Product Innovation Awards from KBIS 2020
This is our last installment of the Product Innovation Awards from KBIS this year. We look forward to bringing you more great products and ideas from 2021’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Stay tuned!
Our first product for this week is the Shokunin Kamado Grill by Kalamazoo. All I can say is “WOW”! This grill is not only a beautifully designed piece of art but is so well thought out in creating the cooking experience. After watching this video I can almost taste the spatch-cocked chicken he’s talking about.
Next up is the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. If you like to entertain your guests with cocktails and even slushy beverages but don’t want or have the space for a large icemaker, take a look at this! It’s a portable unit, great for indoor or outdoor entertaining, can make up to 24 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and can store 3 lbs. at a time!
There’s a quick-start feature that gives you ice in 20 minutes (perfect for a last-minute gathering!) and a detachable reservoir that allows for more ice production. You can even check and schedule ice-making via your smart phone! Hmm, this week’s choices seem to all be about entertaining! I’m optimistic that we’ll be back to warm gatherings with family and friends soon. In the meantime, we can be ready!
Last, but not least this week is the Miele G7000 Dishwasher series. Because after all the partying there is clean-up…
Let’s just say I’m a fan of Miele dishwashers to begin with as they pioneered the 3rd rack for utensils. This series makes dishwashing even easier, from automatically dispensing just the right amount of detergent based on how dirty the dishes are, to movable sections and a handle-less feature that allows the door to open with a knock. It’s also almost noiseless, WiFi compatible so you can get that load going before the guests come, and even offers a QuickIntense setting for faster clean-up.
Favorite New Products from KBIS 2020
In last week’s post we looked at some great products for your kitchen and bath – this week is a continuation of that, geared towards practical and design-savvy products to consider incorporating into your next remodel or new construction.
First up is the winner of the Bathroom Product of the Year, judged by the panel at KBIS, and it’s easy to see why. The SwapAble by Design by Intent allows you to plan now for the ability to live in place later.
For many years I have advised clients to consider the long-term when remodeling and create options for adding in elements for accessibility in daily living as we age. What Design by Intent has done is create a beautiful way to do this with a contemporary aesthetic. You can have a shelf for products now, and later it can be swapped out for a shower seat – all done with the aid of a simple clip. I love this because it provides beautiful, functional design! Kudos to Design by Intent!
Next up is another Kohler product for the bath – the DTV Mode Digital Shower System. It almost looks like a Nest thermostat, except it’s a thermostatic valve for your shower! With it, you can dial in the temperature settings, and even access and personalize settings via Kohler’s Mode app. Imagine, from your warm, cozy bed you can turn on and regulate your shower temperature for the perfect shower from the moment you step in! The dial also makes it easier to use than a touch screen for many.
Last but certainly not least is a very unique vanity! It’s the Terra Waterfall Vanity Sink by MTI Baths. The sink is integrated into the vanity and the design controls the water flow down the side of the vanity into a floor-mounted drain. What a WOW for your powder room!! The judges also loved that it is wheelchair accessible and the plumbing is hidden – so you get accessibility AND fabulous design all in one. Plus, your dog or cat can have a drink while the water’s running! I think I’m in love!
Product Innovator Awards from KBIS 2020!
For the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce (and comment on, of course) some products that were voted as some of the most innovative products around by a panel of kitchen and bath industry professionals earlier this year at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. As this show was held earlier this year, it was an in-person and not virtual event! Here are some of my favorites:
- First Place for Kitchen Innovation is Fotile’s 3-in-1 In-Sink Dishwasher! Just take a look at how cool this is.
Not only is it a sink and dishwasher all in one place, but you can also wash produce in the dishwasher! Not while you’re washing dishes, of course. This would be fabulous for a tiny kitchen, bar area, butler’s pantry or 2nd kitchen!
- Second place for Kitchen Innovation is GE’s Café Quad Door Refrigerator. It’s a 4-door refrigerator with a convertible temperature zone that offers the flexibility to store different foods in different seasons. There’s a compartment that can double as a freezer when you need more freezer space, a wipeable glass-overlay surface for jotting your list while standing at the fridge and has a fingerprint free finish. Additionally, I like the integrated pocket handles as a space-saving feature when opening the door in tight spaces.
- Second place for Bath Innovation is Kohler’s Eir Intelligent Toilet. If you want the only the best for your tush, this is the toilet for you. It features a sleek tankless design with an optional rose gold or gold decorative ring around the lid for you design fans. It also backs up to the wall so the plumbing and electrical connections are hidden. Again, sleek design. There’s a UV sanitizing wand that delivers an electrolyzed water spray to clean the surfaces, hands-free opening and closing, adjustable and customizable water sprays, a heated seat, and night light. On the “green” side of things, it offers dual flush modes for water conservation. You can even adjust all of the cleansing properties with a remote control. A must-have for anyone who wants the ultimate in their bathroom experience!
NKBA Event with Ellen Cheever February 2020
It was great attending this educational event hosted by Caesarstone at Café La Cave! Ellen Cheever, one of the very first educators in the kitchen and bath industry, an icon and inspiration to me and many other designers is giving her farewell address to the industry. She will be missed but leaves behind a phenomenal legacy to generations of kitchen and bath designers!
