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The programming at the A&D Building in New York attracted nearly 200 attendees for the day-long event.

By Elisa Fernández-Arias

NKBA’s Manhattan Chapter hosted its second annual Education Day at the A&D Building in New York, followed by a 60th Anniversary Event after-party at Dacor’s showroom. The day-long event featured expert panels and discussions as well as a special keynote by NKBA CEO Bill Darcy.

After registration and a networking breakfast co-sponsored by Miele and Renovation Angel, the Chapter event kicked off with lunch at Fisher & Paykel’s showroom and featured the keynote. In his presentation, Darcy shared the economic state of the K&B industry as revealed by NKBA’s recent Q3 Kitchen & Bath Market Index. “NKBA members still feel the market is strong…so we’re ready for a rebound [in 2024],” said Darcy, reflecting the optimism reported by K&B professionals in NKBA’s recent research.

Other showrooms holding CEU sessions included Miele, Thermador, Hastings Bath Collection and Cosentino. Attendees were invited to join educative panels with industry experts on a variety of topics, including the following: 

• “The Evolution of Wellness Design: A 60-Year Retrospective”: Coordinated by Toni Sabatino, AKBD, Toni Sabatino Style, and a member of the Manhattan Chapter, the discussion was hosted in Chapter sponsor Thermador’s showroom. The panel featured  Sharon L. Sherman, CKD, Thyme & Place Design, and a Manhattan Chapter member, as well as Dani Polidor, CKD, CBD, CLIPP, Founder & Senior Home Specialist, EveryBody.Homes, and covered the history of living in place design, innovative design concepts and the importance of creating inclusive spaces.

•  “Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact: 60 Years of Tech in the Home”: Hosted in venue sponsor Hastings Bath Collection’s showroom, and coordinated by Sabatino, this panel was moderated by Tony Monteleone, Group Publisher of Dealerscope, CE Week and Connected Design and a Manhattan Chapter Member, and featured panelists JoAnn Arcenal of Crestron, a Manhattan Chapter member; Greg Barrett of Savant, Manhattan Chapter member; Aubrey Bertin, of WAC / AiSPiRE Lighting; Michele Chestnut, of Nice; and Becca Ryan, of Lutron, who explored the evolution of in-home technology over the years, the modern solutions available today and the tech innovations of the near future.

• “Brilliant Residential Lighting Techniques in the Age of LEDs – A Journey Through LED Lighting, Past & Future – Lighting Beyond Edison”: Coordinated by Julie Schuster of Julie Schuster Design Studio and Manhattan Chapter President,  the panel was held in venue sponsor Cosentino’s showroom. The discussion was co-presented by Charles Pavarini III, co-author of “Lighting Beyond Edison,” Founder and President of Pavarini Design, and a Designers Lighting Forum (DLF) member, and the book’s co-author, J. Randall Tarasuk, Vice-President-Product Manager of Pavarini Design, and DLF member. The two covered the history of LED technology and practical principles designers can apply to use the lighting solution effectively. After their presentation, Nancy Mah, a Board Member of The Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY), presented some additional examples of LED use when designing interiors.

Education Day was followed by the Manhattan Chapter’s 60th Anniversary Celebration, sponsored by Dacor, at the brand’s showroom, where a packed crowd of industry professionals reminisced about NKBA’s six decades as an influence in the K&B industry. While guests enjoyed cocktails and small bites, NKBA and Dacor presented special prizes to several lucky winners. 

NKBA’s 60th Anniversary Prize Pack Giveaways included a 60th Hat, 60th Tote Bag, 60th T-shirt, 60th chocolate bar, 60th logo sticker and the 1963 Trends Book, and one NKBA Grand Prize Giveaway included, for KBIS 2024 taking place in Las Vegas on Feb. 27-29, 2024, two tickets to the Design + Industry Awards, four tickets to The Bash and one skip-the-line ticket for FREE professional headshots at the NKBA Booth. The winner of Dacor’s whiskey-themed gift pack was Coco Kanakis, Westchester Chapter member, of Spaciality.

Photos by The Mad Photographer