Our Customers' Top 10 Home Products of 2020
by Rachel Lyon & Jacob Benowitz, Editorial Director & Production Coordinator for The House Designers®
Spending more time at home in 2020 made a lot of us appreciate what we have, helped us identify things we'd like to change, and gave us greater insight into how the design of a house and its features affect its occupants. With that said, products consumers were drawn to this year include those that promote a cleaner and brighter interior environment, add aesthetic value, and upgrade functionality to offer greater control with less effort. Read on to see what that means in a variety of product categories!
Wood-Look Doors with Diverse Divided Lite Patterns
Do you want your front door to complete a historically appropriate façade? Or maybe you'd like it to make a bold, unique statement? In any case, Therma-Tru® has divided lite patterns to serve all needs! Take a look at their Classic-Craft® American Style Collection™ to get a good feel for the design possibilities, because it offers a range of options for traditional, transitional, and even contemporary designs. Whatever you choose, it'll have an attractive fir woodgrain surface, durable and efficient fiberglass construction, and your choice of glass and paint or stain.
Model: Therma-Tru® Classic-Craft® American Style Collection™ 8' Full Lite Shaker Flush-Glazed | Contact Dealer for a Quote
Do you want your front door to complete a historically appropriate façade? Or maybe you'd like it to make a bold, unique statement? In any case, Therma-Tru® has divided lite patterns to serve all needs! Take a look at their Classic-Craft® American Style Collection™ to get a good feel for the design possibilities, because it offers a range of options for traditional, transitional, and even contemporary designs. Whatever you choose, it'll have an attractive fir woodgrain surface, durable and efficient fiberglass construction, and your choice of glass and paint or stain.
Model: Therma-Tru® Classic-Craft® American Style Collection™ 8' Full Lite Shaker Flush-Glazed | Contact Dealer for a Quote
An App That Helps You Visualize Skylights in Any Space
For those who would like to virtually try skylights before investing in the purchase, VELUX® now has an app for that! Available for Apple devices, the VELUX® Visualizer guides you through placing and configuring skylights through the view on your camera. You can test different types of skylights and blinds—even at different times of day!—to see how they look in your home and find what works for you. Once you find the perfect solution, take a picture or record a video to share with a local installer. The app will pull up a list based on your zip code, so you don't even have to search yourself!
Model: VELUX® Visualizer App | Free to Use!
For those who would like to virtually try skylights before investing in the purchase, VELUX® now has an app for that! Available for Apple devices, the VELUX® Visualizer guides you through placing and configuring skylights through the view on your camera. You can test different types of skylights and blinds—even at different times of day!—to see how they look in your home and find what works for you. Once you find the perfect solution, take a picture or record a video to share with a local installer. The app will pull up a list based on your zip code, so you don't even have to search yourself!
Model: VELUX® Visualizer App | Free to Use!
A Dishwasher That Uses Space Better to Fit More
If you want to use the entire capacity of a dishwasher to the fullest, look into a third rack! KitchenAid® has four new FreeFlex™ Third Rack Dishwashers that have space for flatware, cooking tools, bowls, and even 6" glasses above the main two baskets. This is the largest third rack available in the industry, and it performs exceptionally well thanks to dedicated rotating wash jets that ensure smaller items are effectively cleaned. You'll also love the quiet operation, the lighted interior, and the adjustable middle rack that can be positioned to accommodate tricky dishes as necessary!
Model: KitchenAid® 44 dBA Dishwasher with FreeFlex™ Third Rack and LED Interior Lighting | $1,799.00 MSRP
If you want to use the entire capacity of a dishwasher to the fullest, look into a third rack! KitchenAid® has four new FreeFlex™ Third Rack Dishwashers that have space for flatware, cooking tools, bowls, and even 6" glasses above the main two baskets. This is the largest third rack available in the industry, and it performs exceptionally well thanks to dedicated rotating wash jets that ensure smaller items are effectively cleaned. You'll also love the quiet operation, the lighted interior, and the adjustable middle rack that can be positioned to accommodate tricky dishes as necessary!
Model: KitchenAid® 44 dBA Dishwasher with FreeFlex™ Third Rack and LED Interior Lighting | $1,799.00 MSRP
Durable Quartz in Classic and Contemporary Looks
Perfect for countertops, backsplashes, and other uses, Cambria® natural quartz comes in plenty of designs to suit every aesthetic. You'll find marble and granite lookalikes in their collection as well as other designs ranging from simple to complex. And no matter your style preference, natural quartz makes a great choice due to its exceptional strength and nonabsorbent nature. Want something new that stands out? Brittanicca Block™ is a very unique slab created by laying parallel lanes of the Brittanicca™ design for a dynamic effect. It may look like it has grout lines, but these slabs are completely seamless, so you can expect the same performance as you would from any Cambria natural quartz surface.
