This year for the second year in a row I visited the Design & Construction Week festivities, which includes the International Builders Show (IBS) and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by the National Association of Home Builders and National Kitchen & Bath Association, respectively.
Last year’s return to an in-person show in Orlando was big, but this year’s event in Las Vegas was record setting. Hear about some of the innovations, trends and technologies as I discuss the event with executive editor Chelsie Butler and managing editor Leslie Claggett of CE Pro sister publication KBB, in this week’s podcast episode.
We all agreed this year’s Design & Construction Week festivities, which also included the co-located National Hardware Show, were highly energized by the presence of more attendees and more exhibitors. The expansive Las Vegas Convention Center housed most of the KBIS exhibitors in the North Hall, while IBS dominated the Central and West Halls.
“I noticed obviously yes, it was busy, busy, busy – fast-paced, lots of movement, definitely colorful and was especially impressed by more well-designed booths than we’ve seen in the past,” Butler notes.
Among all the latest innovations, two booth standouts, she adds, were KBIS Best Booth winners Kohler (large) and Fabuwood (medium). Kohler likely won the prize for most photographed/videorecorded booth at DCW 2023, with its assortment of jaw-dropping bathroom technology, while Fabuwood accentuated its wares with an incredible artwork as well in its space.
Booth conversations focused on new products for builders, architects, designers and home technology pros. Trends throughout both areas, which the editors gleaned traversing the show floor – I focused more on the IBS side while Butler and Claggett centered on the KBIS booths – included various ways companies are incorporating sustainable practices and designs; colors and textures that exude fun, natural/calm and wellness aspects; power products for electrifying the home and expanding tech; and more.
Meanwhile, tech trends and areas in particular where system integrators can collaborate more with designers, architects and builders based on what I saw included: smart water/plumbing, water purification and indoor air quality solutions; energy efficiency & lifespan elongating sustainable categories like healthy kitchens, lighting, power management, tech concealment; and outdoor living and kitchen spaces that continue to expand in their feature possibilities.
I also had a conversation with HTA’s Josh Christian, who was in Las Vegas conducting education sessions and evangelizing the organization’s new Design Partner and Technology Partner programs, as he works to connect the design and integration communities.
Hear about some of the editors’ favorite booths and products from KBIS & IBS by listening to or watching the full podcast episode above. Find past episodes of the CE Pro Podcast by subscribing to the CE Pro YouTube channel or our Apple and Spotify podcast feeds.