The Inside Scoop - KBIS 2025
Like moths to an open flame, last week saw a flurry of design professionals flocking to Las Vegas in order to participate in this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show #KBIS2025. For most Canadians (and some of our neighbors to the south), this also presented an opportunity to thaw out from our frigid winter among the palm trees and cacti lining the streets.
As a quick background, the National Kitchen + Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit group that was established in 1963 as a network for kitchen dealers. Over the years, it has evolved into the world’s leading trade association supporting a full spectrum of design industry professionals. One crucial part of this evolution is KBIS, North America’s largest yearly trade show solely dedicated to kitchen and bath design. The show typically runs over three days and includes educational sessions and networking events among a plethora of exhibition booths.
Ok, so now that the history lesson is checked off of our list, let's get to all of the juicy and delicious bits!! With over 500,000 square feet of exhibits there was a lot to look at but I’ve tried to assemble some of the key take-aways for you here. My first observation as I looked through hundreds of pictures on my phone, was that I gravitated mostly towards bathroom related items. There were indeed lots of amazing and beautiful kitchen sinks, faucets, appliances, cabinets, and storage solutions…but most weren’t new to me or to the market.
Right out of the gates, I felt like this was the year of the bathtub! House of Rohl and Kohler never disappoint with their booths and this year they decided to erect a tower of bathtubs, complete with overflowing mist, as their centrepiece. Pourquoi pas?!!
As we continued into the booth, we were met with Kohler’s Brazn tub, which I can only describe as the sexy black panther of tubs. Matte exterior, polished interior, and slanted to perfection - functional and gorgeous! Say it with me now…MEOW!! Then just around the corner, as if to playfully ramp up the luxury antes, came Kallista’s stone tub made out of Rosso Levanto marble. A statement piece on its own, it is the perfect tint of merlot that just screams quiet opulence. Although now looking at the picture, I am perplexed as to why they chose that flooring material in that specific display area??
Not yet published to websiteBefore moving away from the Land of Kohler, I did take a peak at their new cold plunge tub that was developed in collaboration with Remedy Place. Set to hit the market in the middle of 2025, this tub seeks to answer the call of the cold plunge wellness trend. While we’ve seen these tubs typically sold as exterior or garage-bound inflatables, this model offers a more sophisticated esthetic that also packs a punch with ergonomics and user experience guides, such as timers and a light that helps regulate your breathing as you try to maintain consciousness in the frigid water. For me, I’ll keep just turning the dial to the left for the last few minutes of my shower and leave the ice dunks to the truly committed crowd.
Laufen out of Switzerland also focused on the user experience by presenting the VAL Luminex bathtub with integrated LED lighting. The color-changing LED can be seen along the exterior base and along the interior bottom of the tub for the ultimate chromatherapy session.
Rounding out the user-experience tubs, was Toto’s new Zero Dimension Flotation Tub which is designed to give bathers a near-weightless sensation. Surprisingly shallow, it also boasts integrated LED lights, massage jets and a cascading waterfall coming out of the bottom of the headrest to keep shoulders warm and toasty. I’m not sure about the weightlessness claim, but if you want an all inclusive spa in your bathroom, this seems to fit the bill!! Thankfully, it’s not bad lookin’ either!!
Next, we had a mash up of colors and shapes to shake things up. Out of China, OMSA Company showed an electric tangerine colored fluted tub with matching pedestal sink and MonBlari wowed with a carbon fiber “free” standing tub. The innovative use of carbon fiber allows for an ultra light tub that can be mounted to walls or freestanding posts, making it look as if it is floating in the air. When looking at their website, you can see the tub styled with a ceiling mounted tub filler and floor drain. Although I love the idea of the ceiling mount tub filler, in my #BathroomGoals the floor drain would be covered with polished river stones to counter the uber modern with an extra biophilic touch.
