KBIS, the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, is this week in Orlando, Florida.  Yay for temperatures in double digits - hey, anything above 8º, is an improvement -  but also yay for the opportunity to see all the latest innovations and products for kitchens and baths!

My kids snicker every time I mention Kay-biz because it reminds them of KPOP which is , I think(??), Korean pop music. And yes it is an awkward acronym, but not as ill-advised as the concurrent International Builder Show, IBS…which IS the name of an intestinal disorder?!  At least the show involves plenty of toilets… 

I’m in the air headed that way right now… in a seat with waaaay more leg room than I signed up for, but no complaints!

KBIS Why

I’m a lifelong devotee of beauty and function and no place is it more important than in the kitchen.  The kitchen is the heart of the home - we have to eat to live (and some of us live to eat) and this room works hard! Also, I love to cook, so this is kid-in-a-candy-store territory for me!

We’ve redesigned a couple of builder stock kitchens in the last 18 months to make them ideal for our clients, and we are working on specifications for another kitchen and bath in the antique farmhouse project right now - 

And I’m always thinking about when I can renovate my own functional-ish but very outdated kitchen and somewhat dilapidated primary bath too, so I can’t wait to see the possibilities!

KBIS is a trade-only show, meaning it is for professionals in the building and design and installation business. It is where we go to see firsthand from the manufacturers what’s new, and to find the best options available to offer our clients.

KBIS Where

Last year the show was virtual, for obvious reasons, and the sheer volume of vendors and attendees (somewhere upwards of 60,000 attend in person, and virtual made it possible for many more) crashed the site partway into the show.  Vendors and organizers rallied to still get the information out, but being in person to see and touch everything is always preferable.

The show is held in Orlando or Las Vegas depending on the year and this year is Orlando, making it an easy flight for us east coast peeps.  It will be the first time I’ve had the opportunity to attend and I’m SO excited. 

KBIS What

This is like High Point Market only for Kitchens and Baths, and so all the latest trends and possibilities in kitchen and bath design will be in evidence.  Kitchen and bath design relies on SO MANY pieces…here are some of the main ones we’ll be looking at:

For kitchens:

• appliances for temperature controlled storage, cooking, air filtration, and cleaning

• cabinetry, storage and organization inserts, cabinet hardware

• sinks and sink systems

• faucets and pot fillers

• electrical outlets and switches

• lighting - under cabinet, overhead, task, decorative

• backsplash and countertop materials

• flooring, wall, and ceiling materials

• furnishings and accessories

And for bathrooms:

• toilets, washlets, and bidets

• bathtubs, soaking tubs, and jetted tubs

• shower systems and steam showers

• shower door systems 

• sinks and vanities

• cabinetry, storage organization inserts, and cabinet hardware

• faucets and drain systems

• mirrors and medicine cabinets

• heated floor and towel bar systems

• tile, stone, grout and edging for showers/niches/floors/backsplashes

• countertop materials

• electrical outlets, switches, exhaust fans

• decorative and task lighting

• safety features and aging in place accessories

• built in accessories like towel bars, shelves, robe hooks and TP holders

• furnishings and accessories

Vendors from ALL the categories of kitchen and bath will be here.  And the International Builders Show runs concurrently in the same place so EVERYTHING from windows and doorbells to cabinet knobs and grout sealer is covered here somewhere.

KBIS Trend Predictions

The biggest trend in design in general, and I predict becoming more mainstream in kitchen and bath design, is personalization. All this time at home over the last couple of years has led to more interest and demand for interiors that reflect and work for the the particular tastes and lifestyles of the people who live there! Cookie cutter design is waning. We want our spaces to ‘spark joy’.

I expect to see new innovations in appliances to promote more wellness at home.  Appliances that don’t emit toxins and that make food storage and prep even easier, healthier, and safer. Already many exist and they are getting better all the time. 

Imagine a refrigerator drawer that keeps your lettuce fresh for a month, or a refrigerator you can check in with from your phone at the grocery store to see if you need to pick up more milk, or that can alert you to USE the produce before it becomes a science experiment in the recesses of the crisper drawer! 

How about a sink that converts from cleanup to food prep space with a series of fitted sliding inserts?

Or wine storage that also dispenses and knows what will pair best with your dinner, and wine cellar appliances that control light, humidity, motion, and temperature to keep your fine wines in winery-level condition.

Or a hydroponic garden in a cabinet for fresh produce at your fingertips year round no matter where you live?  Just the thought of having fabulous tomatoes that actually have flavor, in the dead of winter, has me swooning!

Or an oven that knows how long and at what temperature to perfectly roast the exact size chicken you have?

I predict an increase in the popularity of induction cooking appliances that stay cool to the touch and are off the instant you remove the pot, making them so much safer than a gas or electric stove. All while cooking with the control and speed of a commercial gas burner, but not the toxins emitted by gas appliances.

Bathroom innovations will add luxury and health benefits with steam showers, sounds systems, and mirrors that display the news or weather or stock report. 

Universal design for all ages and abilities is resulting in more variety and better choices.  Easy to use faucets, grab bars that blend seamlessly with the style of the plumbing fittings, drains and tiles that allow threshold-less shower entry, and more options for shower seats that look more “spa” than utilitarian.

Technology is working toward smarter home systems that integrate all. the. things. 

Maybe someday we’ll even have Star Trek replicator technology… where we can just say “Earl Gray, hot” to a box in the wall and it will appear.  I’d miss all my pretty teacups, though.

We are looking forward to seeing the latest from Monogram and Cafe whose booths are always full of stunning displays and design inspiration in addition to stellar appliances, and the latest at Signature Kitchen Suite, and to see the artistry on display at Thompson Traders, and so many more favorites.  We are excited to check out some new vendors as well.  

In additional to all the exhibitors, there are countless opportunities to attend seminars and panels discussions on a wide variety of business and design related topics,  I’m registered for several of those as well…they seem to always come with food, which is only appropriate, I suppose! 

Tonight, though, I’m catching up with friends I haven’t seen for 15 years!  It’s going to be a busy but exciting week !  

I’ll be sharing what I see from the show on IG stories, so follow that too! And I’ll report back here with posts on the most interesting finds in a little more detail over the next couple of weeks.

Be Well!