Kohler's new moderne gold finish.

In today’s Five Questions With… I talk with Jamie Goldberg, an NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer in Tampa, Fla. who is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). When she’s not designing for her firm—Jamie Goldberg Kitchen and Bath Design—she is updating her design blog, Gold Notes, her twitter page, or doing freelance writing for publications like Kitchen and Bath Business magazine. She took a few moments out of her busy schedule to talk to me about some of her impressions of the 2009 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show that took place in early May.

1. What were some of the bathroom color and finish trends you saw at the show? This year's show featured far more soft and warm finishes than I spotted last year, which was all about polished chrome and sharp geometry. Examples would include Kohler's new honed white and vibrant moderne brushed gold finishes (pictured above). I think it's a response to a cold, hard economy that so many people now want "comfort style."

2. Outside of color and finishes, what sort of design trends did you see for the bathroom? I'm seeing an increased focus on sustainability, especially related to water conservation and energy savings. For example, jetted showers are now available with eco-options and LEDs showed up at all the lighting booths. Another welcome trend is an increased focus on accessibility and aging in place. This is a savvy acknowledgement by our industry that the population is aging in its largest markets, and that these older homeowners have both assets and aesthetics. 

3. What new products did you see that are good for designing on a budget? I rarely ask about pricing at shows. The smartest, most worthwhile products will eventually be made available in some form at local home centers. 

4. What luxury, splurge-worthy products did you like? I loved Toto's Waza Noir lavs and Seura's TV mirrors.  

Toto's Waza Noir lavatory and Seura's television within a mirror.

5. What’s a bathroom trend that seems to have run its course by evidence of this year’s show? I think that hard-edged modern -- which I saw everywhere at last year's KBIS -- has eased into a softer, warmer look that's still contemporary, but easier to live with and add into a smaller remodeling project. So many homeowners are stressed to the breaking point this year, or just nervous about the future, that a more comforting style will be more welcomed by them into their homes.