Are you one of the record 117,000 attendees who roamed the Las Vegas Convention Center during this year's Design & Construction Week? If so, you probably had a chance to see some of the trends outlined here. Probably. However, it may be difficult to identify them when in the exhibition hall (From the forest to the trees) while scanning acres of designs and modifying your gear.
The show is currently huge with over 2,400 exhibitors on the KBIS and IBS sides, so my coverage will span two issues instead of the usual one. In Part 1, we explore the following trends:
- Sustainability is now stronger than ever, with an added emphasis on safety.
- Wellness is being incorporated into products across industries, becoming more of a necessity than a luxury.
- Manufacturers are looking beyond their usual markets into new niche markets (providing interesting opportunities for other kitchen and bath providers).
Both articles feature comments from participating kitchen and bath professionals gathered from our Facebook Designers Group.
I'll also highlight some products that focus on industry innovation, but I'm not sure any of them can be classified at the “game changer” level. Please feel free to disagree!
sustainability
“Sustainability also exists in conserving water in toilets, faucets, and even countertops to reduce exposure to silicosis during production and manufacturing,” commented Julianna Ewer of the Houston area. From hurricanes in Florida and Southern California to wildfires in Hawaii and Texas, toxins spilled from a train derailment in Ohio, and massive storms forcing people from their homes on both coasts, the pace of disasters is accelerating. , I think is furthering this trend. As a regulation.an obligation to do something now It's hitting homeowners, especially Millennials and Gen Z, and other stakeholders.
This is reflected in the trends pointed out by Mr. Ewer, as well as the electrification of home appliances such as induction ranges, cooktops, more practical electric fireplaces, and laundry units (such as models equipped with heat pumps or models that do not require a 240V outlet). It is also reflected in movement. Three editors on a panel at a show I hosted told me that the rise in popularity of induction in particular is being driven by government incentives and regulations, recommendations from the kitchen and bath industry, or interest from homeowners. I asked him if he thought so. The consensus was that it was a combination of all three. While some cities and regions have mandates to build without gas, there are rebates tied to the Inflation Control Act of 2022, and electrification in general is on the rise, homeowners are also encouraged to do so online, in magazines, Discovering the many benefits of his induction cooking in the showroom. This is not your mother's electric burner! (By the way, guided growth also applies to wellness trends.)
I also noticed more and better electric fireplaces. Manufacturers are feeling the excitement, intended as a joke, come up with solutions for homes and condominiums in all-electric communities. Every year their products become more realistic. Today, you can still get models like Heat & Glo's Inception, which has the traditional crackling sound of a wood-burning fireplace. Who doesn't love this in their primary suite?
Sustainability is also evident in manufacturers' efforts to conserve and manage energy. We're seeing more heat pump technology for water heaters and dryers, and smart appliance controls to reduce peak usage. (Some of these smart features are also tied to microgrid systems with solar panels and backup batteries to keep food cold and ovens warm during power outages.)
Sustainability is also reflected in countertops with reduced silica content, which prioritizes worker safety over environmental protection. Research has revealed that inhaling silica dust during manufacturing can lead to silicosis, a serious lung disease, in workers. (There are industry guidelines for working safely around silica-generating materials. Be careful, but not all manufacturing plants use them.) It's best to check.)
Australia became the first country to ban artificial stones in December last year after a high number of silicosis cases. I imagine the manufacturers hope that someday other countries might follow their example. Expect more releases like Cosentino's HybriQ with his Silestone and the descriptor “mineral” to reduce the presence of dangerous silica in engineered tops.
Porcelain slab countertops with zero silica content, such as Neolith's Silica-Free, are also becoming more popular. Caesarstone, a brand long known for its engineered quartz tops, also had new porcelain on display at its booth. Will this material and a ban like the one in Australia make terracotta tabletops obsolete? Time will tell.
wellness trends
This could be a trend-spotting column in its own right, and its importance is growing every year. COVID-19 has significantly accelerated wellness from an emerging/luxury amenity to a mass-market necessity, and the public is more conscious than ever about the connection between home and health. “Nobody wants to buy a house they're going to die in,” Tim Costello, a longtime builder marketing director, told Trendspotting two years ago. That feeling was evident in more booths than ever this year.
Some notable examples include new water filtration solutions such as Brizo, Delta Faucet, Kohler, and Zip Water. We're all used to many purified beverage options for the kitchen, but we were excited to see filtered shower water options that support more bathroom stylish designs. Kohler and Delta had models on display. Delta's Clarifi attachment can be used with any shower arm. Kohler's Cinq is integrated into one of his new shower heads. If you want to clean your food in a healthy way, Fotile's countertop dishwasher can also clean your produce.
