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Human-Centric Design in an AI World | 649 | Experiences from KBIS and Why True Value is Found in the Removal of Friction

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I have a confession to make. I’m exhausted. In the best possible way after a week in Orlando, Florida for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. I have so much to share with you today!

My journey started on the Monday before the show began for a travel day, sound check and confirming the final details form the show. In addition to hosting the KBIS Podcast Studio again this year, moderating a panel on the NEXT Stage and recording conversations for the show, I wanted to help you prepare for the show next February in Las Vegas.

But Josh, next February is like 11 months away. That’s true, but here’s a secret. Come a little closer, it’s just us. KBIS is the essential American kitchen and bath show, full stop. It’s about learning, seeing, connecting and putting all of the pieces together to understand how the American market is setting up for the next year and the trending ideas that have staying power for the next 5-10 years.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

You can listen to Convo By Design for the conversations with industry insiders. If I were a designer, I would. I believe that this show tells the stories that you should really know to get a feel for directionality of the industry. Specifiers are the plus of the industry and the ideas emanating from the show this year covered the technology revolution taking place from an AI perspective, but there’s more. The kitchen is in the midst of a wholesale change. And it’s exciting to see it happen in real time.

Learning was a key theme this year. If you were not at the show this year, you are behind the curve. I don’t say this to scare you, I tell you this so you make the time to get to the show next year. All three days and plan to see as much as you can. But, I wanted to share some of the key ideas from the show this year. For additional details, check the show notes.

Luxury is the measurable outcome of thoughtful design—where performance, longevity, and relevance align to support the way people actually live.

  • Luxury is the removal of friction from daily life.
  • Luxury is durability aligned with intent.
  • Luxury is design that continues to perform long after the purchase is forgotten.
  • Luxury is confidence—in function, longevity, and fit.
  • Luxury is not what you spend. It’s what you never have to rethink.

The Kitchen as the Primary Investment

  • The kitchen remains the #1 homeowner investment nationwide.
  • Homeowners are willing to exceed budget in the kitchen more than any other space.
  • The kitchen is the most public and social room in the home.
  • It represents identity: “I’m a cook,” “I entertain,” “I host.”
  • Food equals memory; appliances enable those memories.

The Expanding Kitchen Ecosystem

  • Kitchens are no longer singular spaces—they expand throughout the home.
  • Secondary kitchens (sculleries, prep kitchens, butler’s pantries) are rising.
  • Beverage centers, bars, and wine storage are increasingly common.
  • Coffee stations and en-suite kitchenettes are viewed as lifestyle enhancements.
  • Outdoor kitchens are now expected in many markets.
  • Refrigeration appears in bathrooms (skincare), offices, and guest suites.
  • Multigenerational living drives multi-kitchen design.
  • Post-COVID entertaining shifted bar culture into the home.

Value Has Replaced Price as the Primary Decision Driver

  • Consumers rarely regret investing more in appliances.
  • Longevity, performance, and service support define value.
  • Sustainability increasingly aligns with durability.

Human-Centric Design Is the New Standard

  • Appliances must be intuitive without relying on manuals.
  • UX consistency across appliances improves adoption.
  • Technology must solve real problems—not create new friction.

Appliances Are Expanding Beyond the Kitchen

  • Refrigeration, coffee systems, and specialty appliances now appear throughout the home.
  • Multi-kitchen and multi-generational design is driving specification complexity.
  • Flexibility and modular integration are essential.

Practical Innovation vs Feature Saturation

  • Most consumers use only a small percentage of available features.
  • Simplification improves usability, adoption, and satisfaction.
  • Innovation must solve real problems—not marketing problems.

Appliances as Infrastructure for Daily Life

  • Refrigerators open dozens of times daily, making ergonomic design critical.
  • Dishwashers, washers, and refrigeration now integrate into behavioral routines.
  • Appliances increasingly support lifestyle efficiency, not just task completion.

Quiet Luxury: The New Definition of Premium

Quiet luxury shifts focus from visual dominance to experiential excellence.

  • Appliances integrate seamlessly into architecture.
  • Minimal visual disruption supports design continuity.
  • Performance becomes more important than appearance.

Identity & Evolution in Design

    • Designers must periodically redefine themselves and their work to remain relevant.
    • Personal growth and evolving priorities shape professional identity and approach.

Burnout vs Ambition

    • Burnout is not a badge of honor; it results from overextension and emotional labor.
    • Ambition aligns energy with superpowers and opportunities, creating sustainable growth.
    • Setting boundaries is essential to differentiate productive ambition from harmful overwork.

