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'90s Kitchens Are Back in Style, But What About Bathrooms? Why Designers Are Divided

The article explores the resurgence of 1990s design trends in home interiors, specifically contrasting the strong comeback of '90s-inspired kitchens with the more nuanced return of '90s bathrooms. While '90s kitchens are gaining significant traction, particularly due to a desire for coziness and nostalgia, the adoption of '90s bathroom aesthetics is more conditional and selective among designers. Key design elements from the '90s that are re-emerging in bathrooms include warm oak cabinets and geometric tiling. Jessica Shaw, director of interior design at the Turett Collaborative, notes that warm oak tones, reminiscent of anigre, are seeing a return. She emphasizes the importance of context, suggesting that pairing warm oak with modern architecture, a neutral palette, and contemporary furniture can make the look feel timeless rather than dated. This approach helps to integrate the retro element into a current design scheme seamlessly. Lindsey Zborowski, design manager at Wayfair, highlights the re-emergence of geometric tiling, particularly bold, square, ceramic tiles in checkerboard patterns and jewel tones. She also points out the return of French or polished brass and exposed bulb vanity lighting, which were common in '90s bathrooms. However, Zborowski advises against a complete embrace of these elements without modern tempering. She recommends updating soft goods like bath linens, accent rugs, and shower curtains, as well as changing mirrors to a more contemporary style to balance the vintage elements and prevent the space from appearing stuck in the past. Conversely, some aspects of '90s bathroom design are not expected to make a full comeback. Elissa Hall, lead designer at Awning.com, states that bulky and heavy elements, which often characterized '90s bathrooms, are largely being left in the past. Homeowners are showing a preference for sleeker shapes in sinks and tubs, diverging from the large, clunky fixtures of the era. Big vanity boxes and broad, low-hanging medicine cabinets are also not anticipated to return as major trends. Despite the general aversion to bulk, Hall suggests that certain specific '90s elements might see a selective return, such as a seafoam tile accent wall or vanities with unique '90s-inspired hardware, indicating a more curated and refined reintroduction of vintage styles. The overall sentiment among designers is that while nostalgia plays a role, a thoughtful and balanced approach is crucial when incorporating '90s design into modern bathrooms. This involves updating certain features and blending vintage with contemporary elements to create a stylish and functional space, rather than a direct recreation of a past aesthetic. The focus is on selective integration, where deliberate improvements like modern lighting, updated faucets, and fresh paint can advance the design while retaining some charming original eccentricities. #90sDesign #BathroomTrends #KitchenTrends #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #OakCabinets #GeometricTiling #DesignNostalgia #90sDesign #BathroomTrends #KitchenTrends #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #OakCabinets #GeometricTiling #DesignNostalgia
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