh essence of grass
and foliage,
” says designer Gwen
Petter. “Earthy neutrals, such
as tans and beiges, are also in
high demand for their ability to
ground us and surround us with
soothing natural tones.
”
Beyond color, 40% of people
report that they want a connec-
tion to nature, particularly in
their kitchens, according to a
survey by the National Kitchen
and Bath Association (NKBA).
Homeowners are choosing
nature-inspired materials for
focal areas like countertops,
cabinets and islands. Wilsonart
Home offers beautiful, on-trend
options for virtually every sur-
face in the home with features
and price points to suit any life-
style and budget. The expertly
curated collection includes envi-
ronmentally sustainable materi-
als such as high-pressure lami-
nates and performance veneers
that deliver the authentic looks
of exotic woods, stone-inspired
solid surface options and non-
porous engineered quartz.
2. “RESI-MERCIAL
”
AND RUSTIC
Fueled by the drastic decline
in domestic and international
travel during the pandemic,
homeowner interest in replicat-
ing the sophisticated style and
comforts of an upscale hotel or
luxury resort in their home has
continued to grow. From plush
towels and perfectly plumped
pillows to spa-worthy bath-
rooms and chef-quality kitchens,
commercially inspired designs
are increasingly crossing over
into the residential arena.
Carrara marble continues to
be one of the most sought-after
surfaces to achieve this clean,
sophisticated, “resi-mercial”
look, but not everyone desires
the cost and maintenance that
comes with the natural stone.
The Wilsonart Solid Surface
Crafted Collection combines
nature’s beauty with cutting-edge
design innovation to deliver the
look of authentic marble in an
ultra-durable acrylic solid sur-
face. This series of movement
designs captures the beauty and
drama of marble typically only
seen in natural materials like
quartz and stone with virtually
limitless design applications for
the kitchen, bath and beyond.
Scandi Noir is another
“resi-mercial” design approach
that is gaining traction, par-
ticularly in kitchens. This style
features looser rules and is
characterized by the use of dark
cabinets combined with dark
countertops or contrasting dark
and light surfaces. “Kitchen
cabinets are still predominantly
white, but more homeowners
are adding a pop of color with
contrasting island cabinets. In
fact, searches for black and navy
kitchens are up significantly,
”
notes Petter.
3. SUSTAINABLE STYLE
As our lives become increas-
ingly home-centric, our homes
need to perform on a level they
may never have before, and this
includes incorporating materials
that work as hard as we do.
“Today’s homeowners are
seeking surfaces that will live up
to the rigors of everyday life,
”
explains Petter. “There also is
growing interest in sustainable
alternatives to natural products,
which can contribute to defor-
estation and degraded air quality
from sourcing and mining oper-
ations.
“Human-made composite
materials offer appealing options
that often outperform natural
materials, delivering greater
durability, less ongoing mainte-
nance and fewer harmful envi-
ronmental impacts.
”
Alternative materials like
laminate, solid surface and
quartz mimic the best of Mother
Nature without impacting the
environment, offering appealing
options for eco-conscious con-
sumers.
Many of these engineered sur-
faces are UL GREENGUARD
Gold Certified to meet low
chemical emissions limits for
better air quality. Additionally,
many laminate products are
made with a combination
of fibers from FSC-certified,
fast-growing, sustainably man-
aged woods and post-consumer
recycled content (PCRC).
For more information and
inspiration, visit the website
Wilsonart.com.
REAL ESTATE
Three emerging design
trends for today’s lifestyles.
Lifestyle
Trends
BPT