KBIS 2011

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) puts on KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) each spring. This year it happened to be in Las Vegas! Peak at Home, Lead Designer, Lauren and I headed out on Monday this past week in route to KBIS. This was Lauren's first time attending a KBIS show and let me tell you KBIS is the 'mother' of all convention/shows. The NKBA pulls out all the stops and tries to think of everything we as members/participants could possible need or want. Walking out onto the convention floor can be a little intimidating for the newbie or the seasoned veteran. The highlight of the show is obviously the products designed to the kitchen and bath industry. Every manufacturer in the business has something new they want to show off like a newborn baby fresh from the hospital and they want you to "ohh" and "ahh". I heard myself "ohh" a few times, but no 'ahh's" this year at KBIS.

Kitchens were the big draw this year with the parent company (Masco) for Kraftmaid, Merillat and many more was taking up a good portion of the room with their displays. Just down from them were the Ready-To-Assemble cabinet lines. Please read my blog on RTA kitchens, as no two are the same. I will hand it to the RTA companies though; their displays were just a well done as MASCO's and their representatives were much nicer to talk to.

Then the faucet powerhouses were there, Kohler, Moen, Delta and every little company in between. The big reveal from Kohler this year was the remote control toilet. Yes,you heard me right, remote control toilet. Looks like a box, hit the button and the lid comes up and backwards. Hit a button and the seat goes up. Hit a button the seat goes down and hit another button and seat will warm up for you. We watched many people try this new toilet and pushing buttons and waiting for everything to open. Or you can back up to it and wait for it to open via some sort of sensor. My middle aged bladder was not impressed. I had visions of doing the "gotta go right now dance" and the not finding the remote or the lid getting stuck mid-route...accident waiting to happen. American Standard has a wonderful, water saving Dual Flush toilet out this year that I would recommend, traditional toilet with a great features and easily accessible when needed.

Big disappointment for me was the lack of lighting displays. Lighting in any room is the key to good design, yet the only booth I saw was Kichler Lighting.

Discovered some beautiful tile and artisan hardware companies and asked for literature from them to be sent to us.

The speakers were great this year and Mr. Pat Croce left me in tears as the Opening Ceremonies speaker. If you ever get an opportunity to listen to him speak, RUN- do not walk to the nearest lecture hall.

Of course, there were celebrities on hand to meet and greet, which is always exciting! Lauren got to meet Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out! and I got to meet Ed Sanders from Extreme Home Makeover!

Next year we are off to Chicago for KBIS. I wonder who will be the big player next year? I know it will be worth the trip.