On the Record With Jeni Conlin of the Meridian Company

Jeni Conlin has been with The Meridian Co. for nearly 11 years — and as a kitchen and bathroom designer, she has seen plenty of trends come and go. Yet one thing that remains the same is the pride in bringing clients’ visions to life when it comes to creating a space for them to enjoy for years to come. 

“Being able to work alongside the best group of professionals that physically turn these visions into a reality is beyond rewarding,” Conlin said. 

As far as trends go, Conlin said the black, white and gray trend is holding strong, but there are some newish color concepts gaining more attention. 

“I’m starting to see a pull toward lighter, more neutral tones like creams and taupes, as well as pops of color like shades of green and blue, whether it be paint or even cabinetry color,” Conlin said. “Gold toned and black fixtures, like faucets and accent pieces, have become increasingly popular. These trends are sure to make your kitchen and or bathroom a statement piece.” 

More than color, fixtures or other aesthetics, the need for universal design features never go out of style. Universal remodeling, which focuses on ease of access and safety in a kitchen and or bathroom, is for people in all stages of life. 

“For example, barrier-free or low-threshold showers, which means little or no physical barrier from your bathroom floor into your shower,” Conlin explained. “This makes it more convenient for someone with mobility issues who may be in a wheelchair or use a walker.” 

Conlin also said increasing the size of doorways, adding grab bars to showers and/or by toilets, wall-hung cabinetry or cabinetry with raised toe-kicks to allow a wheelchair to get closer to a sink or countertop surface without bumping into it, and lower wall cabinets in the kitchen with pull-down accessories are also integral universal remodeling upgrades many should consider. 

“The great thing is these features are not limited to people with mobility issues or want to age in place,” Conlin said. “They are for people of all walks of life who enjoy a seamless, safe bathroom design with less obstacles.” 

The Meridian Company can help potential customers with in- home consultations, budget planning, material and fixture selections, and computer-aided-design software renderings for larger projects to help in visualizing a new kitchen or bathroom. The company is uniquely qualified for such projects because it is a one-stop shop. 

“The Meridian Company has the resources and trade professionals to carry out the entire scope of work for a kitchen and or bathroom remodel,” Conlin said.