By Donna Heiderstadt
NKBA’s newly inducted Thirty Under 30 Class of 2023 put their design acumen and teamwork skills to work during KBIS, as they fanned out over the show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center to find products offering the perfect combination of innovation and aesthetic appeal to make them this year’s 30’s Choice Award winners.
And the Winners Are…
Divided into six teams of five, the 2023 Class scoured KBIS booths to find their top product choices in six categories.The 2023 Class presented their picks on Feb. 2, 2023, at KBIS NEXT Stage during an event hosted by Laurie March, host and creative force behind The House Counselor, Project Manager and Producer for HGTV.
The following products/brands were selected as the 30’s Choice award winners:
Sustainability
The 30s team of Justin Caballero, Makenna Harrington, Mariana De La Garza, Faith Martin, and Diana Rojas announced the 30’s Choice winner for Sustainability was the Kraus Clarita Reverse Osmosis Filtration System with Reclaimed Water Tank. This innovative, two-step water conservation system hasn’t hit the market yet, but it saves up to 40 percent of water, which can then be used to wash dishes, hands, etc. In addition, the outer tank is made from recycled ocean plastic.
Outdoor Living
Rebekah Calcutt, Jessica Medeiros, Calli Dieglio, Carly Seefeldt, and Felicia Hartson chose the Watrline Outdoor Shower, featuring a new frost-free line to prevent pipes from freezing over. It is available in 6,000 different finish options, including custom color matching.
Smart Home Integration/WIFI-Enabled Products
Kendal Cavalieri, Kelsey Powell, Shannon Embly, Mickayla Sheets, and Danielle Heath picked the GE Profile UltraFast Combo 2-in-1 Washer/Dryer, which allows users to wash and dry a large load of clothes in two hours without having to transfer between two machines. The washer/dryer also holds enough detergent and softener for up to 32 loads — all controlled from the SmartHQ app that interfaces with Adaptive SmartDispense technology.
Universal Design/Living in Place
Ben Cookinham, Jamie Pulver, Kayla Garbrecht, Allyssa Warden, and Melisa Jahic chose the GE Monogram 30” French Door Electric Convection Single Wall Oven Statement Collection for the precision-engineered chain-drive mechanism that allows for one-hand opening of both doors at the same time. It also can be controlled with an app, installed under the counter, and is the only self-cleaning wall oven in the market.
Wellness/Health
Sydney Cooley, Anna Graham, Christopher Ribeiro, Alyssa Weardon, and Grace Juhala selected the Brondell Pro Sanitizing Air Purifier with AG+ Technology, which features five layers of filtration and smart technology that has been proven to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 15 minutes. It has already been adopted by doctors, lawyers, and more than 1,400 schools across the U.S.
Creative Use of Color
In this category, Kendra Wegner, Yana Rizhova, Loris Halasa, Mandy Wozniak, and Deborah Martin chose Kohler Heritage Color/Forever In Color as their top pick for allowing KBIS attendees visiting the Kohler booth to choose the two heritage colors (from among six vintage options) that will be used in select products in 2023. From a choice of Peachblow, Pink Champagne, Lavender, Sunrise, Avocado, and Spring Green, the two winning hues were Peachblow (used from 1934-1973) and Spring Green (used from 1927-1944).
Meet the Thirty Under 30 Class
NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2023 was officially inducted on Jan. 31, 2023 during KBIS. For complete profiles of these emerging talents in the fields of design, marketing, manufacturing, and fabrication, check out their Thirty Under 30 profiles.