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
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.
Weexplore 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
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
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.
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 wasjust 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
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 wasjust 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
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.
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
The series is called KBIS Confidential – Creative Conversations LIVE from KBIS 2025. This 7-week series will be published every Wednesday.
Many of the worlds most innovative brands began with an “aha” moment. Moen’s “aha” moment came in 1937, Seattle when Al Moen’s old fashioned handle broke off in his hand. That moment led to the inspiration for the single-handed faucet, a revolutionary moment in plumbing and the beginning of a story that continues to evolve. It’s been said that industrial designers are a combination of engineer, therapist, artisan and sales professional.
Where does the next big idea come from, how is it ideated, modeled, rendered and selected for production? How are aesthetic, functionality and materiality selected. And how do these ideas relate to trends and market data?
This is the story of brand evolution through product development. Where science and engineering collide with the playful mindset. The anatomy of brand attraction and the importance of design while respecting the products that deliver our most valuable resource, water. featuring; Sam Cahill, Lead Industrial Designer, Moen and House of Rohl Alisha Snyder, Sr. Industrial Designer, Moen. Concepts discussed include:
Anatomy of the Moen brand
The value of Trends and market data
Selling an idea
How designs are ideated, modeled, rendered and selected
Market data sets
Geographic influence
From draft to showroom. The process.
Working with the design community
Generating a reaction
Brand evolution. What’s next?
Thank you KBIS for allowing me the opportunity to host the KBIS Podcast Studio presented by AJ Madison! Loved this experience. -CXD
In one week from today, KBIS will be hitting Las Vegas with the force and impact you might expect from the worlds greatest kitchen and bath show. Yes, there are others. And, yes, they are great… But this one is my favorite. And you’re about to find out why.
I have a personal connection to KBIS, the kitchen and bath industry show. The NKBA does a magnificent job presenting this event each year. For me, this is a homecoming, an opportunity to network with friends, colleagues, past guests and meet future guests, and partners. It’s an important show for the industry because designers, architect, builders, contractors, remodelers, all specifiers really get the opportunity to see what’s new, next and on the horizon. They have the opportunity to hear about ways the most innovative creatives in the industry are using these products in new and unconventional ways. Its a time for innovation and discovery. Surprise and delight in over one million square feet of convention space when combined with the Industry Builders Show.
Today, you are going to hear from Brian Pagel, Executive Vice President at Emerald. He oversees the residential and commercial connections portfolio which means he oversees the production of KBIS, which you will see, is an extraordinary feat that brings together the most influential brands in the world from appliances, lighting surfaces, plumbing… Basically, if it goes in a kitchen or bath, you’ll find it represented at KBIS. You also find some exceptional programming, I’m honored to be a part of that this year on the next Stage as well as the podcast studio. So when you are at the show this year, please do come by and say ‘hello’. You are going to hear all about the show, why you should attend and how to make the most of the experience. Right after this.
Thank you Brian for taking the time to talk, I’m looking forward to catching up with you at the show!
Thank you to my incredible partner sponsors, ThermaSol, TimberTech, Pacific Sales, Monogram 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 rise above the chaos. – CXD
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design. But you know that because you are kind enough to subscribe, download and listen to the show every week. If this episode was shared with you and you are not currently a subscriber, I would appreciate it if you would consider subscribing so you receive every new episode automatically to your feed.
For those who have been part of our little club since day one, you have heard me say this, and for those new to the podcast, I want you to know that I am incredibly grateful. I started this show over 11 years ago to bring a level of coverage to the design and architecture community that I felt was missing at the time. I am now and always have been a huge fan of the shelter publications in particular and magazines in general. I still have old copies of Dwell from the early to mid 2,000’s, copies of Metropolitan Home that I will still, on occasion just grab a nice beverage and go through the pages, waxing nostalgic for a time when the shelter publications focused on the art form that is architecture and interiors design. Not the celebrity, trend-spotting and ephemeral social media content.
For that reason, one of the things I enjoy most, is getting back to the meaningful events. I love attending and even just talking about some of America’s favorite design festivals, trade shows, happenings, gatherings and events. And since they are so different, there can’t be one favorite event and that is what I think is so special. They are all different. But there really are two heavy hitters, behemoths in the industry… KBIS/ IBS and High Point Market. This is not to take away from any of the other gatherings, and we will be covering most of those as well, but these two are different due to sheer size and scope.
This episode of the podcast is dedicated to specifiers everywhere who are venturing out for the first time to attend KBIS/ IBS. We have a double episode plus. That means you are going to hear from 2 designers and a brand about the KBIS experience in 2024. Their approach to the show and strategies they use for navigation to make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time and the fewest number of steps. Today you are going to hear from Angeline Guido Hall of Angeline Guido Designs, Kevie Murphy of KA Murphy Designs and John Weinstein, CEO of FV America, the American arm of Franz Viegner.
Amazing right? At the end of the day, there are certainly strategies you can use to maximize time and effort to see and learn about. It’s not just the things we see, new finds, materiality, touch feel, size but the people we meet, reconnect with and with whom we engage. That is where the real value lies.
Speaking of engagement, thank you for yours by listening, subscribing and downloading the show. Thank you for your emails to convobydesign@outlook.com with guest and show suggestions, or just to introduce yourself. Thank you for the follows, likes and commentary on Instagram @ConvoXDesign with a “x”.Thank you to my amazing partner/ sponsors, ThermaSol, Pacific Sales, Monogram, Design Hardware and TimberTech. All of these amazing brands live to serve the design and architecture community. They make a specifier’s life easier, I appreciate that.
Thanks again for listening. Until next week, be well, and take today first. -CXD
I’m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with an absolutely jam packed episode featuring some sound from KBIS and IBS 2023. For the record, this show was amazing, and you’re about to hear why…
Designer Resources
ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Episode 271 featuring Mitch Altman
Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!
The pandemic is over. With that broad statement comes some finer nuanced observations. Yes, people are still getting COVID, yes, you still see some masked holdouts but I would equate those to a lingering cough after being sick. I base this on the traffic I saw at Las Vegas Market, KBIS and IBS. It was jammed, the parties were full of unmasked, imbibing revelers all in Las Vegas to see what happening, and much was happening.
You have already heard some of what was happening at Las Vegas Market. If you missed it, check the show notes or podcast feed for links to episodes about the panels and the people. This is a montage from KBIS and IBS featuring brands and design talent from around the country who decended upon sin city to celebrate design and find inspiration from products and innovation. It is important to call an end to the pandemic but to remember all that we have learned. I will say this again, once something unprecedented happens, it is no longer unprecedented and the odds are that something like it can and will happen again. If and when it does, will we be prepared? That is a conversation for another day. Today, you are going to hear from some amazing individuals including; Hacker Kitchens, Breegan Jane, John Cialone, Top Knobs, Sara Malek Barney and more. So, let’s get after it.
Wow. Jam packed, right?Thank you Sara, Matt, Roz, Andeas, Breegan, Christine & John. Thank you Convo By Design sponsors, ThermaSol, Moya Living and Design Hardware for your partnership. I appreciate you and I love the way you support the design industry. For those listening who want to learn more, please check the show notes for links. Thank you for listening to the show. I know now more than ever, there are a lot of shows out there and you chose CXD. I appreciate you and I hope you found this episode to be a great use of your time because that is my goal. Let’s do this again shall we? Say, next week? Until then, be well and take today first. -CXD