Emotional Labor & Client Management

    • Design work involves managing client emotions, expectations, and second-guessing.
    • Designers act as liaisons between clients, contractors, and teams, absorbing invisible pressures.
    • Managing scope creep and change orders is a practical strategy to protect both energy and profitability.

Social Media & Comparison Culture

    • Social media can amplify unrealistic expectations and unhealthy competition.
    • Designers often feel compelled to accommodate clients’ desires, sometimes overextending themselves to maintain a positive perception.

These core themes coming out of the show this year tell a story that cannot be ignored. The thought process is changing. More human-centric at a time when technology seems to be taking over. Interesting times.

Shifting away from that, I want to share two conversations from the show.

Brandon Kirschner | Azzuro Living – Control the Process, Control the Outcome: Inside Azzurro Living’s Design Advantage

Brandon Kirshner of Azzurro Living explains how factory ownership, material innovation, and hands-on experimentation are redefining luxury outdoor furniture—and why relationships and resilience matter more than ever.

Recorded live at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando, this conversation with Brandon Kirshner, Partner and VP of Design at Azzurro Living, explores what it means to design, manufacture, and deliver luxury outdoor furniture with complete control over the process.

Kirshner shares how owning and operating their own production facility provides a rare advantage in a crowded marketplace. This vertical integration allows Azzurro Living to oversee every step—from raw material sourcing to fabrication—ensuring performance, durability, and design integrity in extreme climates.

The conversation also explores the realities of modern product manufacturing: navigating global instability, breaking through to specifiers in an oversaturated marketplace, and the renewed importance of in-person relationships. At its core, this is a story about design leadership, material obsession, and maintaining optimism in a rapidly shifting industry.

Vertical Integration Changes Everything

  • Full ownership of production facility ensures quality control
  • Ability to experiment directly with materials and fabrication
  • Eliminates reliance on third-party manufacturing limitations

Material Innovation Drives Luxury Performance

  • Products engineered for extreme heat and harsh winters
  • Hands-on experimentation with rope, wicker, and aluminum
  • Performance and longevity are core to brand value

Design as the Core Differentiator

  • Industrial design roots shape product philosophy
  • Focus on original forms rather than “me-too” furniture
  • Design enhances lifestyle, not just aesthetics

Relationships Still Drive Specification

  • Trade shows like High Point Market remain essential
  • Face-to-face interaction builds trust and long-term partnerships
  • Education through sales teams and specifier outreach is critical

Resilience and Optimism in a Volatile Industry

  • Navigating tariffs, supply chains, and global uncertainty
  • Maintaining a solution-oriented mindset
  • Viewing disruption as part of long-term growth

In luxury outdoor furniture, control isn’t just an operational advantage—it’s a creative one.

For Brandon Kirshner, Partner and VP of Design at Azzurro Living, ownership of the manufacturing process is the foundation of everything the company does. Unlike many competitors who rely on outsourced production, Azzurro Living operates its own factory, giving Kirshner and his team direct oversight of every detail, from raw materials to finished form.

This control allows for something rare in today’s manufacturing environment: true experimentation. Working directly with fabricators, Kirshner explores new weaving techniques, tests material durability, and refines structural details. The result is furniture engineered not just to look refined, but to perform in punishing environments—from desert heat exceeding 115 degrees to unpredictable seasonal extremes.

Kirshner’s path into furniture design began with industrial design studies, where exposure to iconic modernist designers revealed furniture as both functional object and artistic expression. That perspective continues to shape his work today, where innovation isn’t driven by trend cycles, but by material curiosity and structural integrity.

Launching Azzurro Living in 2020 presented immediate challenges, from supply chain disruption to economic uncertainty. Yet Kirshner views volatility as inevitable rather than exceptional. Experience has taught him that adaptability—not stability—is the constant in product manufacturing.

Equally important is maintaining strong relationships within the design community. Trade shows, in-person meetings, and direct engagement remain essential tools for connecting with specifiers and building trust.

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, Azzurro Living’s approach is clear: control the process, push material boundaries, and let design lead. The result is furniture that reflects not just luxury, but intention.

“Owning our factory gives us complete control—from raw material to finished product—and that changes everything.”

“Design is the reason people invest in luxury furniture. Performance just makes it last.”

“You can’t innovate from a distance. Being hands-on with materials is where real progress happens.”

“Trade shows and face-to-face interaction still matter because this industry runs on relationships.”

