Experts Report on the Latest Trends and Products from the 2016 KBIS Show

Categories: Bathrooms, By Room, Cabinets, Fixtures, Hardware, Kitchens

Each winter, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, known as KBIS, draws thousands of designers, builders, dealers and suppliers from across the country and around the world to catch up on the newest trends and launches in kitchen and bath design. The 2016 show took place in Las Vegas and featured 531 exhibitors.

“KBIS is an amazing opportunity for professionals to learn about the latest products and technologies,” says Chelsie Butler, Executive Editor of Kitchen & Bath Business and 2016–17 Innovative Showroom Advisory Board Member for KBIS. “KBIS has partnered with the International Builders’ Show, which expands all of those opportunities under the umbrella of Design and Construction Week.”

With so much to see and learn each year, KBIS can be a lot to take in, so we’ve pulled together some of our favorite products and trends from this year’s show.

High-Tech Appliances

The Perfect Steam Washer with LuxCare Wash and SmartBoost from Electrolux commanded attention. Their SmartBoost technology and Perfect Steam Option provide excellent stain-removing power.

We got a sneak peek at Liebherr’s two new wine-storage cabinets, to be released this fall. The compact HWg 1803 is the size of a microwave and offers Tip-Open technology to allow easy access to the wine. It also offers an LCD screen for exact temperature control and LED lighting for a view of stored bottles.

In the kitchen, steam also made an appearance in Gaggenau’s well-received Combi-Steam Oven. Its fully automatic cleaning system ensures the oven’s interior maintains perfect hygiene. The brand’s 400 Series Double Oven features 17 different cooking modes, allowing a variety of dishes to be cooked at the same time.

Faucets of the Future

You’ve probably noticed that 3D printing makes headlines everywhere—from the design industry to the medical field—and DXV by American Standard introduces the first faucets printed in metal, reinventing the way water is brought to the user. Their Trope faucet features waterways that separate into four sections and reconvene in the neck.

Artistic Surfaces

Artistic Tile showed off cutting-edge surface options for walls and floors. Showstoppers included Orly textured stone tile with white bronze metal corners and Siam etched, textured stone tile with gold leaf.

Organizational Options and Extra Features

Glideware introduced its Not-So-Lazy-Susan (NSLS), a corner cabinet miracle that allows easy access to cookware. For non-corner cabinets, the Pan/Utility Organizer can accommodate heavy cookware and offers a solution for lid storage too.

Turn refrigeration into a party with the TruLumina Lighting system, bringing illumination in 14 colors to True Residential’s Undercounter Freezer. Available in hues like Cobalt Blue and Lavender.

Crafty Cabinetry

Wellborn hits included the Electric Countertop Lift that takes a countertop from table height to island height with the simple push of a button.

A visit to the Wellborn exhibit offered a glimpse at what’s trending in cabinetry. Their ColorInspire program lets homeowners pick from endless color options to be painted on Wellborn cabinetry. And this program is right on trend. “[At KBIS], there was a real movement toward color in the kitchen,” says Butler. “I am so tired of all-white kitchens, so it was refreshing to see splashes of color.”

Wellborn showed off its utility cabinet featuring pocket doors that slide back to access a washer and dryer. With their You Draw It program, customers can design any type of cabinet that can then be built by the company.

KBIS draws thousands of designers, builders, dealers and suppliers from across the country and around the world to catch up on the newest trends in kitchen and bath design.