HIGHLIGHTS FROM KBIS

 What an exhilarating week. There was so much to take in at the National Kitchen & Bath Association's Kitchen and Bath Industry Virtual Show (KBIS). There were some technical difficulties that arose and postponed the exhibitor booths but the education and programming continued. That actually worked out well for us because while keeping up with client design work at the office during the week, I don't think we could have fit in the show floor as well!

One of the things that mom and I love about KBIS each year is that it reminds us of how "on-top" of the products in Kitchen design we are. Many times we've already used or specified for a client the products that manufacturers are promoting as "new". This really helps us move through the booths rather quickly allowing the truly new products being launched specifically at the show to be highlighted for us. During the education portion of the show this week, we learned so much and are extremely excited to share this knowledge and these new innovations with our upcoming Kitchen clients. In this post we are going to share with you some of the highlights that we loved. 

indoor air quality

Exclusive Metal Cabinetry

This year specifically, clients have been more interested in improving the indoor air quality of their homes. The pandemic made us acutely aware of how vulnerable we are and how important our air quality is for a healthy home. The show focused a lot on products that emit low to no-VOC's, along with education around the importance of such products. This made our hearts sing because as you know (if you've been following us for some time) that we have been selling and promoting No-VOC cabinetry for over a decade. We are so happy that the Kitchen industry is finally understanding the importance of this. They still focused a bit more on flooring and paint, as that's more readily available but we were happy to hear that the conversation is reaching a more mainstream level rather than just within green communities! 
​

circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms is basically your bodies natural sleep/wake cycle. Unfortunately, with the increase use of screens (computer, phone, tablet etc.), shiftwork, and the lack of regular schedules at home lately our circadian rhythms are being altered and affecting our sleep, our health and overall well-being. This is a big issue and something that was a big discussion at the show as they showcased products and tips about how to help us get on to a better schedule. A really cool product we found was a lighting device that you can use to change your lighting to mimic daylight but then also make it warmer as you progress through the day to replicate natural lighting from outside. This can help your body detect the time and prepare you for your sleep schedule. This particular product can also be paired to your Alexa or Google Home so you have complete control and you can set up "routines" so you don't have to manually change them yourself throughout the day. 
​

colour is queen

The products we were able to see during the show all had one thing in common,  manufacturers are coming up with creative ways of incorporating colour into their designs! Everything from cabinetry to faucets to flooring to tile, we are seeing colour take centre stage both in subtle and in vibrant ways.  It's such an exciting time to be designing your Kitchen and really making it your own! ​

Exclusive Metal Cabinetry

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY

​Everything from controlling your lighting to prepping your appliances can all be done by your phone. Smart home technology is a big area of focus in not only kitchen design but in home design as a whole. A product that we found this week at the show, which isn't Kitchen related but living in Windsor, Ontario where many of us are sensitive to flooding and anxious every time we get a storm, we felt we needed to share this product. It is called Flo by Moen™ and it is a Smart Sump Pump Monitor. This device uses smart technology to reduce the risk of flooding by providing continuous monitoring and alerts when potential sump pump failures are detected. The proactive monitoring allows homeowners to mitigate the risk of water damage from anywhere at any time, so they never have to worry if their sump pump is working properly. 
​

our favourite product...

We were blown away by the Italian manufacturer, Forza, as they introduced the world's first ​48-inch Single-Cavity Professional Gas Range.  At 7.8 cubic feet, it has over 40" of clearance—(vegetarian friends please skip to the next section) that is enough to fit 2 turkeys during the holidays, 1 full + 1 half commercial tray, or a full goat, lamb or small pig on the MaxRotisserie accessory (w/ a 33-inch motor-driven rod). The oven goes from 0 to 400 degrees in 8 mins, features the proprietary MassimoBlu Hyper Double Broiler to maximize & caramelize, & has a total cooktop power of 128,000 BTU. Yes, I pulled that info directly from them, as there are too many incredible features to leave out! We also love that not only is it an incredible machine function wise, and capacity wise, it also has gorgeous lines in the design and is available in six stunning finishes ​Audace Black, Dinamico Blue (shown here), Radicale Red, Ardente Orange, Ribelle Yellow, Valoroso White and of course Stainless Steel.
​

cAMBRIA TEASER...

We cannot wait to reveal the new colours of Cambria to you! But we will have to. It was hard not to take some pictures from the preview this week, but we want to respect their official launch date on the 24th. They are gorgeous designs and we already have some beautiful powder-coated finishes to pair with them for our upcoming Aluminum cabinet clients! Emerald is a big focus in the new designs, which we couldn't be happier about.  We will be sharing each of the new designs with you when they do their launch on the 24th.  Stay tuned!

What was your favourite piece we shared with you today? We would love to hear from you! 
In the meantime, make it a happy and healthy week!