“No matter what challenges come—tariffs, supply chain, geopolitics—we’ll figure it out. That mindset is essential.”

This is Cathy Purple Cherry – Founding Principal | Purple Cherry, freshly installed in the Convo By Design Icon Registry, we caught up at KBIS for a fresh take.

Human-Centered Architecture, Resilience, and the Responsibility of Design

Cathy Purple Cherry reflects on architecture as a lifelong act of care—supporting people through turbulence, embracing multigenerational living, rejecting trend culture, and using design as a tool for healing, connection, and growth.

Recorded live at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, this conversation with Cathy Purple Cherry of Purple Cherry Architects explores architecture not as a moment of visual impact, but as a lifelong framework for human support.

Purple Cherry shares her philosophy that architecture must evolve alongside the people it serves, especially during times of societal turbulence and personal change. Her work is grounded in human-centered thinking, emotional durability, and the belief that design can create stability amid chaos.

The discussion moves beyond aesthetics into deeper territory—resilience shaped by hardship, the responsibility of creatives to provide clarity and options, and the importance of giving back. Purple Cherry also addresses the rise of multigenerational living, generational shifts in work culture, and the dangers of trend-driven design thinking.

At its core, this conversation reveals architecture as both a professional discipline and a personal calling—one rooted in empathy, long-term thinking, and service.

Architecture as Long-Term Support, Not Momentary Expression

  • Design must serve people across decades, not just visual moments
  • Architecture provides emotional stability during uncertain times
  • Human-centered design is becoming essential, not optional

Growth Through Challenge and Adversity

  • Personal and professional hardship builds resilience
  • Lessons learned shape better architects and stronger leaders
  • Teaching and mentoring are essential responsibilities

Multigenerational Living as a Cultural Shift

  • Economic and social changes are reshaping American housing
  • Families are staying connected longer
  • Architecture must adapt to evolving family dynamics

The Responsibility of Creatives in Times of Tension

  • Architects provide clarity and solutions amid chaos
  • Design can serve as a “relief valve” for societal stress
  • Creatives help people reimagine how they live

Rejecting Trend Culture in Favor of Lasting Design

  • Trend cycles are often superficial and misleading
  • True architecture transcends short-term aesthetic movements
  • Enduring design comes from purpose, not prediction

Giving Back as a Core Professional and Personal Value

  • Sharing knowledge strengthens the profession
  • Service to others creates deeper meaning in creative work
  • Design is both a gift and a responsibility

For Cathy Purple Cherry, architecture has never been about creating a moment. It’s about supporting a lifetime.

As founder of Purple Cherry Architects, with offices in Annapolis, Charlottesville, and New York City, Purple Cherry has built a practice grounded in the belief that design must evolve alongside the people it serves. Architecture, she explains, is not about solving for a single moment, but about creating environments that support human life over time.

That perspective feels especially relevant today. As social, economic, and cultural turbulence reshapes how people live and work, architecture has taken on a new role—not just as shelter, but as emotional infrastructure. Spaces must provide calm, clarity, and flexibility, particularly as multigenerational living becomes more common and families remain connected longer under one roof.

Purple Cherry rejects the idea that architecture should chase trends. While the industry often focuses on forecasting aesthetic movements, she believes true design transcends these cycles. Lasting architecture emerges from purpose, empathy, and a deep understanding of human behavior.

Her perspective is shaped not only by decades of professional experience, but by personal adversity. Hardship, she explains, builds resilience and strengthens one’s ability to serve others. That philosophy extends into her commitment to mentorship, service, and giving back—values she sees as inseparable from meaningful creative work.

For Purple Cherry, architecture is both discipline and calling. It is a lifelong process of learning, teaching, and refining. And in a world defined by rapid change, her message is clear: the most important role of design is not to impress, but to support the people who live within it.

“Architecture isn’t about solving for a moment. It’s about supporting people over time.”

“Through suffering, we become stronger—and that’s what allows us to better serve others.”

“Anything in the built environment that can calm us and organize our lives becomes essential.”

“Design should never be driven by trends. It should be driven by purpose and people.”

“The meaning of life is discovering your gifts. The purpose of life is sharing them.”