Moving on to the jewelry of a room, there were a few notables in the land of hardware. Emtek, which is always a favorite of mine, showed off two new finishes for their Select hardware line - Walnut and Rosso Levanto Marble (*yes, the same material as the Kallista bathtub #SisterFromAnotherMother). I’ve gushed about my love of these before and I’ll say it again…the fact that you can easily mix and match all pieces of the door hardware (even mixing the interior and exterior set) is the ultimate bespoke hardware solution!! Chef’s Kiss!
A new entry into the Select family that isn’t on the market nor the website yet was a gear-like model that I found interesting. Not sure where or how I would use it, but it definitely gave off a sophisticated industrial vibe.
Not yet published to websitePerhaps the Product Development team at Emtek did indeed hear my previous rants, because they have now produced a line of Select Wall Hooks to align with the door hardware. Now if we can just get them to work on door stops, the trifecta will be complete!!
Speaking of door stops…Viefe, which is my go-to in this arena, had a great display box of their door stops at their booth – a great addition to any Designer’s sample gallery. They also showed off their new matte bronze finish, which is a lovely (and warmer) alternative to typical brushed gold.
Armac Martin was showing its luxury hardware in full force (many not yet published to their website), with some very interesting patina and textures that could easily span multiple styles. This rounded honeycomb-embossed collection was gorgeous up close and I just couldn’t keep my hands off of it! I was also pleasantly surprised by Richelieu’s contribution to the evolution of knurled hardware (also not yet published on their website), showing off a new collection of straight knurls propped up on hefty columns. I could see using these to balance and bring structure to a softer Art Deco mood.
Materials were the last large grouping that caught my attention. Moving into the porcelain game, Caesarstone showed off several new colors along with one spectacular leather replica (not yet on their website). The printed color is very well done but the actual texture and feel of the porcelain is magnificent! I’ve been looking for a project to incorporate porcelain panelling on custom furniture pieces and this Cider Leather would be perfect for a bedside table or lounge coffee table.
Custom mosaic tiles are becoming more accessible, with a few companies dipping their toes in these waters. One that stood out was Artistic Tile…the colors, shapes, materials…all culminated in a truly lux feeling that displayed craftsmanship and uniqueness of their product. There was even a leopard print to use alongside Kohler’s Brazn black panther tub! #MeantToBe
We’ve seen futed wall panels EVERYWHERE these past couple of years and Wonderwall Studios is here to save us from that timestamp! If you haven’t heard of this company before…Google - Them - Right - Now!! This company not only matches my love of textures and wood products, but they also have a commendable business model, where the panels are made from reclaimed wood in pop-up shops around the globe in areas where they find stockpiles of materials to use. One of these workshops is in Montreal (whoot, whoot!!), so be sure to check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.
These are just some of the proverbial tips of design icebergs seen at the Las Vegas KBIS this past week. While most of the 2025 Kitchen and Bath Trends were well represented, one noticeably absent contender was the glass block. Although I’ve seen multiple shelter magazines proclaiming its resurgence, it was nowhere to be seen amongst the KBIS exhibitors.
Overall, I had a fantastic time perusing the exhibits and making new connections with vendors & representatives. Now firmly back to reality surrounded by our picturesque winter wonderland, complete with a complimentary respiratory infection courtesy of our in-flight breath re-circulating ventilation system, I feel armed with a whole new sleeve of resources and inspiration to help bring some magic je-ne-sais-quoi to my clients’ spaces!!
About the Author
Founder of TouchStone Interiors
After a successful and rewarding career in military healthcare, Nathalie followed her lifelong passion for design into the next chapter of her life. Beyond her formal education in decor and design, Nathalie continuously seeks out new and exciting materials and finishes to best serve her clients. An active member of the design community, she volunteers with the Decorators and Designers Association of Canada (DDA) and is a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Her experience in healthcare and corporate management enables her to simultaneously design a space that caters to her client's physical and mental wellness while delivering a seamless project management solution.