By Diana Mosher -- NKBA Manhattan Chapter members earned CEU credit while enjoying KBIS 2024 highlights at the March Chapter Meeting hosted by Savant in their SoHo Experience Center. Following a lively cocktail hour, Greg Barrett kicked-off the event with an update on Savant’s energy management and storage systems exhibited at KBIS. These offerings are designed to meet the challenges created by natural disasters and an aging power grid. At KBIS, Savant also announced their partnership with GE smart appliances and commitment to the net zero home.

Undoubtedly, technology and design are becoming more intertwined, and examples were prevalent at KBIS 2024, according to Sharon L Sherman, ASID, CKD, CID, NCIDQ, Owner of Thyme & Place Design in Wykoff, NJ. Sharon’s KBIS recap focused on the intersection of design and innovation as well as the ever-growing crossover of kitchen and bath design with interior design. Her key-takeaways from KBIS 2024 were: color is back, curves are still sexy, sustainability matters, and technology is key.

Sharon showed examples of capsule shapes seen repeatedly on the KBIS show floor. Even cabinet hardware is adopting the capsule shape. Sharon noted that finding a rectangular tub took a lot of work. Farm sinks and vessel sinks are still popular, and exquisite hand-painted Murano vessel sinks at Native Trails showed the elevation of design. Thompson Traders’ exhibited a range hood that resembled folded fabric. According to Sharon, artisanship and “the story behind the product” are coming back.

The fish scale shape was everywhere, and so was color—on Kohler’s variety of green tubs and sinks, appliances, cabinets, and hardware. Richelieu made a splash with their round, colorful pulls. Bright, shiny metals and high lacquer finishes are also trending. And metal cabinets are coming back. Sharon noted that the “coastal grandma” look (pattern on pattern on pattern plus color all over everything) is still here, but so are neutral palettes that rely on sophisticated hues, including True Residential’s new champagne finish. 

Curved cabinets in the kitchen and bath are also trending. There were also many curved range hoods and metal hoods. Natural stone is more popular than ever, and enormous slabs with out-of-the-ordinary colors and patterns were displayed at KBIS. Some designers are revisiting the full-stone backsplash. They are also looking for opportunities to backlight natural stone to showcase its beauty and create a sense of drama.

Visit our Facebook Page and be sure to tag the images of you at this enlightening event.  Photos by Jess Siegel.  https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=NKBAManhattan&set=a.817154683780592

Technology is driving sustainability and changing how we live—like the home composter introduced by Krause or the wrapping of lighting around a base molding to assist wayfinding. Installing outlets with USB cables in vanities eliminates the need to install outlets on the beautiful backsplash wall. Which of these trends seen at KBIS 2024 will you share with your own kitchen and bath design clients? 

Thank you to Savant for hosting and Sharon L. Sherman for sharing her insights with the NKBA Manhattan Chapter! If you still need to become a member, join our Chapter to attend our monthly informative, fun networking events; visit our Newsletter to keep up on events.

Photo/Video by Jeff Siegal