KBIS Series Part One | Beyond the Price Tag: Defining Luxury in Appliances & Design

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Luxury can be expensive, but it can also be subtle, practical, or deeply personal. Sometimes it’s about choice, sometimes restraint, sometimes the way a space or product simply works better for you. Through thoughtful discussion, the episode examines how luxury shows up in appliances and design—through performance, comfort, longevity, and everyday ease—and why it resonates differently for everyone over time

This nuanced conversation explores the evolving meaning of luxury through multiple industry perspectives, featuring Devoree Axelrod, General Manager at AJ Madison, alongside industry expert Jill Cohen, Editor-in-Chief, Luxe Interiors + Design.

KBIS Podcast Studio Resources:

KBIS

AJ Madison

NKBA

LUXE Interiors + Design

SubZero, Wolf & Cove

SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite

Hearth & Home Technologies

Kitchen365

Green Forrest Cabinetry

Midea

Luxury Isn’t a Price Point. It’s a Performance Standard.

At the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show 2026, leaders from AJ Madison and Luxe Interiors + Design reframing luxury as durability, intentionality, and the ability of design to support how people actually live.

The word “luxury” has become one of the most overused—and least defined—terms in the design industry. At KBIS 2026, a live conversation featuring Devoree Axelrod, General Manager of AJ Madison, and Jill Cohen, Editor in Chief of Luxe Interiors + Design, set out to recalibrate its meaning. What emerged was less about price and more about performance, longevity, and intent.

For decades, luxury was shorthand for premium brands, higher costs, and visual distinction. Today, that definition is insufficient. The modern homeowner isn’t simply buying a product; they’re investing in how their home supports their routines, relationships, and future. Luxury, in this context, becomes the elimination of friction. It’s the appliance that performs reliably every day. It’s the kitchen designed around how a family actually cooks and gathers. It’s the confidence that decisions made today will still make sense twenty years from now.

Cohen shared findings from Luxe’s upcoming national survey of 1,000 leading architects, designers, and builders, confirming that the kitchen remains the single most important area of homeowner investment. More significantly, appliances are often the first and most consequential decisions made in the design process. They establish the spatial, technical, and functional framework around which everything else follows.

Axelrod reinforced this from her vantage point inside one of the country’s largest appliance retailers. Appliance selection determines infrastructure—electrical loads, ventilation, plumbing, and spatial relationships—making it foundational rather than decorative. When clients prioritize performance and usability first, the rest of the design aligns more effectively, both functionally and financially.

The conversation also addressed the persistent myth of the fixed budget. In reality, budgets are fluid, shaped as much by emotion as by arithmetic. Homeowners may begin with a number in mind, but that number evolves as priorities clarify. The role of the designer and appliance advisor becomes essential: helping clients distinguish between what serves their lives and what merely satisfies aspiration.

This shift is evident in how kitchens are expanding beyond their traditional boundaries. Secondary prep kitchens, beverage stations, outdoor kitchens, coffee bars, and integrated refrigeration throughout the home reflect a broader redefinition of convenience. These are not excesses for their own sake; they are extensions of daily life, driven by multigenerational living, remote work, and a deeper integration between hospitality and residential design.

Perhaps most telling was the reframing of luxury itself. Neither Axelrod nor Cohen defined it by brand name. Instead, luxury was described as ease, time, and permanence. It is waking up and having what you need within reach. It is durability that eliminates the need for replacement. It is thoughtful planning that prevents regret.

In this light, luxury is not what something costs. It is what something enables.

And increasingly, what it enables is a home that works—quietly, reliably, and seamlessly—in service of the people who live there.

Luxury is the measurable outcome of thoughtful design—where performance, longevity, and relevance align to support the way people actually live.

  • Luxury is the removal of friction from daily life.
  • Luxury is durability aligned with intent.
  • Luxury is design that continues to perform long after the purchase is forgotten.
  • Luxury is confidence—in function, longevity, and fit.
  • Luxury is not what you spend. It’s what you never have to rethink.

The Kitchen as the Primary Investment

  • The kitchen remains the #1 homeowner investment nationwide.
  • Homeowners are willing to exceed budget in the kitchen more than any other space.
  • The kitchen is the most public and social room in the home.
  • It represents identity: “I’m a cook,” “I entertain,” “I host.”
  • Food equals memory; appliances enable those memories.

Appliance-First Design Strategy

  • Appliances determine electrical, ventilation, plumbing, and layout requirements.
  • Major appliance decisions must precede cabinetry and finish selections.
  • Early appliance specification prevents costly redesigns.
  • Designers increasingly plan around cooking infrastructure first.
  • Professional appliance advisors play a key role in product education and innovation updates.

