According to Judy Riley, Moen's vice president of design, the home is looked to as the primary place for comfort and serenity during times of unrest. "With decreased entertainment budgets and the growing trend toward entertaining in the home, Americans are spending a lot more time indoors," says Riley. "Today's home is for much more than eating and sleeping -- it is an escape from the outside world."
What are the latest trends in the modern escape home? More importantly, how can you transform your home into a safe haven with both style and smarts?
The Hub of the Home
Kitchens have come a long way in the past several years, and they continue to evolve more into the family gathering place than ever before. "The kitchen is the center of connectivity for today's family -- not only physically, but also digitally," says Riley. "The kitchen is where we socialize, check email, surf the Web, watch television and charge everything from the cell phone to the iPod."
With the kitchen as the home's nucleus, it's important to incorporate design elements that fit this specific purpose. Today's kitchen lends itself to a more flexible, open plan than ever before, with ample counter space and wiring to support all of the family's gadgets. It also requires more seating, from high-top bar stools to casual table dining.
As the most frequented space in the house, it's important to incorporate items into your kitchen that fit your family's personality -- items that are both functional and fashionable. Moen's Level kitchen faucet features sleek and contemporary lines that help to make a bold statement at the sink. Plus, the faucet's pulldown wand simplifies everyday tasks, such as filling large pots, pitchers and vases, making your work that much simpler.
Serene and Green
Like the kitchen, today's bathroom is taking on a variety of functions, acting as a setting for both wellness and rejuvenation. Consumers aim to achieve a peaceful environment by staying conscious of their impact on the environment and considering potential energy and cost savings in the bath.
Green has become part of the dialogue for homeowners as they weigh product features and functions, with many seeking to understand a product's impact on the environment before making a purchase. "Although consumers want to do their part to be green, they aren't willing to sacrifice a product's performance to do so," Riley says. "For example, they might want a low-flow showerhead, but not a weak shower experience."
Moen's Envi Eco-Performance showerhead takes both of these desires into consideration. With three unique spray settings and a flow rate of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm) -- 30 percent less than the industry standard 2.5 gpm -- homeowners can have a guilt-free, superior shower experience every day. Modified spray formers increase the velocity of water streams hitting the body, which allows Envi to treat users to a full, satisfying and relaxing spray -- all while saving water. "Achieving both a greener and more relaxing shower has never been easier," says Riley.
Party Central
Entertaining and dining are coming home this year, and spaces need to be adaptable in order to accommodate multiple functions and different types of get-togethers. Transforming products, such as a dining room table that rises to bar height and expands for entertaining, like the Lexington Zacara Movida Bistro Table, gives an ordinary object a greater purpose. It's suitable for both family meals and celebrations at the lower height with a leaf extension in place, and can also serve well for a wine tasting, cocktail party or a night of poker when set higher and more bistro-like. "Flexibility within the home allows you to create a variety of moods and settings for entertaining," says Riley. "The goal is to be able to easily transition from casual to formal, while maintaining a style and comfort level that's suitable for each occasion."
What will tomorrow bring for your home? By incorporating 2009's best trends into your living space, you can ensure it remains your refuge for years to come.
For more information on Moen's Level kitchen collection or its new Envi Eco-Performance showerhead, visit www.moen.com or call (800) BUY-MOEN or (800) 289-6636.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
