It’s that time of year again for OUR ANNUAL TREK TO KBIS AND LAS VEGAS MARKET 2023. What an exciting and wonderful way to kick off the new year, and what a jammed packed series of fabulous events! Meetings, industry connections, speaking engagements, design presentations, booth designs, dear friends, a great hotel, and so much inspiration made this year’s annual KBIS RECAP one for the books!

WHAT IS KBIS?

The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is North America’s largest professional trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design and build was held this year in Las Vegas; and with over 600 leading brands showcasing their designs and products, it has become the “New York fashion Week” for the kitchens and baths industry. It’s the ultimate relationship-building arena with over 50,000 attendees this year.

It’s fitting that this would be the last trip in February (our month dedicated to highlighting the importance of building and maintaining relationships) because THIS trip was ALL about connections. This year we spent the majority of our limited time doing interviews, speaking on expert panels, going to luxurious VIP brand events, and connecting with partners, suppliers, colleagues, and great friends.

Although we didn’t get to experience every single aspect of this truly MASSIVE show, we were inspired by the current trends, connected with brands, learned about new products, hugged a few dear friends, and had the opportunity to share our voices and experience with our peers.

WHAT IS LAS VEGAS MARKET?

Las Vegas Winter Market is a cross-category showcase that spans furniture, home decor, and gift. The market is open to professional members of the home furnishings, gift and design trades, including but not limited to retailers, buyers, interior designers, architects, specifiers, and purchasing companies.

Why trade shows are so vital to our business?

Trade shows such as KBIS and Las Vegas Market are vital to our business for so many reasons, but mostly for building and maintaining rich long term relationships and the pursuit of the most innovative, creative, and highest quality products we can find, to ultimately bring our clients the very best options for their homes and businesses.

Our visit to Vegas started with an early arrival in preparation for our speaking engagements at Las Vegas Market. It’s always such an honor and privilege to receive an invitation to share our experience with our professional colleagues and the design industry.

This year was especially fulfilling, as the presentation was an opportunity for me to share some of my many lessons learned from my many years in the field with some of the most brilliant and unique design professionals in the biz. There is no greater feeling than knowing that my experiences and “mistakes” can help others to be stronger in their pursuit of business growth and authenticity.

A PERFECT PAIRING OF WISDOM, JOY, EXPERIENCE, AND AUTHENTIC SHARING

So often panel and market presentations can feel a bit rushed due to the massive programming schedules and time limitations; which is why I deeply appreciated the opportunity to participate in this perfect “pairing” of sessions on two separate days that gave our audience the opportunity to capture initial overview on our presentation subject, and then ask more in-depth questions on the following day.

it was a candid, casual, and very professional conversation, created and presented in partnership with he Interior Design Society, Las Vegas Market, and the talented hard-working efforts of Serena Martin, Founder and President of 24/7 Creative Agency, as the creative event coordinator and pro marketing genius.

In addition to the impeccable planning, it was an honor to share the stage with my fellow panelists, Wendy Glaister, Lori Miller, and Kimberly Joi. All these brilliant women are so accomplished, and all so very unique. Great wisdom was shared, and the positive feedback was overwhelming.

In between the exciting panel presentations, meetings, and emails and phone calls with our team in LA, I was able to do a little (not as much as I had hoped, but a little, nonetheless), shopping for our clients, and we definitely found some wonderful things for our projects.

After a wonderful two days at Market, it was time to head to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show for a preparation check in at House of Rohl.

HOUSE OF ROHL

This year, I had the immense honor of designing TWO of the beautiful vignettes for the HOUSE OF ROHL; the SHAWS kitchen vignette and the PERRIN & ROWE luxury bath vignette.

“House of Rohl® is a portfolio of luxury decorative plumbing brands curated from around the world allowing you to tell your own story of a life well-crafted: Riobel®, Perrin & Rowe®, Shaws®, Victoria + Albert® and ROHL®. Each has a unique story that connects craft, place of origin and specialized techniques that deliver timeless design. Together they bring a richness of heritage, innovation and design to your kitchen and bath. House of Rohl and its portfolio of brands are a part of the Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.’s Water Innovations”. – Courtesy of House of Rohl

As you can see, the booth was packed, the champagne was flowing, and the energy was dense and passionate. This year the attendance was record breaking, and you could FEEL it.

