There are good reasons why John Buscarello’s Kitchen & Bath studio courses are in high demand at the New York School of Interior Design. The NYSID faculty member and accomplished residential designer, whose work has been published in Interior Design, The New York Times, New York Spaces, and House Beautiful, has positioned himself as a kitchen and bath expert throughout his career, to great success. He began his working life as a cook when he was a teenager, so later, when it came time to define a niche for himself as the principal of the interior design firm John A. Buscarello, Inc., a focus on kitchen and bath design seemed natural. Interior Design magazine has named him a "Kitchen & Bath Design Leader," and he’s spoken about his expertise for The New York Times at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show. For many years, he designed kitchen and bathroom installations at KBIS, North America’s largest kitchen and bath trade show. Jennifer Dorr, managing editor for NYSID, sits down with Buscarello to discuss what’s timeless and what’s evolving in kitchen and bath design. 

Jennifer Dorr: What are some of the fundamental principles of kitchen and bath design?

John Buscarello: When designing kitchens and baths, you must design from a perspective of functionality first. The client must be able to cook, eat, clean up, or bathe and use the toilet in these everyday spaces, so how those rooms function is crucial.

One of the first things that’s critical is an understanding of materials. Kitchens and bathrooms are special spaces in that we do things in them that involve water and food. Food has acid that corrodes certain surfaces. Materials are important because how they hold up is crucial to how the kitchen or bathroom functions and lasts. We look at the aesthetics only after we think about how a material performs. 

Finally, there is the precision that kitchens and baths demand. When you are dealing with kitchens and bathrooms, everything has to fit within a fraction of an inch. When you install a sofa, if it’s one inch too big, it’s rarely a problem, but in kitchens and bathrooms, everything has to be within 1/16 of an inch. 

What is the benefit to students of specifically focusing on these two areas of the home in a design studio?

If you take a Kitchen & Bath course with me, you will learn how to design from the perspective of functionality first. You will learn how to detail cabinetry and built-ins. You will learn how to do clear working drawings. Every mark on that paper means something and your drawing has to translate into a real space with very precise requirements. 

In addition, I emphasize the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) codes in bathroom design. ADA codes have revolutionized the standards and changed the way we do things in bathroom design, making spaces safer and healthier for everyone. For example, before the ADA code for bathrooms, vanities, and sinks came into being, a typical vanity was about 30 inches high. ADA requires it to be 34 inches high. These extra 3 or 4 inches of height mean no one needs to bend down and strain the back to use a sink. ADA codes have translated into better living, and made it easier for people to age in place.

 What’s evolving in kitchen and bath design and how can designers stay informed about the latest technologies and movements in the field?

Appliances and plumbing fixtures change with the times. There are now smart appliances that enable a repair person to troubleshoot a problem digitally, so they need not come to your home. There are cooktops that offer you recipes and refrigerators that will take a picture of their contents and inform you what you need to shop for. There are dishwashers that sense how dirty dishes are and will adjust the cycle accordingly. In addition to all the technology changes, the building codes are evolving. We are in the middle of a major global water crisis, and local and state government codes are pushing manufacturers to create plumbing fixtures that use less water. Understanding how all of this works is really important if you want to specialize in kitchens and baths. 

Moreover, the materials evolve. For example, porcelain countertops are “king” right now because they are getting stronger, they are inherently antibacterial, and they won’t burn if you place a hot pot on them. The way to stay on top of innovations is to go to major industry trade shows (such as KBIS) and showrooms. Make a concerted effort to stay on top of the technology, or it will bypass you very quickly.

Many designers are wary of pigeonholing themselves as kitchen and bath experts in their marketing. What are your thoughts on this?   

I have become a whole home designer, but I do think kitchen and bath is an interesting niche. Most people prioritize remodeling their kitchens and bathrooms, and doing one of these spaces can give you an entrée to a client who might move on to do the rest of the house. I am currently doing the living room of someone whose kitchen I recently remodeled. I position myself as a designer with a specialization but not someone who only does kitchen and bath, and this has served me well. 

Take a Class with John Buscarello

At NYSID, John Buscarello, NCIDQ, CID, ASID, teaches sections of Kitchen & Bath, Basic Drafting, Professional Practice I in the undergraduate programs; and Kitchen & Bath and Interior Design Practice in the graduate programs. He’s been a NYSID faculty member since 2012, and as it is with NYSID instructors, his design practice informs his teaching, and his teaching informs his design work.

You don’t have to be enrolled at NYSID to learn from this expert: Buscarello regularly teaches one-session seminars in Residential Bathroom Design Materials & Surfaces; Fixtures & Plumbing;  and Plan & Layout through NYSID’s Institute for Continuing & Professional Studies (ICPS). These continuing education classes are open to everyone and offered this March. He also teaches 2D Drafting with AutoCAD and other computer courses. Click here for a complete schedule of spring ICPS courses.