Budget Realities & Psychology

  • Budgets are rarely fixed; they are often unstated or misunderstood.
  • Clients frequently establish budgets before fully understanding what they want.
  • Designers must define the intersection of “want” and “need.”
  • Stretching budget in the kitchen feels justified because it is essential.
  • Strategic trade-offs are common (invest in cooking, scale back secondary items).
  • Transparency and cost clarity are critical in today’s climate.
  • Surprises—especially tariff or pricing shocks—undermine trust.
  • Professional designers protect clients from unrealistic expectations and long-term regret.

The Expanding Kitchen Ecosystem

  • Kitchens are no longer singular spaces—they expand throughout the home.
  • Secondary kitchens (sculleries, prep kitchens, butler’s pantries) are rising.
  • Beverage centers, bars, and wine storage are increasingly common.
  • Coffee stations and en-suite kitchenettes are viewed as lifestyle enhancements.
  • Outdoor kitchens are now expected in many markets.
  • Refrigeration appears in bathrooms (skincare), offices, and guest suites.
  • Multigenerational living drives multi-kitchen design.
  • Post-COVID entertaining shifted bar culture into the home.

Lifestyle-Driven Design Trends

  • Hospitality influences residential expectations.
  • Convenience and personalization outweigh pure status signaling.
  • Aging in place is shaping appliance planning (drawer refrigeration, wall ovens).
  • Durability is increasingly valued over trend-based aesthetics.
  • Remote work drives integrated kitchenettes and beverage access in home offices.
  • Multiple laundry setups reflect modern household logistics.

Status vs. Practicality

  • Status still influences resale-driven decisions in some cases.
  • However, emotional connection tends to be with category (cooking, entertaining) rather than brand alone.
  • Longevity and service reliability often justify premium selections.
  • Magazine-driven or editorial glamour exists—but practical function ultimately wins.

Role of the Professional Designer

  • Designers provide budget discipline and scope management.
  • They help clients make decisions faster, reducing cost creep.
  • They balance aspiration with feasibility.
  • Professional oversight protects long-term value.
  • Design is positioned not as a privilege, but as a necessity.

Market & Cultural Influences

  • COVID permanently shifted how homes are used.
  • Entertaining moved inward; bar and pizza oven sales spiked.
  • Multigenerational living increased spatial complexity.
  • Social media informs but can distort expectations.
  • Consumers increasingly research via reviews and digital channels.
  • Clients are more cautious amid economic and tariff uncertainty.

Guiding Principle

  • “Proper planning prevents poor performance.”
  • Early, honest, and intentional planning reduces regret.
  • Design is both a desire business and a service industry.
  • The goal is not excess—it is alignment between space and life.

KBIS 2026: The Road to Orlando | 640 | Innovation, AI, and Industry Evolution

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Just in time for KBIS this year, I sat down with Jason McGraw from EmeraldX and Leanne Wood with Flying Camel to talk about the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) to preview the upcoming 2026 event in Orlando. This conversation dives deep into the strategic shifts for this year’s show, including the expansion of the floor plan to nearly 1.2 million net square feet and the introduction of a new editorial format for product debuts. A major theme for KBIS 2026 is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the industry. From the dedicated “Technology” track in the Voices from the Industry (VFTI) conference to live panel debates on AI’s role in luxury design, the show is positioning itself as the epicenter for modern design workflows. The team also discusses practical “pro-tips” for navigating the massive Orange County Convention Center, ensuring attendees maximize their time between the West, South, and North halls.

You still have time to register and prepare for a groundbreaking event that will shape the way you think about your design business and sharpen your specification skills. And if you are going to the show this year in Orlando, please make sure you stop by the KBIS Podcast Studio and say hello.

  • The KBIS 2026 Footprint: With over 700 exhibitors and 100,000+ expected professionals, Jason McGraw explains the logistical expansion into the Discovery District (located in the Rosen Centre) and how to navigate the skybridges and shuttles.
  • Innovation Hour: Replacing the traditional “Design Bytes,” this new fast-paced “show + tell” session at noon on February 17th allows brands to present tactile stories. The audience will vote live for “Most Innovative” and “Most Unexpected.”
  • AI and Technology: Leanne emphasizes how AI is no longer a “future” concept but a daily tool. This year features a “Technology Activation” and sessions focused on AI-powered customer journeys and smarter design workflows.
  • The Best of KBIS Awards: The awards have expanded to seven categories, including “Sustainable Standout” and “Wellness Trailblazer.” Winners will be announced live on the NEXTStage on February 18th.
  • The KBIS Podcast Studio: Now relocated to the West Hall Lobby, the studio—hosted by Josh—will feature 12 live sessions covering leadership, luxury, and the “business of design.”
  • Wellness & Sustainability: For the first time, these two tracks have been merged into a unified focus, reflecting the interconnected nature of healthy, resilient living environments.