My House of Rohl experience was extraordinary. There were in depth interviews, photoshoots, videos, media, and so much more.

A BIT ABOUT OUR VIGNETTES

I was assigned the vignettes for Shaws and Perrin & Rowe. THESE glorious products were the STARS of our vignettes. We strategically highlighted the following products utilizing the new House of Rohl Wanderlust collection of colors and inspiration. GATEWAY TO SERENITY was our assigned palette and the rich deep tones were the perfect canvas for our design around the products.

Gateway to Serenity offers a tranquil spectrum of colors ranging from purples to greens to greys that are reminiscent of the semi-tropical island of Kyushu. The palettes provide design inspiration for all elements of the bathroom, such as wall colors, cabinetry and décor, and reaffirm the brand’s leadership in the space.” – Courtesy of House of Rohl

Here’s a peek at our mood boards that reflect the materials and layout we designed to celebrate the following featured products:

PERRIN & ROWE

  • Perrin & Rowe Armstrong Collection Polished Nickel
  • Deco Pedestal Lavatory Sink in white
  • Victoria + Albert Barcelona 2 Bathtub in the finish color RAL7016 Glass Anthracite Grey
  • Lighting by Hammerton
  • Tile and Stone Slabs by Walker Zanger

SHAWS

  • Shaker Apron Front Fireclay Sink in White
  • Riobel Azure Collection in lack
  • Perrin & Rose Drawer Pulls in Un-lacquered Brass
  • Rol Pot Filler in Matte Black
  • Custom Lighting by Hammerton
  • Tile and Stone Slabs by Walker Zanger

HOUSE OF ROHL MEDIA

Click here to the stunning video created by House of Rohl from the show booth! You can also see all of the marvelous designer interview videos on the HOUSE OF ROHL website here.

Typically, trade shows provide NEW relationship opportunities and the opportunity to strengthen our long time connections with our industry partners and colleagues. Although this year was jammed packed with commitments, there were a few brief moments of free exploration.

The vendors brought their BEST GAME to the show floor and there was no doubt, (following the last few dismal years as a result of the pandemic), the industry was BACK; and in record breaking attendance. How wonderful it was to see and feel the excitement, creativity, and PULSE return to this very important trade show.

SPECIAL THANKS

My deepest and most grateful thanks to House of Rohl and the ENTIRE House of Rohl team for their wonderful attention to detail and their trust in me.

My sincere thanks to the Interior Design Society (IDS), Serena Martin, Wendy Glaister and the Las Vegas Market Team for their hospitality, thorough planning, and support.

As always, my love and thanks to Monogram Appliances and Ferguson Bath Kitchen and Lighting Gallery. The ever-generous (and SUPER FANCY) hospitality and ongoing opportunities to partner with you continue to keep me informed and humbled.

IN CLOSING

Friends, I remain in AWE of the work these lovely teams do every day to create and maintain such trusted relationships. I am so grateful to work in an industry that illustrates such positive perseverance, unwavering support, and product excellence.

Here are a few links that further celebrate the value of our trade relationships, the importance of trade show attendance, and how that value translates into better service for our clients.

OUR 2020 DESIGNHOUNDS KBIS RECAP | PART 1 OF 3

WHAT MAKES THE LARGEST KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW SO IMPORTANT AND SO SPECIAL

LAS VEGAS MARKET RECAP AND OUR TOP TEN TIPS FOR NAVIGATING TRADE SHOWS

As you can see, this work trip was all about the benefits of the long term relationships with our trade partners and professional colleagues, and how those relationships yield such beautiful fruit!

Photography Courtesy of House of Rohl, Serena Martin, and the Interior Design Society


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Thanks for stopping by today, and we’ll see you next time!

Blessings,

4 comments on “OUR 2023 ANNUAL TREK TO THE KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW AND LAS VEGAS MARKET

  1. Lisa Peck on

    Laura, I so enjoyed this post. Seeing your designs for Shaws and the House of Rohl in person was so fun! I agree that creating connections is one of the important aspects of attending these industry events.

    • Laura Muller on

      Thank you, Lisa!!I’m so grateful for your time and support! Hope to see you at HP this spring! xx

    • Laura Muller on

      Happy Sunday, Janet! Thank you so much for your kind words, my sweet friend. It was a great (and busy) show. I do hope to see you again in person soon! Perhaps we will connect at High Point! xox 🙂

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