5 Trends We Saw at KBIS 2021

The first-ever virtual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and IBSx may not have gone off without a hitch, but it didn’t prevent manufacturers from releasing their new products.

In a normal year, KBIS and the International Builders Show would host thousands of industry professionals, but this year, the shows went virtual, making the viewing of new products, networking, and attending educational sessions trickier.

Nonetheless, manufacturers carried on and worked offline to connect with PRODUCTS to give us a virtual peek into the introductions hitting the market this year.

Here are five trends we saw during KBIS 2021.

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Customization/Personalization

Samsung's Bespoke

Samsung said its brand theme for 2021 will be creative, customizable, and connected. No other Samsung launch lives up to the customizable and creative descriptors as much as the Bespoke refrigerator collection.

These refrigeration columns allow for customization down to the type of ice a homeowner wants—which seems to be extremely important, as Bosch conducted an entire study solely on the usage of ice.

More appliance brands, such as Signature Kitchen Suite and Dacor, are making it clear that their appliances now come panel-ready to accept homeowners' personal style.

Dacor’s DacorMatch will allow homeowners to customize their kitchen appliances to nearly any color imaginable, the company says. Appliances are hand painted in California.

Expanded Interiors

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Cosentino's Dekton Craftizen surface in Umber

More homeowners are opting for backyards and outdoor areas that reflect their interiors and act much as an interior would. As interiors made its way to the exterior, more areas of the home are starting to blend together as well. 

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens says more projects are looking to use their furniture-like Elements cabinet line for interiors, especially projects that require extra durability.

Cosentino’s Dekton brand will be launching Craftizen later this year, a new surface collection that works on facades, but can be used on interiors. The stucco look-alike surfaces will be released this May in three different colors ranging from a terracotta red to a dark, edgy slate. 

With its roots in Europe, Cosentino offers products marketed for North America, but with a European perspective. One notable trend Cosentino noted was the seamless look between spaces and interiors flowing into exteriors, or rooms offering the same aesthetics.

Due to being one of the largest technology companies, Samsung has eyes and ears across the globe. Samsung noted a consistent look and feel are top priorities homeowners want, and the company sees this especially in Europe at the moment. 

Sustainability

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THOR Electric Range

Whether it be a product with a sustainable, eco-friendly angle or the company itself attempting to be more cognizant of their environmental impact, the idea of sustainability was a priority for many brands.

THOR debuted three sizes of its new electric ranges and wall oven, noting that more than half of U.S. households use electric appliances. The brand also noted that cities are beginning to require electric appliances.

Cosentino will release its first-ever carbon neutral collection to the market in April as well. The brand will offset its impact on the environment by donating to organizations who are working to preserve the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, some colors and surfaces will be made with renewable energy and materials.

Bosch claimed to mark its new era of sustainability with Energy Star certified laundry appliances. Signature Kitchen Suite’s new undercounter drawer refrigerator adds another Energy Star certified option into the mix.

Connected Technology

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Monogram X-Series Wall Oven

Ultra high-tech kitchen appliances can sometimes seem unnecessary, as the primary function of the oven should be to cook correctly, but GE Appliances found homeowners voice controlled their kitchen appliances nearly 100% more during the pandemic.

GE noted more homeowners than ever before are connecting to their appliances and using even the most futuristic smart technology available to them. One big tech aspect GE found, which influenced the debut of its new Monogram appliances, is that voice to open functions are very popular. With just their voice, homeowners can command their ovens to open. This launch will be available starting in April.

Kohler’s Tone Faucet line with voice connect can be purchased now, and the brand saw big demand for touchless products, from motion activated to voice controlled.

Samsung, Moen, Bosch, Dacor, and many other brands showed off their new connected technology features for every inch of the home from the kitchen to the bath.

Bold Color + Natural Materials

Cosentino's Silestone Sunlit Days 

More professionals and homeowners are seeking a break from the stark white and dull grays that have plagued kitchens and bathrooms for so long. Although those two colors remain the most popular, brands continue to note an increase in color.

This trend has grown during the last few years, but this year saw a spike in the desire for natural materials as well. If homeowners are less willing to jump into bold color, a warm natural wood can add another dimension to the space.

Furniture manufacturer Room & Board entered the bathroom sphere last year with the launch of their bathroom vanities and lighting. Still, the company says it has been eyeing the bathroom sector for some time, which allowed it to debut an array of vanities with bold, saturated colors and natural wood options.

Cosentino’s Silestone brand wants to bring bold colors to surfaces with its Sunlit Days collection coming in April. The collection features classic gray and white options, but includes red, blue, and green surfaces.

Samsung noted color has returned most prominently as pops and splashes. Blues, such as navy, are among the most popular colors seen, Samsung says.

Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens expanded the colors for its Elements line, with its fiery red Chili color, noted as its next “it” color.