The International Builders Show took place in Las Vegas last week and attracted home building professionals from all over the nation. IBS is the biggest industry trade show of the year, and it is a time to learn about new products, technologies and innovations. So, it only fits that the National Kitchen & Bath Association chooses this time of the year to release the big Kitchen and Bath design trends for the year. To come up with the list, they survey designers from all over the nation. Anyone looking to remodel their kitchen or looking to buy a pre-sale home at LakeStone, Brandon Hall or Liberty Park, should keep these 7 design trends in mind:

1. Think Traditional – while contemporary and Shaker style are both gaining in popularity, traditional is still the most popular kitchen design style for 2010. For those that are fans of vibrant and bold colors, you might want to leave those to the bedroom, living room or study because whites and off-whites are the most common color trends for the kitchen. Maybe it’s because most people associate white with clean?
2. Cherry Cabinets – Everyone seems to love cherry cabinets for they are once again the most popular choice, followed by maple.
3. Floored by Tile – This one really surprises me. I would have thought that hardwood floors are the most popular design trend for kitchens, but according to the NKBA it’s ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tile. They are reporting that hardwood floors will dominate more than ever before in 2010, but will still be second to tile. As for countertops, granite is the most popular option (and available at all of our new home communities might I add). Quartz is quickly gaining in popularity as the second choice for countertops.
4. Fancy faucets – You are going to be seeing standard kitchen faucets less and less as homeowners are steering towards other options like pull-out faucets and pot-filler faucets. These flexible faucets definitely make life in the kitchen a little more convenient, so it’s no surprise that they are gaining in popularity.
5. Undercounter Refrigeration – Refrigerator styles are always evolving and now the most popular are french doors and freezer-bottoms. Remember when the only option was freezer on top? We’ve come such a long way and I don’t know if I could ever go back to a non freezer-bottom refrigerator. However, offering even more refrigeration, many new kitchens are being designed with undercounter refrigerator drawers and undercounter wine refrigerators. It’s just something to think about when you’re designing your kitchen.
6. A range of cooking options – As always, gas is the number one type of cooktop. However, with many builders, designers and homeowners going green, induction cooking has gained popularity and will continue to do so through the year.
7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer – I didn’t even know this existed! The standard dishwasher with a pull-down door is still the most common style for 2010, but many homeowners are turning to the dishwasher drawers. Why wouldn’t they? Their small size means that you can run small loads of dishes and save water and electricity!

For the 2010 Bathroom trends, be sure to read The National Kitchen & Bath Association reports the styles for 2010.