Applicable Links & Resources

3 Stories, One Major Event: Live From KBIS | 600 | Sharon Sherman, Jamie Gasparovic and Hannah Goldberg

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Today, we are getting in the way way-way back machine, back to February of this year for a journey to Las Vegas for KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. It’s funny to me that even though this was only a few months back, it feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened this year. But if you recall, in February, before protests, riots, big bills, big balls, tariffs, and all the rest of the chaotic shenanigans, there was KBIS. It was an extraordinary show this year. Part of that were the conversations that took place. I am going to share three of them with you today:

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

One event over 3 days, 3 conversations in one episode of the show today and very different perspectives on the industry and design in general.

Sharon Sherman | Thyme & Place

Jamie Gasparovic | Studio Gaspo

Hannah Goldberg | Hannah Charlotte Interiors

Amazing, right? Thank you Sharon, Jamie and Hannah. Thank you to all of the incredible people from KBIS, NKBA, Emerald, Flying Camel, Leeann, Rachael and everyone else who made this experience possible, and made it possible for me to bring it to you. I want to thank my partner sponsors who help make this show possible: Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home, a Best Buy Company, TimberTech, and Design Hardware. Thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing the show with your colleagues. Your support means everything, and it helps grow this conversation across the design community.

Make sure you subscribe to Convo By Design so you never miss an episode. We have more incredible guests, ideas, and conversations coming your way.

Please keep those emails coming. You can reach me directly at convoByDesign@outlook.com, and be part of the conversation on Instagram, @ConvoXDesign—that’s Convo X Design with an “X”..

These are complex issues that requires both deeper thought and immediate action.  I want to thank every one of our expert guests for their insights, time, and passion. We are surrounded by complex issues, are we not? That’s why I have been encouraging you to manage these complicated times. Because it’s real. It’s exhausting. But, from transition, comes opportunity. It is just a matter of thinking about it differently and finding the shiny, glimmering opportunities amongst dark and ominous clouds. So, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD

KBIS Confidential | 588 | Manage Client Expectations and Thrive

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This is the final installment of KBIS Confidential Creative Conversations LIVE from KBIS 2025 and for this one, we enter the Business & Trends track from the programming from the NextStge. In this session, we explore strategies for balancing client expectations with tight budgets and turn challenges into opportunities for growth in today’s ever-changing and challenging economy.

I moderated this program which was an honor and a joy for a number of reasons and the best part was the incredible group of creatives empaneled for this really important talk; Arianne Bellizaire, Owner & Creative Director, Arianne Bellizaire Interiors LLC, Kim Gordon, Lead Designer, Kim Gordon Designs and Lisa McDennon, Principal, Lisa McDennon Design. Because you are the amazing listeners and friends of the show, you have heard from Lisa and Kim on the show previously and while Arianne is new to the show, it will not be the last time you hear from her.

This conversation was extraordinary for so many reasons that you will hear for yourself. If you are a design professional trying to:

  • Navigate the daily changes in levels of consumer confidence
  • Upgrading your clientele
  • Matching the energy of your clients
  • Creating strategic partnerships
  • Putting your face, firm and story into the public to gain notoriety and promotion of your work
  • Prepare for wild price and changes in product availability 
  • Future proof your business

Well, the following conversation was created just for you. Enjoy

KBIS Confidential | 586 | Inside the Kitchen with Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS) featuring John Russo

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This year, KBIS brought a whole new energy. This new energy and vibe was brought on by a number of issues on the minds of both design creatives, their clients and the brands that hope to be included in future projects. I think it was also fueled by a discomfort. One that many if not most of us are feeling by the political chaos created by this new administration. Now listen, before you get tribal on me, hear me out. Regardless for whom you voted, when a new administration comes in, they get to make the changes they see fit. And it doesn’t really matter if you agree or disagree, it is a fact of life and elections have consequences. That was the topic of discussion that elevated above all others and I believe that this discomfort being felt has motivated many creatives to reengage in their business and recommit to to their craft despite the head winds headed our way. And you are going to hear some of those conversations! KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, in partnership with the National Kitchen and Bath Association is one of the few “must attend” shows. The event itself is 3 days of brands, talks, programming, events and happenings while combined with the International Builders Show in the same footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Every first-time attendee to the show is gobsmacked by the sheer volume of people and product. Even those who are veterans of the event seem annually surprised by the amount of walking, talking and lack of physical preparedness required to fully navigate this show.

