What Will Cabinets be Wearing in 2021?
In our last post we showed you some of the new and exciting door styles in our Greenfield line. You might be asking, “but what about the finishes? Is a white kitchen still the standard by which all others are judged?” The answer to that is no. Clients all over the country are showing their individuality and desire to connect with nature. While white is still prominent and classic, here are some other woods and finishes that you’ll be spotting in homes and magazines.
What’s old is new again: Remember last week I talked about Oak making a comeback? Does the thought of white-washed Oak from the 80’s make you cringe? Well, good news – you don’t have to cringe with these new Oak stains. There’s everything from a rustic finish grey Oak for those looking for that farmhouse aesthetic to the Scandinavian influence of natural finish White Oak to classic darker brown finishes that accentuate the natural grain patterns.
Choices in grain pattern: Without going into too much detail about how wood is cut, know that there are three types of cuts that give you different looks:
- Flat cut: You see the familiar pattern of Oak (think of Oak floors with the definite arch patterns)
- Rift cut: A way of cutting the tree to create a more uniform, straight grain
- Quarter Sawn: Think of Arts and Crafts pieces of furniture done in Oak. You don’t see the arch patterns (cathedrals) but you do see a straighter grain with some flecks in it.
Our new offerings consist of White Oak in Flat Cut, Random Plank (sizes of the plank varies, just like in flooring) and Rift Cut

New colors: While grey is still on-trend, we’re seeing some fresher natural finishes as well. Take a look at these greys; they’re softer and more transparent.

Ready for rustic? While it isn’t for everyone, this rough-cut, limed finish could be a gorgeous partner to a high-gloss acrylic or even white painted cabinets.

Stay tuned throughout the year for new introductions!
Looking Ahead to 2021
Yes, it has been a challenging year. We have all had our lives, families and businesses impacted by the pandemic, election, and social movements across the country. While many of us have found things to be grateful for, there is no denying that most of us are looking to put 2020 in the rearview mirror.

Here at Catherine Schager Designs, we are looking forward to bringing you new services and products to make your home the haven it should be. In the coming weeks I’ll be attending a major trade show for the kitchen and bath industry and a large conference with industry and trade partners- all virtually. While I am enjoying not having to travel, I miss the happenstance meeting of new people, the exchange of ideas and the inspiration that comes from being in-person. Here are some of our goals for the New Year:
- To find new ways to bring beauty and function to our clients’ homes by staying on top of new vendor offerings and industry trends.
- Connecting with you more often on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn, and welcoming your thoughts and opinions.

- Finding work-life balance through travel (Sweden to visit our kids!), gatherings with family, friends and valued business partners, life-enriching pursuits geared toward health (exercise, a Spartan Race, and cooking) and creativity (learning Swedish, watercolor and color pencil classes).

Our wish for you is a 2021 filled with new adventures, challenges (they help us grow), love and laughter. We look forward to hugging. Happy New Year! … or Gott Nytt År! See, I’m learning a bit of Swedish already 😉

Houzz 2020 Trend Report for Bathrooms
So, what’s the latest and greatest in Bathroom design? Houzz surveyed over 1500 users across the country during the months of June and July this year, and this is what people are saying about what they want in their bathrooms – food for thought if you’re contemplating making a change for yourself in the near future!
- Style- “Modern” has edged out “Transitional” by about 2%. You might be asking what “Modern” is or afraid that it means sterile and white. “Modern” can be best described by clean lines, but with the warmth of color, texture and sometimes whimsy. Take a look at these:

Believe it or not, the “Farmhouse” style once so popular thanks to Chip and Joanna comes in dead last in the Houzz survey.
- Almost half of respondents are looking for a relaxing experience in the shower or tub. Incidentally, many are removing tubs altogether for a larger shower. I’ve been seeing that trend for a few years with my clients.

- Accent walls and lighting are important design elements. I love accent walls, which can be created in a number of ways. From a stellar tile enveloping an entire wall, to an interesting paint color or even mural there are many ways to create a “wow” effect. When it comes to lighting, LED fixtures allow for bright light and low energy consumption, not to mention so many beautiful designs!

