KBIS Electrifies and Reenergizes

LAS VEGAS — The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) wrapped after three high-energy days at the Las Vegas Convention Center this past February. Owned by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and produced by Emerald Exhibitions, the show was presented as part of Design & Construction Week along with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show (IBS).

“KBIS is thriving, and I’m optimistic about 2025 for our membership and the larger home and design industry,” said Bill Darcy, global president & CEO of NKBA | KBIS at the annual State of the Association. 

Held February 25-27, 2025, the show saw 124,000 DCW registered visitors and over 43,000 KBIS registered visitors, with more than 500,000 of the over 1.2 million net square feet of exhibits being devoted to KBIS. Exhibitors numbered over 700 – including 150 first-time exhibitors, as well as almost 270 international exhibitors. Such impressive numbers made KBIS 2025 the largest since the NKBA began partnering with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and IBS.

“The brands this year did not disappoint – from the biggest names in the industry to emerging innovators and international leaders making their debut in North America,” Brian Pagel, exec. v.p. at Emerald elaborated. “I’ve been in this industry for more than 15 years, and always leave KBIS inspired and having discovered something new.”

“KBIS is our industry’s Super Bowl,” said Heather Shannon, NKBA’s senior v.p. of Marketing & Communications.

Best & Brightest

The annual kickoff for the show, the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards gala, took place on February 24, 2025 at the Lafite Ballroom at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Hundreds of entries competed for $100,000 in prize money in six categories: Large Kitchen (over 300 square feet), Small Kitchen (under 300 square feet), Specialty Kitchen (including outdoor, butler’s pantry, etc.), Primary Bath, Secondary Bath and Powder Room.

All judges for the 2024-2025 competition were CMKBD-certified, and included Kelley Barnett, CMKBD, principal of Kelley Barnett Interior Design, Austin, TX; Ellen Lopez, CMKBD, EL Design Studio, Hicksville, NY; Stacy McCarthy, CMKBD, Stacy McCarthy Design, Jupiter, FL; Christie Board, CMKBD, Board By Board, Prescot, AZ; Doug Walter, CMKBD, Doug Walter Architects, Denver, CO, and Cailin Thelen, CMKBD, Thelen Designs, Dunwoody, GA.

Eighteen winners were selected for the awards competition, including Best Overall Kitchen and Best Overall Bath.

Also honored at the gala were the winners of the 2023-2024 Student Design Competition, sponsored by Fisher & Paykel. The 2023-2024 competition scenario asked students to update a mid-century home’s kitchen and primary bathroom for an active family of four, featuring a challenging configuration of small square footage and a range of 1960s architectural elements. 

More than 200 entrants competed for scholarships of $5,000 (first place), $2,500 (second place) and $1000 (third place), as well as complimentary KBIS 2025 entry, airfare and hotel. Winning designs will also be featured in KBB Magazine.

Also announced were the winners of the Innovative Showroom Awards Competition.

NEXTStage

Once again, the KBIS NEXTstage was a hub on the show floor for education, designer expertise and award presentations. Show attendees flocked to the stage for presentations on four different tracks – Technology, sponsored by JennAir; Sustainability, sponsored by Native Trails; Wellness, sponsored by Signature Kitchen Suite, and Business & Trends. Each day of the show featured a different NEXTstage host: day one was hosted by John McClain, CEO/creative director of John McClain Design & Design Success Academy; day two was hosted by author and design journalist Sophie Donelson, and day three’s host was designer, author and philanthropist Breegan Jane.

The NEXTstage was the site of several award presentations, including the Best of KBIS Awards, which recognizes top product innovations from the show. Sponsored by LUXE Interiors & Design and hosted by its senior market editor, Sarah Shelton, the awards were judged by a panel that included Alena Capra, CMKBD, principal of Alena Capra Designs; Jeanne Chung, creative director of Cozy Stylish Chic; Kara Cox, principal of Kara Cox Interiors; Brooke and Brice Gilliam, owners of Deep South Modern; Julee Ireland, founder of Home Renovation School and Tile Mart University, and Jerel Lake, principal designer of Jerel Lake.

Also presented on the NEXTstage was the 10^th annual DesignBites, a “Shark Tank”-style presentation in which 11 brands competed to highlight their best new products for the winning title of “Brand with the Biggest Bite.” Hosted by HGTV and Discovery+ personality Darren Keefe, the competition was judged by Alison Victoria, HGTV design personality and founder and president of Chicago-based Alison Victoria Interiors; John McClain, CEO and creative director at Orlando firm John McClain Design and Design Success Academy, and Sarah Robertson, founder and principal of Mamaroneck, NY firm Studio Dearborn.

Closing out NEXTStage programming was the Best Booth Awards, presented by NKBA’s Heather Shannon, along with Emerald executives Jason McGraw, group v.p./KBIS show director, and Amy Hornby, KBIS associate show director. Booths were judged by a panel including Nar Bustamante, president and principal designer, Nar Design Group, Sacramento, CA; Christopher Grubb, president, Arch-Interiors Design Group, Beverly Hills, CA, and Rachel Hutchens, CMKBD, principal designer, Maven Home Interiors, Salt Lake City, UT.

Next year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show will be held February 17-19, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL and will once again co-locate with the International Builders’ Show for Design and Construction Week.

In the April 2025 issue of KBDN, find a sampling of products seen and introduced on the exhibit show floor.