KBIS is on my list of annual must-attend events for specifiers, designers, architects and design-build firms. Why? There are a few reasons for this and following is a comprehensive, possibly incomplete, but significant nonetheless.

  • Networking – If there is someone in the industry that you are hoping to meet, there is a very good chance that they are at KBIS. Even if they aren’t, you will certainly meet others with whom you can find strategic opportunities. The event itself is optimally conducive to unplanned “run ins”, scheduled meetings and introductions.
  • Surprise and Delight – Finding new products, materials and services are what makes the idea of a trade show so enticing. You don’t know what you don’t know and an event of this size makes the process of discovery fun and effective. The amount of product interaction over 3 days in over 1 million square feet of convention space is certainly an opportunity to find new products to incorporate into your designs.
  • Learning and Education – The amount of programming that takes place over these three days is significant. There are opportunities to learn a great deal about a vast number of topics in a short period of time making this one of those rare opportunities that matches your preparedness and willingness to learn equal to the number of opportunities available. In other words, there are more available to you than you could possibly attend.

We  explore what’s cooking at this year’s KBIS. John shares what SKS is most excited about, the can’t-miss products from the brand, and even reveals which SKS products he has in his own home. Plus, we dive into the future of SKS, discuss creative design installations, and get John’s take on the latest trends in kitchen innovation. Topics discussed include;

  • The SKS advantage
  • What is a Technicurean
  • Advantages to cooking with modern appliances
  • Product design
  • How SKS supports the design community through opportunity and education
  • Benefits of a national service team
  • Technological approach to cooking

KBIS Confidential | 583 | Everything You Need to Know About Extraordinary Outdoor Entertaining

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Outdoor living, the new frontier for everything from maximizing enjoyment of external spaces, outdoor entertainment and outdoor kitchens. New modalities generating a renewed interest in cultivated design of said spaces by some of the most talented creatives working today. From entertainment spaces to full blown ultra-luxe outdoor kitchens and everything in between with opportunities available for just about any (realistic) budget. Outdoor design is changing rapidly due to a number of factors. Those factors include modified use due to changing circumstances, client desire, increased cost of goods all in an outdoor spaces that are not as predictable as they used to be. So, we are going to chop it up a little bit and provide some practical solutions for designers, architects, landscape architects and design-build firms looking to up their outdoor entertainment game.

This conversation features; Jessica Petrino Ball, Director of Trade and Education | AJ Madison, Robert Bell, Landscape Architect | Bell Design

  • Outdoor living
  • UL Rated appliances for outdoor use
  • 4-season living
  • Appliance finish combinations
  • Multi-functional outdoor covered spaces
  • Project approach and design application
  • Partnerships and industry partnerships
  • Managing expectations
  • Understanding winterizing and appliance upkeep
  • Zones for outdoor living applications

KBIS Confidential: Kitchen ReVOLUTION or Evolution, You Decide | 581 | Christine Vroom, Arianne Bellizaire, Jonah Kilday

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The kitchen rEvolution is here…But is it more evolution or revolution.  Are designers developing contemporary kitchens based solely on new ideas or looking to the past for inspiration? Is it a wholesale revolution or a patchwork of ideas creating a whole new set of ideas and opportunities?. How is the evolving nature of kitchen design changing the way we think about the heart of the home? How are changing technologies and desired functionality reshaping the modality of kitchen use and design. We explore how new opportunities in appliances and technology have evolved the programming of a kitchen suite. How sous vide, various mode appliances, Wi-Fi enabled appliances, water saving faucets and features combined with revised floor planning have forever altered these spaces making the kitchen, once again the place where everything happens and from which life takes shape.

This conversation features; Christine Vroom | Christine Vroom Interiors, Arianne Belazaire | Arianne Bellizaire Interiors, Jonah Kilday | MK Workshop. Topics of conversation include;

  • Multi-Kitchen homes
  • Resurgence of butler’s pantry, scullery, wine bar, coffee bar
  • Increased appliance packages and programming
  • Programming changes in kitchen spaces
  • What defines luxury and how does that manifest itself
  • For show or hidden?
  • Definition of “luxury”
  • Triangle Vs. Zones
  • Inside out and the rise of luxury outdoor kitchens
  • Modern definition of function
  • En suite kitchenette

What a remarkable experience. I believe that KBIS is one of the annual must-attend events. Not just for all the reasons listed above, but so many others as well. KBIS is the pulse of the industry in America. It represents a true cross section of disciplines. You will see architects, landscape architects, designers, contractors, design-build firms, hospital, education, prison design specialists all looking for new products to specify and unique ways to use them. 