More purification products are on the way, largely because last year's EPA report revealed that up to half of all tap water contains permanently dangerous chemicals. I think it is. With the popularity of steam showers, cold plunge pools, and hydration devices like built-in coffee makers and sparkling water dispensers, no one wants to bathe or drink unhealthy water.
Indoor improvements include Sherwin-Williams VOC-free SuperPaints that purify indoor air, ventilation hoods that synchronize with the burners below, and the availability of induction ranges and cooktops in more sizes and configurations than ever before. Solutions to improve air quality are also on the rise. . Forza introduces a 48-inch range with a single wide oven. SMEG and Bertazzoni are debuting 24-inch ranges this year (and SMEG has a 24-inch over-the-range microwave for apartment kitchens!). Forno will launch an induction range with a French door oven later this year. (The company also features his SafetyJack device to detect and alert homeowners to gas leaks behind the range and shut them off.)
Among the luxuries was a new indoor sauna, which Kohler acquired from 96-year-old German manufacturer Krafs. In recent years, demand for sauna effects has increased alongside steam showers. Dallas designer Joy Meyer sees the latter trend: Several options at different price points that will not only bring this wellness trend to the forefront, but also allow more people to incorporate it into their real daily lives, making it more than just a trend, but a reality. confirmed. ”
Wellness is “incorporating technology at breakneck speed to create a complete haven within the home,” Meyer added. “From new steam ovens and induction technologies that allow busy families to create healthy meals at home, to bathrooms with infrared saunas and steam showers that are easy to operate and maintain, we are confident that technology will serve a wider range of people. What I see delivering is out-of-the-box thinking and a desire to see people live their best, healthiest lives.”
Niche market trends
It's really great to see the industry expanding its focus beyond traditional markets. We saw some examples of this in his DCW this year. One was GE's Hispanic laundry products. “Hispanics in the United States are projected to account for 70% of net new homeowners over the next 20 years,” the company's press release states. Booth officials pointed out that about one-third of Hispanic households are multigenerational households with grandparents who want to help with housework but cannot read English. The availability of appliances with Spanish-language controls on the U.S. market makes that possible, at least for washing machines. This approach may be rolled out to other appliances in the coming years.
Another brand expanding beyond traditional markets is Delta, which unveiled a prototype of its Versacurr hand shower for hair detangling. Once manufactured and released, this unique product could be a huge time-saver for those concerned about their hair texture. (An African American booth rep said it saves him about an hour a day on hair care.) Versacurl also helps parents with young children and infirm relatives. Makes it easy for caregivers with children to provide pain-free grooming.
This could also be part of a wellness trend that includes accessibility, but GE has released a new product that will help the 6 million Americans with low vision and 1 million people who are blind. This is a tactile overlay sticker access kit with braille-like text placed over the controls for multiple GE appliances. According to the company's press release, “Our research shows that many blind and visually impaired consumers are devising their own complex systems just to manipulate the settings on their home appliances, and many It turns out that household chores have become extremely difficult.”
It's great to see manufacturers incorporating differences in culture, language, abilities, needs and preferences into growing trends. In addition to products on the show floor, there were also KBIS sessions on designing kosher kitchens, spaces for aging in place, and nervously diverse customers. Good luck K&B industry!
Photo: Free Power
innovation
There were some innovative new products on display in various categories, but I'm not sure I'd call them “game changers.” GE unveiled a new countertop smoker for indoor kitchens. FGI Industries introduced the award-winning FlushGuard anti-overflow toilet. FreePower unveiled a wireless countertop charging system for smartphones. It also won an award. Cosentino has enhanced his popular Dekton line with a full-body series called DKore. Last but not least, Kohler introduced his SpaViva system for in-shower facials.
One potential game changer could be Bora's induction wok burner. Find out more about this product in the next issue. We will discuss the international aspects in more detail.
Photo: GE Appliances
The last word
Part 2 of this DCW article (to be published in the May issue) covers finishing trends, including customization, a focus on practical/functional products, and the industry's increasing internationalization. Looking further ahead, the 2025 show will see him return to Las Vegas from February 25th to 27th. He will return to Orlando in 2026, and then back to Las Vegas again until at least 2030. We look forward to seeing you at the venue. ▪
Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC is an author, wellness design consultant, and industry speaker. Her award-winning third book, Wellness by design (Simon & Schuster, 2020) has a new bonus chapter. Lessons on how to live in the moment, published October 2023. For more information about her wellness design, her CEU presentations, books, blogs, and consulting services, please visit jamiegold.net.