KBIS 2017 Musings
This year’s show was amazing. It was held at the Orlando Convention Center which is huge. The show actually occupied two buildings as the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was combined with the International Builder’s Show (IBS). Both shows occupied spaces in both buildings which were conveniently connected via a ped-way, even though they are about a mile apart. So, you can imagine- lots of walking!
Day 1: I devoted day 1 to the educational seminars offered (there were tons to choose from!) and learned about resolving difficult on-the-job problems (some new things I’ll be incorporating to assist clients in understanding the process), attended a seminar from Houzz that gave us trends to watch based on user feedback, and hiring- how to do it well. In between times, I’d run down to the show floor and visit a vendor booth or two. In the evening, there was an event honoring my friend Michael Menn, who received the honor of Remodeler of the Year from Qualified Remodeler Magazine. So cool to know a celebrity!
Day 2: Only 2 seminars today: one that discussed the physiological and psychological effects of color and one that discussed the kitchen of the future. Both were among the best that I attended. The kitchen of the future is fascinating and there will be more to come on that! Again, I spent time on the show floor, looking at great storage solutions, the “Bedroom of the Future” built by students from Virginia Tech, which was fascinating, and listened to a presentation given by some of the guys from “This Old House” about an initiative that they’re cooperating in to encourage people to go into the trades. Sadly, as our industry ages, we’re not getting young people to join the trades and are losing valuable craftspeople to create beautiful homes. This evening hosted a huge party called “The Bash” which went on until really early on Thursday! Yours truly did not attend, as I wisely sought the comfort of a good night’s sleep.
Day 3: Our shortest day- as we were flying back home and needed to get off the floor somewhat early. Just one seminar today about marrying luxury appliances in a luxury kitchen and what pitfalls to watch out for. Always good information to have! More time on the floor where I saw some amazing new fixtures for the kitchen from Pfister- like a faucet that responds to your voice! Also saw some great new options for quartz countertops- they’re getting more and more beautiful! Hope you enjoy these “moments” from the show and I look forward to delving into the latest trends in future posts!
Check out our pinterest board for images from the events.
2016 KBIS Jan 19-21 Las Vegas Convention Center
I just returned from a whirlwind trip to this year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Vegas with my friend and colleague Nancy Jacobson. It was 3 days of introductions to new products, educational opportunities and a bit of fun. It has been paired with the International Builder’s Show for the past several years and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend both shows.
At KBIS, I saw a bunch of new and exciting products like great storage options for cabinets, interesting exhaust hoods, fabulous new faucets and sinks and some new technology that I will be implementing in the next few weeks. On the education side, I learned about keeping up with fashion in design, what consumers want from their professionals, and how to continue to make my business better. I was also able to attend a tour of companies that offer options for helping people age in place in their homes, thanks to my friend Michael Menn. Although the days were long (but not nearly as long as the lines to the shuttle buses back to our hotels!), I enjoyed the opportunity to stay abreast of new offerings and ways of enhancing my client’s experience. I’m still working on incorporating everything I learned, but stay tuned and enjoy some of these images of the show! (For even more cool new products, see our pinterest board.)
-
- Las Vegas Convention Center
-
- Cooking demos
-
- These are all countertop options!
-
- Finally! Tupperware storage
-
- These are vent hoods!
-
- KBIS Entertainment
-
- Nancy takes a break
A Look Back at 2014 Trends
January is an exciting month for kitchens and baths. The annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS 2015) is once again lighting up Las Vegas where the newest trends will be emerging and we are so excited to see what is coming! We will share the new trends with you later this month. Stay tuned!
First, we want to reflect on the highlights from 2014. KBB asked designers to share their favorite trends from last year. (You can check out the full KBB article here.)
Here’s a rundown of some of the favorites:
- Outdoor Living Environments
- Traditional Kitchens
- Kitchen Great Rooms
- Spa Experience Bathrooms
Homeowners are extending their living spaces to the great outdoors with outdoor kitchens, living rooms, and even bathrooms. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet is one of the best names in building gourmet outdoor kitchens. See some of their gorgeous designs on the Kitchen & Bath Industry pinterest page. When planning your outdoor living spaces, remember to select components that can withstand the elements.
The pros quoted in this K+BB interview indicated that traditional kitchens are becoming more popular than trendy kitchens. They are seeing a trend toward the timelessness of handcrafted, built-to-last furnishings that lend a sense of permanence, with furniture-style cabinetry and islands. Actually, I am seeing quite the opposite trend with my clients. I am seeing many more homeowners heading toward the cleaner lines of Transitional style kitchens.
Some homeowners are crossing they style lines by blending traditional and modern elements for a fresh take on classic designs. These homeowners want the traditional style but they want something a little different at the same time.
Kitchen Great Rooms and open-concept kitchens are allowing homeowners to remain a part of the conversation with family and guests whether they are preparing meals, eating, or entertaining. The trend is toward defined work spaces that integrate seamlessly.
Homeowners are seeking out calm, serene retreats from the stresses of daily life by creating spa experience bathrooms.
See more photo examples of these trends on our pinterest board.