Thank you to the NKBA, KBIS, Emerald, Flying Camel, AJMadison and all of the amazing creatives who came on the show. The KBIS Podcast Studio was  just extraordinary. 

Thank you for listening to Convo By Design Presents KBIS Confidential. As always, please join in the conversation on Instagram @convoXdesign with an “X” and, if you would like to reach me with a note, show or guest suggestion, please do. Email me, convo by design @ outlook.com.

Until next time, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – CXD

KBIS Confidential: Luxe for Less | 579 | Achieving Perfect Results on Budget in a More Expensive Environment with a Cost Conscious Clientele

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Many if not most clients will confess that the reason they employ the services of a designer, architect and landscape architect is because the way they live is not congruent with the way they wish to live. What many clients don’t realize is that a superpower great designers bring to every project is the ability to reduce costs through product knowledge and application of skill. Explore the rapidly changing design space and learn how to craft that perfect environment on a budget through strategic choices, waste reduction, strategic customization and an understanding for how the industry is changing. Stay ahead of the curve and thrive. We will explore how tariffs, supply chain snags and inflation continue to drive costs as well as specification strategies to value engineer every project and achieve that desired look for less.

This conversation features Alena Capra, Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer | Alena Capra Design, Jessica Petrino Ball, Director of Trade and Education | AJ Madison and Tony Disilvestro Topics of conversation include;

  • Providing a Bespoke Experience
  • Value Engineering & Building Value Through Strategic Specification
  • Does Luxury REALLY mean Expensive? Breakdown strategic approach
  • Activating the Designer/ Showroom/ Manufacturer Partnerships
  • Brand Loyalty Vs. Mixing to Achieve Expectations
  • Psychological Approach to Design
  • Appliances Beyond the Kitchen
  • How Appliances Spark Joy
  • Using these and other strategies to raise design to meet expectations for less

What a remarkable experience. I believe that KBIS is one of the annual must-attend events. Not just for all the reasons listed above, but so many others as well. KBIS is the pulse of the industry in America. It represents a true cross section of disciplines. You will see architects, landscape architects, designers, contractors, design-build firms, hospital, education, prison design specialists all looking for new products to specify and unique ways to use them. 

Thank you to the NKBA, KBIS, Emerald, Flying Camel, AJMadison and all of the amazing creatives who came on the show. The KBIS Podcast Studio was  just extraordinary. 

Thank you for listening to Convo By Design Presents KBIS Confidential. As always, please join in the conversation on Instagram @convoXdesign with an “X” and, if you would like to reach me with a note, show or guest suggestion, please do. Email me, convo by design @ outlook.com.

Until next time, stay focused and rise above the chaos. – Convo By Design

Getting Real with Designing Women | 578 | Kim Gordon & Breegan Jane Live from KBIS 2025

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Patience. It’s hard to navigate around because everything is seemingly delivered almost overnight. Actually, it’s more like two days thanks to Amazon. So, after I return from a show like KBIS, I have hours and hours of content to cull through and produce. I want to share some of my process with you. While there is an overwhelming urge to publish everything right when I get back, I have found that a more deliberate approach to content deployment. I have actually found it similar to how many design professionals stage their work on projects. Interesting and something we will be exploring further in the future.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

 – Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Today, you are going to hear from two incredible designers and long time friends of the show.While at KBIS, I had the opportunity to speak with Breegan Jane and Kim Gordon. We discussed a number of topics that every working designer today should hear. It’s also not just about the work, the business or trade shows. Life lessons from two of the most honest and authentic people I know. And you are going to hear all about it, first from Kim and then Breegan right after this.

Loved this. Thank you Kim and Breegan. Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors; TimberTech, Pacific Sales, and Design Hardware. Amazing companies and great friends to the trade so please give them an opportunity for your next project. And, thank you for listening, subscribing the show and sharing with your colleagues. If not already subscribing, please consider that so you receive every new episode automatically to your podcast feed. Until next week, thank you for sharing this time together, until the next episode, be well, stay focused and now that it has arrived in earnest, try to rise above the chaos. – CXD