Model: Cambria® Brittanicca Block™ Quartz | Contact for a Quote
Perfect for countertops, backsplashes, and other uses, Cambria® natural quartz comes in plenty of designs to suit every aesthetic. You'll find marble and granite lookalikes in their collection as well as other designs ranging from simple to complex. And no matter your style preference, natural quartz makes a great choice due to its exceptional strength and nonabsorbent nature. Want something new that stands out? Brittanicca Block™ is a very unique slab created by laying parallel lanes of the Brittanicca™ design for a dynamic effect. It may look like it has grout lines, but these slabs are completely seamless, so you can expect the same performance as you would from any Cambria natural quartz surface.
Model: Cambria® Brittanicca Block™ Quartz | Contact for a Quote
Laundry Appliances Designed to Meet Expectations
If you've ever been disappointed with the power of a normal washing or drying cycle, check out the new heavy duty machines from Maytag®. Armed with the Extra Power button, these appliances rise to tackle challenges on demand. To boost cleaning, the washers run a dual-temperature wash that starts cold and finishes warm to help dissolve and lift stains efficiently. Dryers offer increased time, heat, and tumbling to dry bulky items and thick seams the first time. There are multiple models, so you can choose front or top load configurations and gas or electric fuel for the dryer!
Model: Maytag® Smart Capable Top Load Washer with Extra Power Button in Metallic Slate Finish | $1,099.00 MSRP
If you've ever been disappointed with the power of a normal washing or drying cycle, check out the new heavy duty machines from Maytag®. Armed with the Extra Power button, these appliances rise to tackle challenges on demand. To boost cleaning, the washers run a dual-temperature wash that starts cold and finishes warm to help dissolve and lift stains efficiently. Dryers offer increased time, heat, and tumbling to dry bulky items and thick seams the first time. There are multiple models, so you can choose front or top load configurations and gas or electric fuel for the dryer!
Model: Maytag® Smart Capable Top Load Washer with Extra Power Button in Metallic Slate Finish | $1,099.00 MSRP
Trendy Wallpaper That's Easy to Apply & Remove
Are you itching to update your interior? Peel-and-stick removable wallpaper from Tempaper® would make a fantastic DIY project! It comes in every sort of color, style, and motif imaginable, giving you the opportunity to instill any vibe. Not sure if you can handle the whole wall? Check out their decals—they also come in tons of chic, seasonal, and kid-friendly designs to transform spaces at will. Whichever look(s) you choose, this product is sourced and made in the USA, uses water-based inks and adhesives, is steam and moisture resistant, and comes off cleanly whenever you want it to. It's a simple, mess-free way to refresh a room!
Model: Tempaper® Zebras in Love in Waverly White | $39.99 MSRP per 28 sq. ft. Roll
Are you itching to update your interior? Peel-and-stick removable wallpaper from Tempaper® would make a fantastic DIY project! It comes in every sort of color, style, and motif imaginable, giving you the opportunity to instill any vibe. Not sure if you can handle the whole wall? Check out their decals—they also come in tons of chic, seasonal, and kid-friendly designs to transform spaces at will. Whichever look(s) you choose, this product is sourced and made in the USA, uses water-based inks and adhesives, is steam and moisture resistant, and comes off cleanly whenever you want it to. It's a simple, mess-free way to refresh a room!
Model: Tempaper® Zebras in Love in Waverly White | $39.99 MSRP per 28 sq. ft. Roll
Barn Doors for Dividing Spaces & Maintaining Light
Popular for pantries, offices, and other doorways, barn doors are a great way to add some rustic interest inside without having to worry about swing clearance. And if you want an option that keeps spaces feeling brighter and more open even when closed, take a look at what Hy-Lite® introduced this year—acrylic block barn doors that obscure the view without obstructing light! They come in 38" x 83" and 29" x 83" sizes and you can choose between white or bronze vinyl framing. Durable steel hardware completes the look. These lightweight doors slide effortlessly to create partitions, so they're a great choice for every household.
Model: Hy-Lite® Barn-Lite Sliding Door System | Price Varies by Options Selected
Popular for pantries, offices, and other doorways, barn doors are a great way to add some rustic interest inside without having to worry about swing clearance. And if you want an option that keeps spaces feeling brighter and more open even when closed, take a look at what Hy-Lite® introduced this year—acrylic block barn doors that obscure the view without obstructing light! They come in 38" x 83" and 29" x 83" sizes and you can choose between white or bronze vinyl framing. Durable steel hardware completes the look. These lightweight doors slide effortlessly to create partitions, so they're a great choice for every household.