Next week we’ll talk about some other trends from the Houzz report!
Product Innovator Awards from KBIS 2020!
For the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce (and comment on, of course) some products that were voted as some of the most innovative products around by a panel of kitchen and bath industry professionals earlier this year at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. As this show was held earlier this year, it was an in-person and not virtual event! Here are some of my favorites:
- First Place for Kitchen Innovation is Fotile’s 3-in-1 In-Sink Dishwasher! Just take a look at how cool this is.

Not only is it a sink and dishwasher all in one place, but you can also wash produce in the dishwasher! Not while you’re washing dishes, of course. This would be fabulous for a tiny kitchen, bar area, butler’s pantry or 2nd kitchen!
- Second place for Kitchen Innovation is GE’s Café Quad Door Refrigerator. It’s a 4-door refrigerator with a convertible temperature zone that offers the flexibility to store different foods in different seasons. There’s a compartment that can double as a freezer when you need more freezer space, a wipeable glass-overlay surface for jotting your list while standing at the fridge and has a fingerprint free finish. Additionally, I like the integrated pocket handles as a space-saving feature when opening the door in tight spaces.
- Second place for Bath Innovation is Kohler’s Eir Intelligent Toilet. If you want the only the best for your tush, this is the toilet for you. It features a sleek tankless design with an optional rose gold or gold decorative ring around the lid for you design fans. It also backs up to the wall so the plumbing and electrical connections are hidden. Again, sleek design. There’s a UV sanitizing wand that delivers an electrolyzed water spray to clean the surfaces, hands-free opening and closing, adjustable and customizable water sprays, a heated seat, and night light. On the “green” side of things, it offers dual flush modes for water conservation. You can even adjust all of the cleansing properties with a remote control. A must-have for anyone who wants the ultimate in their bathroom experience!
A WELL – Designed Kitchen
Now more than ever, we are focused on creating healthy meals for our family. As we’ve been spending more time in the kitchen you’ve probably noticed where your kitchen falls short in helping you do this easily.

Here are 5 suggestions for planning ways to support not only the creation of healthier meals, but a healthier place to create them.
- Plan for less clutter – Seeing clutter actually stimulates the production of cortisol – the stress hormone. Plan for ways to keep counters free of excess clutter by creating a place for everything. Small appliances like toasters and juicers can live in countertop garages that close up when not in use. Consider fewer wall cabinets and more below-counter storage.
- Light it up – Take advantage of as much natural light as you can. Maybe it’s time to consider adding some windows or moving a door to allow more natural light in. It is also important to choose the right artificial lighting, incorporating energy saving LED’s and especially those that have a warm-dim component to them. These allow you to change the color of the light throughout the day to assist our bodies adjust to their natural circadian rhythms.
- Biophilia (What?!) This means bringing more of the outside in. There are many ways to do that, some listed above but you can also consider bringing some plants into the kitchen – a garden windowsill for growing fresh herbs or even a “green wall”.

- Keep it Fresh – with more emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables, and meatless meals, consider your refrigerator. Do you really need a lot of freezer storage, or are your needs for fresh food storage greater? There are so many options today that can assist you with keeping your fresh ingredients fresh and accessible.
- Materials Matter – Choose the right materials to keep your kitchen healthy. Select cabinetry that is made with low levels of formaldehyde (which occurs in nature so you can’t eliminate it entirely) and FSC certified (good for the environment). Wood countertops and man-made quartz countertops have anti-microbial properties and please, please, make sure your hood vents to the outdoors to keep the air in your kitchen fresh.
These are just a few ways that you can make a healthy difference when you remodel your kitchen. Please join me on Wednesday, May 27 at 2:30 pm for a Facebook Live chat with special guest Alisa Bloom of Live Your Best 365! We’ll be talking about food choices to quell inflammation and how the design of your kitchen can add to your health!
NKBA Event with Ellen Cheever February 2020
It was great attending this educational event hosted by Caesarstone at Café La Cave! Ellen Cheever, one of the very first educators in the kitchen and bath industry, an icon and inspiration to me and many other designers is giving her farewell address to the industry. She will be missed but leaves behind a phenomenal legacy to generations of kitchen and bath designers!

