*******

Getting Social at KBIS

Social media was front and center at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans this year. The show started with a Beignets and Bubbly tweet up which was very well attended and great fun to see everyone in person. The event felt like a celebration of the connections we’ve made online.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Quex

Presentations about Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Olioboard and Pinterest were prevalent. There was a technology bar for one-on-one instructions. I took part in the Industry Leader Roundtables event in which attendees circulated between tables asking industry leaders questions. All of the questions posed to me centered around social media. How to get started on Twitter? What should I tweet about? Where else online should we be active? They want to be a part of the conversation and relationships.

KBIS 2013 Recap

Show Highlights

My show highlight was our kbtribechat tweet up on the second day of the show hosted by Wellborn Cabinet. Our group had a great time catching up with each other in person then went on a tour of the Wellborn booth with their designer Karen Stanley as our guide.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Wellborn TweetUp

Karen did the booth design and her insider tips made the tour very interesting. Here is a montage of pictures from the Wellborn Cabinet booth. They had many partners including Cambria Quartz, Crossville Tile and Miele. I loved the cabinet knobs they used by Belwith Keeler and their new grey paint color. Cabinetry for many areas in the home (including a gift wrapping station) was well represented.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Wellborn Booth

Product Highlight

* Hardware

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Salice Hinge

There was much to get excited about in the Salice booth. They have a new hinge color called Titanium. It is a warm finish that will go well with darker woods. Salice also has a new line of cabinet interior accessories with a chrome profile that is nice. Their kitchen space organizers have a nice updated look compared to chrome wire that is so prevalent. I also think their automatic sliding door is great! They showed it on an upper cabinet but it has many possible applications.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Rohl Warm Finishes

There were many beautiful sinks and faucets featured in the Rohl booth but I particularly liked this combination. Using these warm metal colors is a trend I think we will see more of.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Brizo & freestanding and touchless

I also found much to be excited about in the Brizo booth this year. They featured a beautiful new line of freestanding tub fillers with many styles to choose from. I particularly like their faucets with matte colors and metal combinations. They have many touchless faucet choices.

* Other Trends

Touchless faucets were everywhere at KBIS and are definitely a trend.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Cabinet Bling

There were quite a few new cabinet knob and pull choices to see at the show! Here are a few that stood out to me.

KBIS 2013 Recap :: Northern Contours

Textural wood finishes is a trend I saw at KBIS with this one by Northern Contours as a good example. I love the leather cabinet pulls too!

For more images and information, please check out these two Pinterest boards on KBIS 2013. We have a Kbtribechat board and a group board hosted by Clever Storage US.

 —

Next year the International Builders’ Show and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show are taking place together in Las Vegas during Design and Construction Week, February 4-6, 2014. Hope to see you there!

*******

Note from the hosts: Stacy popped over a few weeks back to give us her KBIS Preview. Her recap, here, an even bigger treat.  Thank you Stacy, it sure seems New Orleans was a blast.  Maybe we catch you in Vegas next year. For more coverage from various industry trade shows, please see our category – Trade Shows.  ~jb