By Geoff Nudelman
For the last few decades, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) has stood as the largest home focused trade show in North America. Each February, thousands of interior designers, contractors and homebuilders descend on Las Vegas to see the latest and greatest in finishes, appliances, and building materials.
In recent years, KBIS has expanded its focus on the luxury market, inviting a wider array of high end brands that are crafted to account for discerning tastes and larger budgets. This year, the show had a specific luxury area with tailor made programming and education for those in the bath and kitchen space.
Hues inspired by nature and broader functionality dominated the show offerings. What’s shown at KBIS often finds its way into new homes and remodels soon after the show, so it’s a great time to highlight brands and products that are defining the trends for the year ahead.
OUTDOOR KITCHENS
Gone are the days of clunky, gaudy outdoor grilling stations. Brown Jordan’s new modular outdoor kitchen setup is sleek and refined with hidden dishware storage and four additional appliance integration options. The matte finishes are also a nice touch to blend in with more subdued outdoor environments. brownjordanoutdoorkitchens.com
FIRE MAGIC GRILLS BUILT-IN OUTDOOR INDUCTION COOKTOP ►
Whether by choice or necessity, more outdoor cooks are adopting electric in place of natural gas. This new single burner cooktop easily fits into popular existing outdoor kitchen layouts and has seven different levels of power. It also has built-in technology to recognize the type and size of pan used. firemagicgrills.com
◄ FLORIM OUTDOOR PORCEL AIN TILES
For floorplans that blend indoor and outdoor living, porcelain tile can be a great choice for durability and a clean, low maintenance look. New colorways and styles from Florim replicate the look of natural stone and organic materials but have added functionality that makes them a nice selection for pool decks and split indoor/outdoor great rooms. florim.com/en
▼TRUE RESIDENTIAL CALIBER ROCKWELL SOCIAL GRILL
The Rockwell marks the first collaboration between True Residential, Caliber Appliances, and American architect David Rockwell. The grill is meant to be a 360-degree experience with a fully disappearing lid and access from all sides. The gorgeous pastel colors feel effortlessly breezy and elegant. true-residential.com/outdoor
HARDWARE
AMEROCK DUPONT CIRCLE COLLECTION ►
The Dupont Circle collection was one of 22 new styles released by Amerock at this year’s show. The modern, matte finish comes in a variety of sizes and applications along with six distinctive finishes in shades of chromes, nickels, champagnes, and black. amerock.com
The Fairlane collection was one of 22 new styles released by Amerock at this year’s show. The modern finish features hand-stitched leather and metallic accents and comes in a variety of sizes and applications along with six distinctive metal finishes including chromes, nickels, champagnes, and matte black. amerock.com
The real time action of this revolving storage collection feels a bit like something out of James Bond, but in reality it is a clever way to achieve privacy in style. This collection turns doors into 180 degree rotating pieces, ideal for tight spaces or rooms where discretionary access is needed. There are three different size applications available for a wide range of cabinetry and furniture. hettich.com
BATHROOM
While the Avalon lineup is a prime example of quintessential concrete design, perhaps the bigger announcement is the new range of colors available for this tub. Four new shades derived from natural tones speak to organic design with names such as “Terracotta” and “Forest.” The styling and raised sides mirror the elegance of modern spa design. nativetrailshome.com
◄ EMPAVA HOT/COLD PLUNGE INDOOR TUB
As personal hot/cold therapy tubs become more popular in home spa or wellness rooms, EMPAVA claims its Hot/Cold Plunge Tub is the only residential tub in the industry that delivers a hot soak up to 113°F and a cold plunge down to 37.4°F within a single unit. It also features 22 jets and has a two person capacity. empava.com
TOTO KIWAMI MATTE VESSEL LAVATORIES ►
TOTO’s new sink lineup comes in four different shapes and is crafted in a special ceramic blend with four finishes. These sinks have an ultra thin profile that complements current preferences in bathroom décor that show continued interest in simple, elegant designs. totousa.com
KITCHEN & WIRELESS INTEGRATION
◄ BERTAZZONI 24” BUILT-IN COFFEE MACHINE
The Italian company’s new built-in coffee machine is a must have for the espresso lover who wants maximum quality with minimum effort. Beyond a dual coffee setup that enables two bean choices on hand at all times, the machine sits almost flush in the kitchen wall and works in tandem with several other Bertazzoni products. us.bertazzoni.com
▼FREEPOWER ONE & TWO DEVICE CHARGERS
For the sleekest and most modern designs, integrated countertop power is the savviest approach to hiding unsightly charging cords. The new smaller platforms take the proven technology of the brand’s larger three device charger and make it suitable for residential use. The system works with more than 10 popular countertop materials. freepower.io
The brand’s first double wall oven with a large contemporary style cooktop is a delight that will be loved by home chefs. The oven accompanies two other full suites of new appliances, including Thor’s highest end offeringto date, the X Suite. The oven comes with a matching microwave oven, both of which go on sale later this year as standalone additions to an expanding appliance lineup. thorkitchen.com
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