Kitchen & Bath Design News

MAR 2015

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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50 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | March 2015 By Anita Shaw KBIS Wrap Up L as Vegas proved to be a lucky site for the 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. KBIS, which has been reenergized since its co-found- ing of Design & Construction Week, shared the Las Vegas Convention Center with the International Build- ers' Show for the second year in a row. Early indicators show that the 51st annual KBIS, which took place from January 20-22, enjoyed a fve percent growth in verifed attendance over last year, according to KBIS produc- ers, Emerald Expositions, and show owners, the National Kitchen & Bath Association. It is estimated that KBIS alone accounted for more than 33,119 of the approximately 125,000 design- ers, builders, dealers and suppliers who attended DCW, which this year also included SURFACES – The Inter- national Surface Event and The Tile Expo, IWCE – International Window Coverings Expo, and the winter 2015 Las Vegas Market. "Everything about this year's show lived up to the promise of bigger, bet- ter and bolder," said Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO. "We were thrilled, not only by the turnout, but by how many innova- tions were introduced by exhibitors this year. We couldn't be happier that the industry sees KBIS as the platform to successfully launch new products." HALLS FILLED TO CAPACITY Along with a rise in attendance, KBIS 2015 enjoyed expanded foor space over the previous year, with more than 500 exhibitors taking part in the three-day show. The North Hall was flled to capacity, and an additional 500,000 square feet was added from the South Hall. In the South Hall, exhibitors were positioned side-by-side with on-foor programming, branded as KBISNeXT. This area was designed as a destina- tion for discovering and discussing the next ideas, trends and innovations in the kitchen and bath industry, and hosted unique programming each day of the show. The South Hall also featured the FutureHAUS Kitchen, presented by Virginia Tech. The project explored the "manufacturing strategies and the greater integration of technology with architecture – the industrialized production of smart homes." Lead researcher Joe Wheeler, AIA, professor of architecture and co-direc- tor for the Center for Design Research at Virginia Tech, along with co-director Denis Gracanin, associate professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Com- puter Science, are working with an interdisciplinary team of students and faculty from industrial design, architecture, interior design, visual communication design and computer science "to envisage the kitchen – and the house – of the future." "The future is now," said Wheeler. "The technology is here now, it just isn't being fully integrated yet." The team is exploring how tech- nology can be used to enhance user experience throughout the kitchen: for example, a camera in the oven that allows bakers to monitor their confec- tions from anywhere in the house or a refrigerator that detects when staples such as milk are running low or out of date. Also possible, a smooth glass countertop provides an uninterrupt- ed work surface, but with convection burners mounted beneath it, it serves as a cooktop when needed. AWARDS APLENTY KBIS is always a place where the best in the kitchen and bath industry are honored, and this year presented a number of opportunities for some major players in the industry. For the second year, KBIS recog- nized exhibitors for innovative booth designs and displays with the KBIS In- novation Booth Awards. Booths were judged on: WOW Factor, Messaging, Education, Engagement and "The Un- expected & Unprecedented." Aquabrass took top honors for its booth, which displayed a range of faucets and fxtures in a distinc- tive setting. Wilsonart garnered the second place award, with Thompson Traders rounding out the top three honorees. "It takes months of planning and hard work to create a booth design – from concept to the fnal build," said Brian Pagel of Emerald Expositions, v.p. Kitchen and Bath. "It is the work of many who we honor with the KBIS Innovation Booth Awards." The top spot in People's Choice Awards for products, voted on by attendees during the show using the KBIS Mobile App, went to Coastal Shower Doors Gridscape Series. Liebherr's HCB 1060 refrigerator/ freezer took second place, while Wilsonart Quartz was honored with the third-place spot. Top designs were also show- ered with attention, as the NKBA announced the winners of its 2015 Design Competition. Brigitte C. Fabi, CMKBD, of Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio in Glen Ellyn, IL, was tapped with the Best Kitchen Award, while Luz Marina Selles, CKBI, of Allure Designs in Gilbert, AZ was awarded the Best Bath Award, as well as HGTV's People's Pick Bath (see re- lated Winners Circle, Page 22). KBIS Celebrates Triumphant Return to the Desert The FutureHAUS Kitchen, presented by Virginia Tech at this year's KIBS, explored manufacturing strategies and ideas for better integrating technology and architecture. Ferguson COO Kevin Murphy presented this year's State of the Industry address. Photos: Courtesy of NKBA

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