My Rookie Trip to Las Vegas for KBIS as a Design Hound - Part One

Late last year I received the amazing news that I'd been selected as one of the design hounds who would have an all-expense paid trip to the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show aka KBIS to scope out all the latest and greatest in the world of kitchen and bathroom designs. This was an incredible opportunity curated by Modenus, which connects brands directly with design influencers to get their product seen by people who will actually use them one day. 



Our sponsors on this whirlwind experience would be Nobilia (a German manufacturer or modern kitchen cabinetry), Mr. Steam (the leader in all things steam for an exceptional shower and spa experience), Thermador (the appliance brand that created the wall oven), Compac (leader in the quartz and solid surface industry) and Control4, the company revolutionizing smart home technology.  
Over the course of four days we would swoon over some pretty transformative new designs in the industry and as a bonus, make some true connections with industry leaders and fellow design hounds, fueled by exceptional meals and lots of wine and spirits. If you missed all the hoopla while I bombarded you with coverage last month, you can still view my behind the scenes excursions of the trip via the KBISDesignhounds highlight in my Instagram stories. 

But here's a photo recap of our experience. Let's Go! 




After geeking out over the Vegas skyline we mixed and mingled at the welcome mixer. 

Influencers, and swag bags who dat! 

 

Fully rested and kinda hydrated we hit the Vegas streets the next day and my heart would be aflutter for hours. Let's go!

Kitchens and bathrooms are my jam so my heart skipped many beats when we saw the innovative ways Compac had engineered their quartz and the new ways to integrate slabs including this geometric shaped island made by molding several slabs together. This statement island and other pieces unveiled at KBIS are the brainchild of designer and international artist Arik Levy. The Spanish brand worked closely with Levy who created the Ice Black™ and Ice White™ designs for the Ice of Genesis collection, a collection which has set a milestone in the world of quartz.

But it was this tub that stole the show. Carved from one piece of slab, the design showed the endless possibilities of working with quartz to make a statement. And by statement I mean, how to fit three design hounds in a tub!

I think it's safe to say we are attentive students who now know a LOT about quartz and how it can be manipulated to make our designs as amazing as can be. 

Our next stop was Thermador, so daring and bold with their designs that they kinda tell ya to do you! Literally. 

The appliance brand is loaded with innovative appliances including wi-fi activated ovens, a new line of wine refrigerators and just in case you party too hard and serve too much wine, a dishwasher dedicated to glassware with special lipstick removal capabilities. Genius. 

Okay. We did a LOT during this whirlwind trip so stay tuned for more of my recap tomorrow. But first, a selfie because #designhounds

My Designer's Crush Series - Black and Brass

It's been the year of black and brass for us and we can't say we're mad at that. 

Here's a recap of how much love we've showed these finishes this year, along with loads of links for you to finally shop!

Brass pendant lights have truly become the new lighting bling for kitchens.

Mix a few for an unexpected but dramatic cluster.  

Or go with two oversized pendants instead of the usual 3 light configuration. 

Shop our brass pendant looks here  and here 

But lord if our hearts haven't skipped some major beats with all the bodaciously black and brass tile options that have flooded the tile streets!

Shop our black and brass tile looks here and here

Not to be outdone are the faucets and pot fillers of the world. I was also surprised that so many followers had never heard of a pot filler - a faucet installed directly above your stove so you can fill your pots with water without shuttling back and forth to the sink - yes they are a thing!

Shop our faucet and pot filler looks here  here  here and here 

Every kitchen needs those finishing touches, the jewelry if you will of the kitchen, and we've definitely had some fun with our cabinet hardware this year. 

Shop our cabinet hardware looks here and here 

And last but not least, let's have several seats and pay homage to these counter height stools (not to be confused with bar height stools used for taller islands/peninsulas). These stools have been the items you've requested the most details on in our comments and DMs.

From brass with black leather to wood and pink! 

Yes pink, we've had some major fun this year with helping our clients sit in style. 

 And that's all folks. Go forth and shop the looks here, here and here 

And have a wonderful and safe Labor Day Weekend.