I always look forward to the latest National Kitchen & Bath Association annual trend reports. They’re thorough and pretty spot on, looking back on them, and even comparing their findings to other research I see. This week, I wrote part one of a two parter on the NKBA Kitchen Trends Report for 2024. I focused on the overlaps between wellness design and sustainability. (Next week, I’ll be writing about innovation and wellness.)
You can read it here.
Natural elements like warm-hued wood ceilings and openness to the outdoors are
strong 2024 kitchen
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BOOK BUZZ
I first came across the Black Interior Designers network in 2020 and wrote about the group’s AD showhouse for Forbes.com. Now I’m happy to share that BID has a gorgeous new hardcover coffee table book for your collection or gift-giving. Its 256 pages are chock full of fabulous rooms and terrific tips. It’s listed as available in October 2023 from noted arthouse publisher Abrams, so check it out at your favorite indie bookseller!
SPECIAL BOOK PREVIEW!
When I wrote my latest book and sent in the final manuscript, I had no idea that a pandemic was going to be hitting us in a matter of weeks. (Wellness by Design published in September 2020 when we were deep into it.)
We’ve experienced a great deal of national crises in the three years since – including some of the worst wildfires and hurricanes – so I thought a bonus chapter would be helpful for readers. Here are some of the topics that will be covered:
- Adding resilience to your home
- Insights and benefits of multi-generational living
- Tips on noise reduction
- How and why to create flex spaces
- Importance of access to nature
- New advances in smart home technology – what’s next!
If you have your copy of the book already, you know that it shares a secret URL for checklists and resources on my website. That’s where the bonus chapter, (working title: Lessons for How We Live Now), will publish on October 24.
I’ll keep you posted.
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SOCIAL GOLD
I’m saying goodbye – at least temporarily – to Clubhouse. The new update to the app has made it ridiculously unfriendly to creating and hosting my WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS interviews there. I’ve absolutely loved interviewing experts from the health, design, remodeling and technology spheres these past two-plus years and am searching for a better platform to continue them. (Let me know if you have thoughts on this.)
In the meantime, you can enjoy the earlier conversations via recordings on my blog links.
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PAST CLUBHOUSE RECORDINGS
Here are links to Clubhouse recordings from past sessions.
2023 Recordings:
- 9/6 Designing with Steam Showers and Saunas — Recording Link
- 8/16 Wellness Design and Allergies — Recording Link
- 8/2 Back to School Ideas — Recording Link
- 7/19 Designing for Music — Recording Link
- 7/5 Best She Shed Ideas and Trends — Recording Link
- 6/21 Best Man Cave Ideas and Trends — Recording Link
- 5/17 Designing Outdoor Kitchens and Living Spaces — Recording Link
- 5/3 Designing with Water Features (Ponds, Fountains, Water Walls, Etc.) — Recording Link
- 4/5 Top Tile Trends — Recording Link
- 3/15 Wellness Design and Dementia — Recording Link
- 3/1 Best Wellness Products from Design & Construction Week — Recording Link
- 2/15 Designing with Fire Features (Fireplaces, Fire Tables, Fire Pits, Etc.) — Recording Link
- 1/18 Healthy Home Improvements with Best ROI — Recording Link
- 1/4 Creating Home Fitness Rooms — Recording Link
2022 Recordings:
- Find these links on their new archive page!
2021 Recordings:
- Find these links on their new archive page!
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GOLD DUST
Here are some links from around the web to enhance your home, health, safety and life:
- Resilience-related: How to Clean a Flooded Basement – New York Times Wirecutter
- Health-related: Insomnia Treatment & Tips – Kaiser Permanente Newsletter
- Organizing-related: 9 Things Experts Say You Shouldn’t Store In Your Pantry – Southern Living
