KBB Editors’ Favorite Finds and More at KBIS 2025
KBIS 2025 took place last week, and the show had more than 43,000 registered attendees and almost 700 exhibitors. More than 150 of those exhibitors were new to KBIS. Although the KBB editors were not able to see all of them, we were able to visit with numerous exhibitors and learn about their new offerings for 2025.
The KBB South Hall Tour
We took a group of 15 design professionals to see and learn about 12 new-to-the-show exhibitors on the second day of KBIS. At the end of the tour, we polled the attendees to see which were their favorite product offerings, many of which they may not have had time to cover outside of the tour. Here are their top three choices:
The Airmada AirJet Shower Drying System brings forced air into the shower to remove moisture and prevent mold growth. The nozzles can reach all corners of the shower.
Hidealoo’s movable toilet frame (above, video by KBB) allows a standard wall-hung toilet to rotate 90 degrees – meaning it can be stored inside a wall recess, closet or vanity when not in use.
Furnipart’s Vonsold Collection of wooden decorative hardware (above) was a favorite among the tour attendees for its organic look and feel and its nod to quality materials.
KBB Editors’ Top Picks
Culled from the hundreds of products on display, here are four that made a distinct impression.
Cambria – always a booth full of beautiful quartz offerings – had a wonderful example of its back-lighted Brighton surface for a fireplace installation (above, photo by KBB).
Karran had an array of wonderful innovations to share with attendees, including this Tech Faucet (above). It has a five-function sprayer as well as an inner aerator that can flip 180º to provide two different spray patterns: an aerated one and a rain spray. The larger outer aerator produces a mini dense spray.
The Häfele Adjustable Light Shelf (above) redefines the possibilities of illuminated shelving. Tiny magnets work as electrical conduits, eliminating the need for hard-wired connections and allowing the shelves to be repositioned – and even flipped – at will.
FreePower, Cosentino and James Martin Vanities have teamed up to create a groundbreaking ready-to-install casegood (above, photo by KBB): James Martin Vanities with Silestone countertops embedded with FreePower wireless charging. This collaboration merges advanced technology with premium design to enhance everyday living.
Design Trends on Tap
While covering the show, the KBB team observed a number of trends – established, emerging and some fading away – evident in product design. We’re looking forward to exploring these in depth in our upcoming issues, podcasts and digital reports:
- Forms. Fluid, curvaceous, organic geometries are everywhere – in products (faucets, casework, tiles, decorative hardware, tubs and vessel sinks) and interior architecture
- Colors. This is an expanding interest in every field from appliances to plumbing fixtures & fittings. The palette is shifting from from bright, clear hues to saturated, rich tones, sometimes with iridescent effects. Color drenching: Do we still love it or not? Is it a maximalist fad or becoming mainstream?
- Textures. Knurling, corning, fluting and their dimensional ilk still have a stronghold in hardware, cabinets snd surfaces, but the backlash of sleek and smooth finishes as well as natural hands may be on its way.
- Finishes. Matte, matte and more matte. No question on this point.
- Storage. Cabinets with mixed-material construction and the evolution of decorative mullions are two of the aesthetic trends seen at the show. Paper towel dispensers/storage designs were in notable abundance at KBIS, as was concealed hardware that was often transformative.
- Functionality. Multi-tasking, be it in workstation sinks or combi-ovens or smart lighting systems, is firmly entrenched.
Outstanding KBIS Booths
Several of the KBIS booths this year were designed by well-known professionals. The Fabuwood booth (above), designed by the brand’s Creative Director, Kerrie Kelly, featured inspiring design vignettes crafted by Design Ambassadors Julee Ireland and Rydhima Brar, blending innovation and artistry to create a truly captivating experience. Julee Ireland also designed the Luxury Lounge at this year’s KBIS.
Tineke Triggs designed the BlueStar booth (above) and used the brand’s color of the year, Signal Brown, to create a sense of nature in the space.
The House of Rohl booth (above, photo by KBB) featured various vignettes that evoked a sense of quiet luxury, including a bar area with a Shaw’s farmhouse sink as a focal point.
FreePower’s futuristic booth experience was designed by acclaimed interior designer Nina Magon, who drew inspiration from the brand’s patented Charging Halo™. When visiting, guests were immersed in a life-like experience of the technology and left with a newfound excitement about how power can transform any space.
“Our booth design at KBIS embodies a modern and forward-thinking aesthetic, setting us apart in a landscape of conventional displays,” said Magon, founder and principal of Nina Magon Studio. “It is not just a visual statement. It is a testament to innovation, showcasing FreePower’s groundbreaking countertop engineering that seamlessly integrates wireless charging into everyday life. The design reflects FreePower’s commitment to transforming spaces and elevating convenience, making every interaction with the product an experience in the future of technology.”
Daltile garnered recognition with an Honorable Mention in the Best Booth Awards program. Throughout the space (above), towering, two-sided vertical panels showed off the latest trends and designs. Three thousand pounds of tile and surfacing “pendants” were dramatically suspended over the central information desk.
KBB’s Discussion with Our Person of the Year
KBIS/Emerald
Outside of discovering all the KBIS exhibitors and booths, we also had the opportunity to interview the KBB Person of the Year, Alena Capra, CMKBD. She told us what it means to her to be certified in the industry, how she advocates for her peers and why charity initiatives are so important to her. Capra also told us what she likes to do in her free time and which travel destinations have inspired her work. The interview will be available on-demand soon, so don’t miss out!
Check back for updates to the list of the KBB editors’ list of eye-catching items from KBIS 2025!
