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OCTOBER 2017 | 25 Kitchens F New materials and sharp styles are heating up the future of kitchen design by STACEY MCLACHLAN From bold new finishes to high-tech materials, the hot- test kitchen trends for 2018 and beyond are all about maximizing space, storage and function. Formica's high-performance, low-maintenance sur- facing products (part of their new Specialty Collection for 2017) might just be re-imagining what countertops can be. The Infiniti features a soft-to-the-touch super- matte finish, resists fingerprints and features built-in antimicrobial surface protection and thermal heal- ing capabilities. "It's a game changer," says Tatiana Alexandrova, marketing specialist for Formica. Meanwhile, Formica's new dECOLeather – an eco- friendly product made from recycled leather – is both sustainable and luxurious. With 18 colour options and three grained finishes (crocodile, walrus and wild buf- falo), the dECOLeather surfaces can be utilized in resi- dential or commercial spaces. It's just one example that sustainability is becom- ing more important to designers, builders and home- owners alike, and seeking out products that meet eco-standards is a higher priority than ever before. So manufacturers are stepping up to the plate with green designs that meet or exceed industry standards. "Our products meet the LEED standard," says Frank Sansalone, product specialist for Blum Canada. In terms of countertop trends, "Homeowners with given budgetary restraints would prioritize lami- nate for a kitchen remodel," explains Alexandrova. Luckily, there are more options than ever for laminate. "Laminate options have progressed over the years – there's a huge variety of options in colours, styles and more realistic renditions of pattern and materi- als. Laminate has more options than granite." The new Laminate Residential collection features trendy colours inspired by natural materials, as well as writ- able surfaces to inspire creativity. These writable sur- faces can be used in backsplashes, for cabinet doors or inside pantries, but also on countertops as a space for planning or just doodling. All that being said, laminate isn't just for counter- tops. "Just as many other building materials such as doors or siding have evolved from wood to metal to a more stable, composite-like material or laminate, cab- inetry has also undergone a revolution with the intro- duction of our PureStyle products available through Aristokraft," says Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends for MasterBrand. "This new lamination process has equal to, or greater durability, stability and cleanability than its painted maple counterpart. The stable core utilized in PureStyle has excellent moisture resistance due to the lamination process it undergoes." This means these doors won't expand and contract like painted wood cabinets can, and that colour will be consistent overall. F R E S H F I N I S H E S Speaking of colour, the variety of design and finish options just keeps increasing. Alok Kansal, president of Hari Stones Ltd., says his company has 600 colours at any given time in his stores. Merit Kitchens is introduc- ing a new collection of paints and stains that expand on its current offering of neutrals. Over at FloForm, "we've got lots of new designs from Cambria this year," says Chris Morrissette, marketing co-ordinator. "Queen Anne, Clareanne, Beaumont and Annicca, and they all come in a matte finish as well as gloss." And this year, Caesarstone unveiled five new colours to its Classico and Supernatural collections, including options inspired by nature – Rugged Concrete 4033 nods to the rugged beauty of concrete, for example. "It has received a lot of attention for its industrial look, with the rough looking stone surface creating attractive, zen-like bathrooms and kitchens," says John Filomena, Caesarstone Canada's national marketing manager. Though grey has emerged as a major colour trend , many consumers still have neutral or brown materials in their kitchens. So the most popular product finishes are "usable" greys that blend warm with cool and don't require a full renovation. "Patterns, woodgrains and stones that blend existing neutrals with trend greys are highly-usable as homeowners are not required to discard the old to add something new," explains Alexandrova. "Painted white cabinets remain popular, but people are also increasingly asking for off-white tones, such as pale grey, putty and bone," says Julie Johnstone, manager of product development and marketing for Merit Kitchens. "We see more people choosing stains that are paler and more natural looking. They are moving away from dark stains and stains with orange and red undertones." Not all kitchens are going the neutral route, though. "Some of the most notable new trends in kitchen cabi- nets centre around the utilization of more colour being Big Dreams High-end luxurious stone countertops from Hari Stones.

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