This is Part II of my KBIS2017 recap. You can find Part I here.

If you've read part one you know that I was off meeting old and new friends earlier this month at our big annual trade show known as KBIS2017. One of the best perks of being on Modenus Blog Tour is always the people. What a huge source of friends this whole blog adventure has been for me! Now back to the trends you need to know.

One of the huge trends at the recent Kitchen & Bath Show (KBIS2017) in Orlando was bold brilliant color. I saw bright color across all product lines including cabinets, appliances and even faucets. Cabinet Manufacturer Wellborn was no exception. This vibrant green was a big hit and showcases their custom color options. The Color Inspire program offers a broad selection of hues from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Valspar. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Color was also the star of the show for me at Metrie, North America's largest solid wood and MDF moulding company. These stunning pink doors are a part of their Then & Now Finishing Collections. This is actually a great concept that allows you to take a boring space and make it sing with character. They have curated perfectly coordinated mouldings and interior doors to create "the look". The styles range from the cutting edge "Fashion Forward", to girly "French Curves", to Minimalism with "Pretty Simple". There are even a few more. It's an awesome option for designers as it saves time spent hunting for the right crown to go with the perfect base board etc. It's a one stop shop for beautiful millwork and moulding details.

Just think of the chic "chick pad" you could create with Metrie...and then there were shoes. I'm sorry my attention wanders sometimes. Who can blame me for loving these shoes worn by Christine DaCosta aka Glamamama.

I've got more color! Check out these faucets by Grohe. This is the Essence Semi Pro Faucet, available April 2017. Notice the extended spout for added convenience in the kitchen. The display is showing limited edition brightly colored silicon hoses. Change your mind, change your faucet, just like a chameleon!

American Standard exhibited this smart faucet that actually measures water for you. Just think, it’s easy, accurate and environmentally friendly. Turn the dial and you get the perfect amount every time. So simple. Kudos to the team at American Standard for thinking of it. Speaking of good ideas, what could be better than a self cleaning toilet? The ActiClean toilet features a turbo type flush system that they call VorMax, with a fully integrated self-cleaning system. The CleanCurveRim omits that rim cavity and holes inside the bowl where dirt gets trapped and EverClean antimicrobial surface helps everything stay clean longer. Egaads!! I'm just the messenger but it's a good thing. I'm all for minimal toilet cleaning time.

Another American Standard company, the luxury line DXV showed their Modulus line for the bath. I loved the sensuous sculptural line of these vanity tops BUT how cool is this tray? it fits perfectly on the top and then tucks away in it’s own spot underneath when you’re done. Voilá!

Guess what folks? I've got more. Stay tuned for KBIS III -Just a hint, it has to do with rhino poop and a surprise in the shower (but not together)

Quick Fixes

If you just can’t live with that tired old kitchen anymore, but need some more time to raise the necessary funds for a top-notch remodeling job, a quick fix may be the answer to get you through the waiting period. My good pals Karen & Barry recently aquired a "new-old" condo, a great windfall but a potential money pit considering all the renovation they were looking at. Luckily my friends are nothing if not creative and resourceful. They simply removed the outdated cabinet doors and painted the upper cabinets. This not only open things up but also makes it pretty easy to find everything in a small kitchen.

If you have the space above your cabinets, consider adding molding . Crown molding can bring more pizzazz to your kitchen by adding a finished look to simple, boxy cabinets. You may have pretty good cabinets that you like, but perhaps the builder just didn’t spring the extra bucks to add molding. You can also add molding below the upper cabinets to complete the look, and to conceal under cabinet light fixtures. Typically molding used in this way runs from 1 ½” to 3” thick.

Try painting old wood cabinets like my friends did. Good wood cabinets can even be refinished or painted to look brand new. Using the necessary primer you can even paint over laminate cabinets. A glass door or two can complete this quick fix.

Perhaps you like the look of your cabinets but would probably like them a lot better if your countertop wasn’t so worn and torn. You might upgrade from laminate to tile, or simply install new laminate in a different color, or a pattern that looks like granite. Don’t forget to be creative with the backsplash area between the upper cabinets and countertop. Finish the entire backsplash area with tile or material that looks like granite. Another economical option is faux painting, or trompe l’oeil, which means “fool the eye.” Creating a stone or brick look is a great quick fix. Hiring someone to paint it is cheaper than doing tile, or you can try your hand at painting it yourself. You might even try some stenciling.

Using new and interesting hardware can also update the look of your kitchen. You’d be amazed how much difference new doorknobs and drawer handles can make. Old knobs and pulls look, well, old. Choose something new, modern, colorful, even daring. Just make sure if you’re replacing handles that the screws for the new handles are in the same place

Sometimes builders try to save money by installing fewer cabinets than there is room for. The result can be storage space problems. If you have an empty wall, you can get some style and storage space by utilizing free standing furniture such as a Hoosier hutch, or an antique pie safe. In general, a freestanding piece of furniture will be less expensive than a built-in cabinet, especially if you’re hitting thrift shops and garage sales. Plus, whatever you get is going to be unique.

Lastly don’t forget to check out weekend do it yourself workshops offered by local home centers. You can’t beat the satisfaction of saving money and knowing you did the project yourself! New photos have been posted to our Flickr photo album. Check them out! Just click on the link to the right. Next post: Kiddies in the Kitchen

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