“Best Of Houzz” Badge for Service 2020
I would like to thank my wonderful clients who took the time and effort to post reviews about our work together. You are the reason that we’ve been able to be awarded a “Best of Houzz” badge for Service since 2017!
Visit our Houzz page to take a look and be inspired: https://www.houzz.com/pro/catherineschager/catherine-schager-designs.
2020 Colors of the Year
- At February 04, 2020
- By catherineschager
- In Design Trends
0
The 2020 Colors of the Year were announced in late 2019 and there were a bunch of them. You’ve probably seen them all but we’ve distilled the best-of-the-best to show you with some ideas for how you can use them in your home. This year highlights blues, greens and blush colors found in nature.
Such pretty eye candy! Let’s break them down:
Sherwin-Williams “Naval” SW 6244
Dark blues have been growing in popularity in recent years. We’ve seen more and more kitchen and bath cabinets using beautiful deep blues inspired by the sea. Sherwin-Williams chose this rich navy that they describe as creating a calm grounding environment infused with quiet confidence, paving the way to a new decade of wellness of the mind, body and soul. The company further says the color gives a nod to Art Deco influences, the power of nature, and the importance of our need as humans to interact with nature. Sounds like quite an inspiring color!
Check out our pinterest board for many more examples for incorporating this color in your life.
Pantone “Classic Blue” 19-4052
Pantone Color Institute chose a blue they dubbed “Classic Blue” for it’s solid and dependable feel. They describe it as elegant in its simplicity and suggestive of the sky at dusk, thought provoking, reassuring, and stable. Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman said this of the choice: “Classic Blue provides and anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.” You can explore their color suggested color pairings on their website here.
Brighter than Naval, this blue is still a solid and popular choice for kitchen and bath cabinetry. See our pinterest board for many examples of this classic color from home décor to fashion.
PPG Paints “Chinese Porcelain” PPG1160-6
Brighter than Naval but darker and more muted than Classic Blue, Chinese Porcelain gets the special nod from PPG Paints. They describe the color as blend of cobalt and moody, ink blue. It evokes natural elements like the sea and the sky, imparting calmness, hopefulness, serenity and sense of long tradition. PPG color specialists see the new decade as leaving behind neutrals like gray for more colorful backdrops. As the most popular favorite color, blue is the “easiest possible entry point” from neutral to color.
Check out our pinterest board for many gorgeous ideas to use this color this year.
Dunn-Edwards “Minty Fresh” DE5687
Dunn-Edwards choose a sweet, nostalgic pastel shade of minty green they call Minty Fresh for it’s fresh, clean feel. The company describes it as a subtle and relaxing pastel that conveys a partnership between technology and nature, bringing both an optimistic, upbeat feel and a tranquil balance. This color finds a home on many a front door and garden gate, but is no stranger in graphic design.
See our pinterest board for all the many places we discovered this shade in current home décor and fashion.
Behr choose a muted, organic green hue that looks to be straight from the forest or a meadow. They describe the color as restorative and revitalizing, fulfilling the need to create a soft landing at home. Behr sees the trend of bringing the outside indoors as continuing into new decade and a need to engage with nature will be ever more important in the hustle-and-bustle of 2020.
See all the ways we found to use this organic green on our pinterest board.
Benjamin Moore “First Light” 2102-70
Benjamin Moore sees this light, rosy pink as the defining shade to a new decade. They describe it as an uplifting, refreshing neutral that is soft, airy, and plays well with other colors. It’s a happy shade without being sticky sweet, luminescent and reflective without being too bright, and just crisp enough to look clean without feeling sterile. The company says it’s a cooler take on the very popular Millennial Pink that they see as continuing throughout this new decade.
See our pinterest board for all the ideas we found to bring this pretty pink into your new year.
All the colors speak to a link between nature and technology and a need to slow down and relax in a rushed and hectic world. (Sounds blissful!) The terms revitalized, optimism, and fresh appear in most of the color descriptions released by the companies. Do you love them?