2009 Design Trends Help Homeowners Relax, Connect and Reboot

5/7/2009

(ARA) Americans need for escape is greater than ever. No place is this more evident than in the home.

According to Judy Riley, Moen's vice president of design, the home is the primary place for comfort and serenity. "With decreased entertainment budgets and the growing trend toward entertaining in the home, Americans are spending a lot more time indoors," says Riley. "Today's home is for much more than eating and sleeping -- it is an escape from the outside world."

The Hub of the Home

Kitchens continue to evolve into the family gathering place. "The kitchen is the center of connectivity for today's family -- not only physically, but also digitally," says Riley. "The kitchen is where we socialize, check email, surf the Web, watch television and charge everything from the cell phone to the iPod."

Today's kitchen lends itself to a more flexible, open plan than ever before, with ample counter space and wiring to support all of the family's gadgets. It also requires more seating, from high-top bar stools to casual table dining.

Serene and Green

Today's bathroom is taking on a variety of functions, acting as a setting for both wellness and rejuvenation. Consumers aim to achieve a peaceful environment by staying conscious of their impact on the environment and considering potential energy and cost savings in the bath.

Green has become part of the dialogue for homeowners as they weigh product features and functions, with many seeking to understand a product's impact on the environment before making a purchase. "Although consumers want to do their part to be green, they aren't willing to sacrifice a product's performance to do so," Riley says. "For example, they might want a low-flow showerhead, but not a weak shower experience."

Moen's Envi Eco-Performance showerhead takes both of these desires into consideration. With a flow rate of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm) -- 30 percent less than the industry standard 2.5 gpm -- homeowners can have a guilt-free, superior shower experience every day. Modified spray formers increase the velocity of water streams hitting the body, which allows Envi to treat users to a full, satisfying and relaxing spray -- all while saving water.

Party Central

Entertaining and dining are coming home this year, and spaces need to be adaptable to accommodate different types of get-togethers. Transforming products, such as a dining room table that rises to bar height and expands for entertaining, like the Lexington Zacara Movida Bistro Table, gives an ordinary object a greater purpose. It's suitable for both family meals and celebrations at the lower height with a leaf extension in place, and can also serve well for a wine tasting, cocktail party or a night of poker when set higher and more bistro-like. "Flexibility within the home allows you to create a variety of moods and settings for entertaining," says Riley. "The goal is to be able to easily transition from casual to formal, while maintaining a style and comfort level that's suitable for each occasion."

What will tomorrow bring for your home? By incorporating 2009's best trends into your living space, you can ensure it remains your refuge for years to come. Courtesy of ARAcontent