Model: Hy-Lite® Barn-Lite Sliding Door System | Price Varies by Options Selected
A Touch-Free Smart Faucet You Can Control by Voice
If you want an intelligent faucet that does more, check out the award-winning U by Moen™ Smart Faucet. It comes in 11 different styles and a variety of finishes to fit kitchens of all schemes, and it can be controlled 4 ways—voice activation with Alexa and Google, the Moen app, a wave sensor, and manually. Users can tell the faucet to dispense water at specific temperatures in various measurements—tablespoons, milliliters, ounces, cups, pints, liters, quarts, and gallons. Users can make custom presets to quickly and easily handle routine tasks like making baby formula or refilling pet bowls. Just want to wash your hands? The handwashing preset lets you wet your hands, then it pauses while you lather to conserve water until it's time to rinse!
Model: U By Moen™ Smart Faucet In Essie™ Spot Resist Stainless | $692.30 MSRP
If you want an intelligent faucet that does more, check out the award-winning U by Moen™ Smart Faucet. It comes in 11 different styles and a variety of finishes to fit kitchens of all schemes, and it can be controlled 4 ways—voice activation with Alexa and Google, the Moen app, a wave sensor, and manually. Users can tell the faucet to dispense water at specific temperatures in various measurements—tablespoons, milliliters, ounces, cups, pints, liters, quarts, and gallons. Users can make custom presets to quickly and easily handle routine tasks like making baby formula or refilling pet bowls. Just want to wash your hands? The handwashing preset lets you wet your hands, then it pauses while you lather to conserve water until it's time to rinse!
Model: U By Moen™ Smart Faucet In Essie™ Spot Resist Stainless | $692.30 MSRP
Affordably Priced Cabinetry in a Variety of Styles
Cabinetry can really add up when you consider the kitchen, bathrooms, mudroom, and any built-ins you might have around the house. So, if you want something beautiful and even sustainable that doesn't break the bank, look into Homecrest® Cabinetry. They offer door styles to suit all tastes, use environmentally responsible materials, and work through a network of dealers to ensure every project receives the careful attention to detail necessary to succeed. And if you need a unique solution, their Custom Choice™ Cabinetry can help! Homecrest delivers flexibility with affordability and a personal touch—a rare combination when it comes to building!—so you can feel confident in your selection.
Model: Homecrest® Cabinetry Bexley Kitchen in Willow Color | Contact Dealer for a Quote
Cabinetry can really add up when you consider the kitchen, bathrooms, mudroom, and any built-ins you might have around the house. So, if you want something beautiful and even sustainable that doesn't break the bank, look into Homecrest® Cabinetry. They offer door styles to suit all tastes, use environmentally responsible materials, and work through a network of dealers to ensure every project receives the careful attention to detail necessary to succeed. And if you need a unique solution, their Custom Choice™ Cabinetry can help! Homecrest delivers flexibility with affordability and a personal touch—a rare combination when it comes to building!—so you can feel confident in your selection.
Model: Homecrest® Cabinetry Bexley Kitchen in Willow Color | Contact Dealer for a Quote
A Customizable Air Purifier That Fits In Anywhere
Low-profile Rabbit Air® MinusA2 air purifiers are made to be seamlessly incorporated into any room—they come in a variety of simple and artistic designs and you can place them on the floor, a raised surface, or mount them on the wall! The six-stage, asthma & allergy friendly® certified purification process includes a BioGS® HEPA filter to capture bacteria, mold spores, and viruses and an activated carbon charcoal filter to absorb chemicals and odors. You even get to customize it with a filter for your specific concerns! The MinusA2 comes in models to cover up to 700 and 815 square feet, and a WiFi-enabled version that allows you to monitor air quality and adjust settings through an app on your Apple or Google devices and through voice control with Alexa.
Model: Rabbit Air® MinusA2 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier in the Cherry Blossom Design | Price Varies by Model Selected
Low-profile Rabbit Air® MinusA2 air purifiers are made to be seamlessly incorporated into any room—they come in a variety of simple and artistic designs and you can place them on the floor, a raised surface, or mount them on the wall! The six-stage, asthma & allergy friendly® certified purification process includes a BioGS® HEPA filter to capture bacteria, mold spores, and viruses and an activated carbon charcoal filter to absorb chemicals and odors. You even get to customize it with a filter for your specific concerns! The MinusA2 comes in models to cover up to 700 and 815 square feet, and a WiFi-enabled version that allows you to monitor air quality and adjust settings through an app on your Apple or Google devices and through voice control with Alexa.
Model: Rabbit Air® MinusA2 Ultra Quiet Air Purifier in the Cherry Blossom Design | Price Varies by Model Selected
