Your once-makeshift home office is now probably all dialed in. Other upgrades made quickly to stay put during the coronavirus pandemic have also most likely been sorted out. Now it’s time for home improvements not decided in a hurry.
To inspire you, here are expected home design and renovation trends for 2022, as noted by designers with Neil Kelly, a design-build remodel and home improvement company that started in Portland seven decades ago.
The sculptural freestanding tub and reclaimed cedar wall paneling create a visual connection with nature in this bathroom designed by Janel Campbell.Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
People who seek tranquil, clutter-free homes are incorporating shapes, colors and textures found in nature. Warmer browns, greens and blues, as well as curving lines, visually bring the outside in and that “can help people feel more grounded,” said Neil Kelly design director Barbara Miller.
Idea: A sculptural, freestanding tub and reclaimed cedar wall paneling in a bathroom designed by Janel Campbell are nods to the natural world.
- Reclaimed wood is sold through Portland-area salvage retailers that offer materials saved from deconstructed homes
- eBay has character-rich reclaimed floating shelves, rustic barn-wood benches and farmhouse-inspired dining tables and other furnishings made by repurposing wood
- Home Depot sells Vintage Timber barn-wood wall panels
- Etsy has tables, wood planks and other decorative pieces made of weathered wood
Designer Therese DuBravac was inspired by the outdoors when creating this kitchen’s color palette, which is unified by gray-green tile used as a backsplash that extends to the ceiling.
Neil Kelly Company
The color trend is moving away from all-white or all-gray kitchens and bathrooms to the use of more color, especially nature-inspired hues of green, blue and brown. “Green is really having a moment,” said Miller.
Organic green was selected as the paint color of the year: Behr introduced sea-glass Breezeway; Sherwin-Williams’ Evergreen Fog is a green-gray with a bit of blue; and Benjamin Moore’s October Mist is a sage color that evokes the silver-green stem of a flower.
Other Benjamin Moore’s 2022 color trends include:
- Wild Flower, a red lightly dusted with pink and orange
- Soft yellow Pale Moon
- Soft white Steam
- Morning Dew, a cool, soothing gray with a touch of green
- Collector’s Item, a pink-tinged off-white
- Hint of Violet, lilac with a cool gray cast
- Mysterious, a denim blue that can read as a black or navy
- Blue, green and gray Quiet Moments
- Leafy Fernwood Green with warm undertones
- Sandy neutral Natural Linen
- Venetian Portico, an earthy neutral like sun-baked clay
- High Park, a herbaceous green with gray undertones
- Gloucester Sage, a dark hue like rain-soaked moss and wrought iron
Idea: Designer Therese DuBravac was inspired by the outdoors when creating a kitchen’s color palette, which is unified by gray-green tile used as a backsplash that extends to the ceiling.
Black cabinets add drama and sophistication to this kitchen, designed by Mary Miksch, especially when paired with brushed metal hardware.Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
A trend Neil Kelly designers endorse is to add higher levels of contrast. One way is to pair black with other neutrals.
Idea: Black cabinets bring sophistication to a kitchen designed by Mary Miksch. The color really pops with brushed metal hardware.
- Houzz, an online design source with more than 2.7 million active home remodeling and design professionals contributing ideas, has photos of black cabinets
- See images of brushed metal knobs, pulls, brackets and other hardware
Porcelain slab counters seen in this kitchen designed by Rob Barham are stain resistant. Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
COVID-19 has increased interest in home hygiene and sanitation, and the demand for easy-to-clean surfaces and materials continues to grow.
People are installing non-porous counters as well as touch-less faucets, and creating sanitation-recycling hubs.
Idea: Although they require precision to install, non-porous porcelain slab counters such as the one in a kitchen designed by Rob Barham are popular because of their attractive appearance and resistance to staining.
- Hygienic countertops block moisture and food particles from getting under the surface
- Antimicrobial choices include quartz, sealed granite and stainless steel
Herringbone tile was installed in this bathroom designed by Kimithy Nagel.Malia Campbell
Homeowners who are looking beyond classic gray and white subway tiles are exploring different colors, sizes and patterns. Tone-on-tone patterns deliver subtle visual interest.
Idea: A contemporary approach is to install square tile alternatives such as herringbone as specified by designer Kimithy Nagel in a client’s bathroom.
- Portland tile makers include Ann Sacks and Pratt + Larson
- Trending tile is available at showrooms like Bedrosians as well as The Home Depot and Lowe’s home improvement stores
Bidet seats, such as the one installed in a remodel designed by Fabian Genovesi, offer a more sanitary, more sustainable option for the bathroom.
Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
Bathroom remodels that will serve well into the future include universal design principles such as wider access for people using walkers or wheelchairs, easy-to-reach and ADA-compliant vanities, and threshold-free showers with a bench and high-contrast tile.
Other aging-in-place features are architectural-looking grab bars and enhanced lighting.
Idea: Americans are discovering water-spraying bidets are more sanitary and create less waste than traditional toilets. Aging-in-place experts say a bidet may be the difference between independence and needing assistance.
For homeowners concerned about the environment, bidet seats, such as the one installed in a remodel designed by Fabian Genovesi, offer a more sanitary, more sustainable option for the bathroom.
A two-story addition to a house in Southwest Portland that was designed by Byron Kellar expanded the size of the kitchen on the main level and created an entirely new primary suite above it.Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
People stuck at home to reduce the risk of COVID-19 converted underused areas of their property to flexible spaces to work, exercise and relax. Some also added onto their home to bring extended family members together.
More homeowners are expected to look into enlarging their existing house because of the tight real estate market. Options include a second floor addition, converting the barebones basement into finished living space, and constructing a self-contained apartment, also known as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Idea: A two-story addition to a house in Southwest Portland that was designed by Byron Kellar expanded the size of the kitchen on the main level and created an entirely new primary suite above it.
An outdoor living space designed by Tonya Bellusci includes a covered patio with a living room, fireplace and kitchen.Darius Kuzmickas/KuDa Photography
Outdoor entertaining may have started as a way to safely gather with friends and family during the coronavirus pandemic, but al fresco living is here to stay. And for many, relaxing outside extends to all four seasons.
Decks, patios, even an enclosed porch can became an extension of a home, in style and quality.
Today’s outdoor living spaces are decked out with comfort controls, smart media and built-in storage. Full-size appliances and a stocked wet bar make it easier to entertain.
Idea: An outdoor living space designed by Tonya Bellusci has a covered patio with a living room, fireplace and kitchen.
Due to higher demand, more interior building materials like Caesarstone’s Solaris exterior counters are being made to be approved for outdoor use.
- A covered patio with a fireplace or heater can make being outside comfortable year-round
- Weatherproof drapes and curtains add privacy while awnings or shades can serve as weather protection
- Quality lighting like chandeliers and metal pendant lights deliver mood-setting illumination after sunset. Make sure to buy outdoor-approved fixtures
- Change the look each season with bold patterned rugs, pillows and blankets
- Install an outdoor TV on a rotating mount to angle or tilt the screen to avoid glare
— As told to Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
