Sleek + Hyper-Functional: Kitchen and Bath Trends

Ready to see the latest and greatest in kitchen and bath design? Designers and innovators are coming up with an incredible array of products and ideas that are bringing beauty and smart design to these much-used realms. Finding ways to integrate growing, whether herbs or lettuces, within kitchen design, is the next level approach to healthy eating. The Canadian company Urban Cultivator creates hydroponic indoor gardening systems—greenhouses in your kitchen—to grow vegetables, herbs and microgreens in what the company calls "living kitchens" that can nest nicely beneath countertops to truly integrate into the overall kitchen design.

Interior designer Jessica Helgerson's stunning kitchen island in multidimensional shades of red illustrates the impact of this new kitchen and bath trend for geometric design and texture.

Companies are finding new ways to integrate progressive environmental-awareness into their designs. The Italian company Riva 1920 includes conveniently located compost bins right at the counter where chopping and food prep is done, the better to handle kitchen waste A cutting board that slides over the sink also makes clean-up easy.