JDR Designers on the Road: Discovering Trends at the 2018 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida

JDR designers Alison and Pam visited KBIS Orlando to discover the latest ideas in kitchen and bath design for your whole home remodel. KBIS, in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies. KBIS has been the voice of the kitchen and bath industry for 50 years. Here are just a few examples of what our designers found at this year’s show:

A Burst of Shower Ideas: Our designers noticed shower enclosures gaining new prominence in bathroom design, with cutting edge concepts from Coastal Shower Doors such as grid and Art Deco patterns or colored frames. Shower columns also made a statement at the show, including in a black finish, which brings us to our next big trend …

Black is the New Black: Black stainless steel appliances were in abundance, presenting a sharp, elegant appearance that is also fingerprint proof. Black and brass was a predominant color theme as well. Black hardware was popular at the show and there were many booths that were dimmed and luxurious, with rich, dark colors on display.

Kaleidoscope of Color: Elkay showed an intriguing idea for sinks that allows homeowners to change the look of their stainless steel apron sinks with different colors for the front such as white, copper, black, and blue. This innovation balances the functionality of stainless steel with the flexibility to change the sink’s appearance in relationship to surrounding cabinetry. A noticeable trend at KBIS was that each booth had multiple colors and finishes with an extensive variety of colors to choose from for everything kitchen and bath.

So Smart: Technology made an impression on our designers, with one of their favorite items being an app from Thermador that takes a snapshot of your fridge each time you close it so if you are out shopping, you know what you have at home and what you need to buy. Another app allows Tesla drivers to turn their Thermador oven on or off. A wand from Bosch lets you swipe over a stain on clothing for instructions about how to wash it.

So Glam: Finishes on metals at this year’s KBIS were noticeably glam. The ombre faucet finish from Kohler, available from rose gold to polished nickel, was a stand out. Brushed brass and matte black faucets, light fixtures, mirrors, and more were integrated with rich, elegant textures in bathrooms throughout the show. Polished aluminum accents popped up in kitchens on wine cellars, hoods, and cabinet accents. The Brizo booth glimmered with finishes of every kind.

Our unified team of architects, designers, and construction professionals is always on the lookout for innovation to bring fresh ideas to your whole home remodel. The KBIS is always a wonderful place to discover new ideas to share with our clients and this year was especially inspiring!