After a successful High Point Market debut in the Fall of 2025, the NKBA returned to Broad Hall in April featuring the next evolution in kitchen and bath design. Drawing the country’s most high-end and upscale interior designers, architects and home furnishings buyers, High Point is the world’s largest home furnishings trade show held twice a year in High Point, N.C.
Above: The entrance to NKBA’s immersive showroom at Spring Market. Photo: NKBA
This strategic partnership with the High Point Market Authority cements NKBA’s mission to facilitate connections between designers and manufacturers across the entire whole-home industry. Thanks to a partnership with Cosentino and Codarus, Broad Hall continues to be the central hub for NKBA. This historic building sits right in the heart of High Point Market and is well connected to both public transport and local hotels.
“Broad Hall has quickly become a must-visit destination for designers looking for inspiration and ideas on how to expand and elevate their business through kitchen and bath design,” said Patty Dominguez, vice president of business development for Cosentino Americas. “We’re proud to partner with NKBA to create a space where designers can engage directly with brands and explore what’s next for the home.”
A Look Inside Broad Hall
The kitchen vignette allowed guests to experience NKBA partner brands up close. Photo: NKBA
Curated vignettes and in-booth displays allowed attendees to experience brand partners up close. Those included Cosentino, Kichler, James Martin Vanities, Ferguson Home, Sherwin-Williams, Fabuwood, BlueStar, Signature Hardware, Miele, Urban Bonfire, Lutron, FreePower, Blanco, Feeney and Azenco.
NKBA transformed the Broad Hall terrace into a garden party-inspired setting for the Spring Market, with artist Manuel Santelices’ ethereal watercolor illustrations hanging in the backdrop. The weekend began with an intimate reception to welcome brand partners. Saturday through Monday at High Point included a variety of panels and presentations – with catered lunches on offer as well as a cocktail event.
Panel Highlights
Designing Light: Layering, Materials and the Architecture of Illumination
Jerel Lake, Lake Haus Design
Kim Scodro, Kim Scodro Interiors
Kristina Christopher, Kichler Lighting
Becca Ryan, Lutron
Moderator: Kaitlin Petersen, Business of Home
When should designers discuss lighting with their clients? Immediately, agreed the panel, while noting that education is key. Clients are often surprised by the cost of quality lighting and may at first be resistant to investing in a lighting specialist. It’s vital to convey that bringing in an expert will save money in the end, because you’ll avoid costly mistakes.
Invisible luxury: How Hidden Technology & Premium Materials Are Redefining the Bath
Kelly Collier-Clark, House of Clark Interiors
Mikel Welch, Mikel Welch Interiors
Pam Durkin, James Martin Vanities
Jake Slatnick, FreePower
Moderator: Carisha Swanson, House Beautiful
The bath has become a personal haven rather than just a functional space, with more clients desiring details usually reserved for hotels and spas and a sleek, uncluttered space. What is hidden is just as important as what remains on display. For example, James Martin Vanities includes luxury details such as soft-close doors, solid backs and wireless charging as standard for each model across 32 different collections.
Stephanie Larsen, Alena Capra and Andrea Lillo participating in the “Open-Air Living: Designing the Ultimate Outdoor Experience” session. Photo: NKBA
Open-Air Living: Designing the Ultimate Outdoor Experience
Ashley Smith, Urban Bonfire
Lisa Mende, Lisa Mende Design
Daniel Keeley, DK Design
Stephanie Larsen, Stephanie Larsen Interior Design
Alena Capra, Alena Capra Designs
Moderator: Andrea Lillo, Designers Today
The business of designing for the outdoors has continued to boom since the 2020 lockdowns redefined the importance of home. And when it comes to real estate, the outdoor space can make or break a sale. These five panelists gave us a lively, informative discussion about bringing the best of design outside: creating cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces, working with the natural setting, crafting realistic budgets and setting maintenance expectations for clients.
The Power of Palette & Material: Designing Spaces That Feel Intentional
Ashley Gilbreath, Ashley Gilbreath Interior Design
Anita Yokota, Anita Yokota Design
Johnathan Sanders, Signature Hardware
Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams
Moderator: Mel Studach, ADPro
Getting really clear on a client’s preferences right from the beginning narrows the scope for a project and raises the standards immediately. This might mean asking clients for no more than three to five images to pinpoint what they really like. Likewise, it’s important to keep in mind that designers are there to help clients take risks, which can include low-commitment paint and hardware choices.
The New Luxury: Designing for Daily Wellness
Caroline Danielson, Ferguson Home
Matt French, French & French Interiors
Arianne Bellizaire, Arianne Bellizaire Interiors
Emery Murphy, Miele
Moderator: Kate Kelly Smith, Sandow
Luxury is not defined merely by price or availability but rather function, such as a kitchen appliance that can shave minutes off a task. By asking deep questions about a client’s concerns and routines, designers can build invaluable trust and determine which wellness features will bring the greatest satisfaction and use.
The Custom Kitchen Conversation: Designing Kitchens as Personal Statements
Megan Siason, M Studio Interior Design
Ann Muth, BlueStar
Nikki Levy, Levy Interiors
Moderator: Chandler Pibl, Modern Luxury Interiors
How can designers make sure they’re creating a kitchen that truly suits a client’s personality and lifestyle? Detailed onboarding documents are a great place to start so that no detail is forgotten. Paying close attention to what a client is wearing fills in the blind spots and using NKBA’s Planning Guidelines lays a solid foundation from which inspiration can confidently flow.
Preview: NKBA|KBIS at Fall Market 2026
Building on the momentum of Spring 2026 at High Point, the NKBA is returning to Broad Hall in October with an even more immersive experience that unites interior and exterior design into one unique activation. For this next chapter, NKBA is refreshing and reimagining its presence at Broad Hall. Expect new representations of kitchen and bath, as well as an increased footprint to maximize promotion of partner brands.
NKBA is proud to partner with Barbour Spangle Design as the creative lead behind the immersive showroom experience. Immersive storytelling is at the core of Barbour Spangle’s approach, with every detail contributing to a larger narrative. The goal is an aspirational lifestyle environment where people don’t just walk through – they pause, engage and remember how the space made them feel.
Inspirational panels will include influential media, brand and industry thought leaders. There will also be curated “Insider’s Tours” with direct access to new buyers, first-time specifiers and industry media outlets. NKBA’s Design Council, made up of designer Bobby Berk, Mandy Cheng and Nathan Orsman, continues to serve as an expert resource for NKBA’s Highpoint Market presence.
In addition to the Broad Hall activation, NKBA|KBIS is once again hosting “The Gallery Gathering,” a sophisticated evening during High Point Market – a dinner and networking event for leading designers, architects and media influencers.
