Hundreds of innovative product designs debuted on the iconic purple carpet of KBIS last week, with many of the top kitchen and bath brands launching new designs. Here, EAL rounds up some of the most impressive styles we spotted.
Black finishes won “Who Wore It Best” at this year’s KBIS. Matte in finish and minimalist in form, Kallista’s Grid Collection, featuring faucet, sconces, pendants, wall-hung console and a variety of accessories, won Best of Show in the Bath category. And Bosch Home debuted a line of proprietary black, stainless-steel appliances.
Spanish surfaces purveyor Cosentino unveiled the showstopping DeKauri bath credenza, designed by architect-designer Daniel Germani in collaboration with Dekton by Cosentino along with Riva 1920. A re-imagining of traditional bathroom layouts, the kauri-wood unit weds sink, vanity and storage in one freestanding, easily concealed piece. The bespoke number was outfitted with Fantini fixtures and Juniper lighting and took home Best of Show honors.
The designer partnerships didn’t stop there. Jacksonville, Florida–based Coastal Shower Doors rolled out the Insiders series, with colorful, contemporary collections by Vanessa Deleon and Bobby Berk. Deleon’s design touch reappeared in the True Fridge booth, which revealed its Build Your True collection with a new line of retro-inspired cobalt-blue-finished appliances and brass accents.
More than anything, the connected home reigned at KBIS. Hands-free, Wi-Fi capability and AI connections have come to be expected terms in the sales pitches of modern appliances—though even this year’s new batch of smart technology is quite impressive. Kohler debuted the first-to-market mirror with Amazon Alexa access. The Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror leads the Kohler Konnect portfolio by delivering news, weather reports, traffic updates, music and more via a simple request.
Thermador took the smart technology to the kitchen with the Freedom cooktop, which offers unlimited burner access. Place a pot anywhere, and it’s a burner. Move the pot, and the burner moves with it. Just don’t call this new smart technology a follower. Induction burners at Dacor also came to compete in the “Who Wore It Best” battle. Designed with a large digital display, the kitchen brand’s new cooktop walks users through recipes with step-by-step instructions and special videos on cooking technique.
