The Sharp team was on site in Las vegas for the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), hosted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. This year was the largest show yet, and through our eyes - the most design forward.
The NKBA’s Design Council program is well into its second year, and the group kicked off Day 1 of the show with an expertly curated panel session by Bill Hanley at Dwell. The conversion with design experts Thom Felicia, Michel Smith Boyd, Caleb Anderson and Celerie Kimble, was held in front of a packed house and ranged from industry trends to advice for emerging designers to legacy building and everything in between. It really cemented the importance of balancing design heritage, livability, innovation and beauty when designing for these critical kitchen and bath environments.
Bill Darcy, Global President and CEO of NKBA, kicked off this year’s State of the Industry, which was headlined by design icon Lauren Rottet, alongside Cindy Allen, Editor-in-Chief of Interior Design. Rottet spoke about the increasing demand for full kitchens in commercial spaces and the ongoing integration between kitchen and living spaces across residential design. These exciting indicators could also be seen around the KBIS show floor- with exhibitor presentations that spanned indoor and outdoor applications, unexpected spaces like offices and garages, and a continued blurring of residential and hospitality, especially in the bath.
There were designers everywhere, and the Sharp team enjoyed catching up with some of our friends around the show. Here’s a few trends they spotted that are sure to be popping up in our kitchen and bath spaces in the coming year:
“The color trend I’m noticing in the marketplace is emerald green. I’m seeing it in technology, cabinetry, stone selections… I’m looking forward to seeing more jewel-toned colors, which are my personal favorites, becoming even more prevalent in the months to come.” - Corey Damen Jenkins
“I’m seeing everything earth, everything bronze, everything with a golden touch and a matte finish, and it’s so exciting to see.” - Kerrie Kelly
“I’m seeing mix-and-matching of colored cabinets- not just one, but two, three and four colors, as well as different textures and patterns within hard surfaces. I’m also noticing lots of integrated technology in storage and organization, as well as greater options for sustainable material choices.” - Rydhima Brar
Each year the NKBA and KBIS exhibitors outdo themselves. Our team was exhilarated as we toured the show floor, soaked up the panel sessions, attended events throughout Las Vegas, met up with friends for the famous KBIS “BASH” and more. We returned home with tons of new creative ideas, meaningful connections, and incredible inspiration. See you next year in sunny Orlando for KBIS 2026!