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February 2015 | ForResidentialPros.com | 5 Editorial { Janice $osta, editor } Facebook.com/KitchenBathDesignNews @KitchenBathDesignNews A t last month's Kitch- en & Bath Industry Show, many things jumped out at me. One of them even did so literally – in the form of an exuber- ant service-dog-in-training puppy, whose organization had been invited to be on site at one of the exhibitor booths as part of a market- ing strategy/charitable efort that drew show foor trafc while raising money for ser- vice dogs. The company donated $5 for each person who posted a "selfe" with one of the service dogs on social media, includ- ing a hashtag and the frm's name. Not surprisingly, the booth not only got plenty of social media hits, but also a huge amount of trafc from show attendees looking to take a "puppy break" during the busy show. While waiting for their "puppy turn," deal- ers and designers checked out the displays, picked up literature and spent time with the company reps. This clever marketing efort won plaudits (paw-dits?) both for its charitable aspects and for its creative use of social media (not to mention the ir- resistible appeal of a bunch of cute puppies!). As an industry that thrives on aesthetics, it's not surpris- ing that we gravitate toward things that jump out at us – whether that's a puppy, a striking Marsala-colored wine unit, a blown-glass sink that would look perfectly at home in an art museum, an appliance that makes Jetsons- style connections with the owner's smart phone or bath ventilation that plays the us- er's favorite tunes (see related Trend Spotting, Page 20) . Likewise, a growing economy has unleashed a plethora of exciting new surfacing options with jump- out-at-you appeal (see related story, Page 22 and Guide to Surfacing Manufacturers, Page 26) . These include a wealth of mix-and-match, colors, patterns and designs that run the gamut from cool and sophisticated to retro to multi-dimensional nature- inspired offerings with metallic accents and under- lighting – perfect for creating a dramatic focal point for the kitchen. The same kind of dramatic appeal that was evident at so many of the booths at KBIS continues to inspire today's kitchen and bath showrooms, beginning with the "virtual" first impression, and con- tinuing on to the in-store experience. Even with many showrooms opting to move toward a smaller physical footprint, it's important to of- fer a rich physical experience that combines sensory appeal, fexible designs, live displays and plenty of opportunities for engagement, relates Sarah Reep in this month's Inside Today's Showroom column (see story, Page 14) . And some companies are taking a larger-than-life approach to creating that 'experiential' showroom, as seen in this month's Industry Profle (see story, Page 18) . But not all of the coolest things are of the dramatic, "in your face" variety. Truly inspired kitchen and bath design often hangs on the hidden gems – the care- fully integrated storage that makes a small bath greater than the sum of its parts (see related story, Page 38) , the hidden outlet that creates an instant charging station in the kitchen, the cleverly designed island that hides a sleeping and feeding station for the beloved family pet. And often, it's all of the little functional details that take a pretty space and transform it into one that feels and func- tions like a home. Those who attended this year's KBIS will fnd plenty of great takeaways – and KBDN will explore these in even greater depth in next month's post-show issue. But one of the most important is that, while great products, designs and ideas may initially jump out at you with the enthusi- asm of an exuberant puppy, it's equally important to un- derstand the value of what's beneath the surface. Great Products & Design: More Than Skin Deep While dramatic appeal is often seen as an essential element to great products and designs, it's equally important to understand the value of what's beneath the surface. "As an industry that thrives on aesthetics, we gravitate toward things that jump out at us – whether a striking Marsala-colored wine unit, an art-museum-quality blown-glass sink or an appliance that makes Jetsons- style connections with the owner's smart phone." Publisher Paul DeGrandis Publisher Emeritus Eliot Sefrin Editor Janice Anne Costa Managing Editor Anita Shaw Senior Editor Andrea Girolamo Group Editorial Director Patrick O'Toole Contributing Writers Kim Berndtson Joe Dowd Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS Elizabeth Richards Denise Vermeulen Columnists Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS Hank Darlington Leslie Hart Bruce Kelleran, CKD, CPA Stephen Nicholls Ken Peterson, CKD Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS Sarah Reep, CMKBD, ASID, CMG, CAPS, IIDA Bryan Reiss, CMKBD Eric Schimelpfenig, AKBD Creative Director & Production Manager Tracy Hegg Editor, ForResidentialPros.com Andrea Girolamo Circulation Manager Mike Serino Reader Service Manager Jeff Heine Operations Manager Marie Snow Copyright © 2015 by SOLA Group Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be produced in any form, including electronically, without written permission from the publisher of Kitchen & Bath Design News . ®