Best of the 2019 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Cool products & hot trends to inspire you while designing your new home

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is a massive expo for builders, contractors, designers and other professionals who touch those two key home spaces. This year, KBIS was made even larger by sharing the Las Vegas Convention Center with the International Builders Show. Industry giants like GE Appliances, Kohler, Toto, Moen, LG and Samsung showed off the hottest technology for the home. There are some great new discoveries, too.

The following products took home Best of KBIS Awards for 2019:

Best of KBIS – Kitchen Gold: 48-inch Dual-Fuel Pro Range with Built-in Sous Vide, Signature Kitchen Suite

Call this a “Swiss Army Range,” because LG’s luxury appliance line –think Lexus to Toyota – has more ways to cook dinner than probably any other on the market. On the top, you can cook with gas, induction or sous vide. In its ovens, you can cook with convection or steam. That’s a tremendous amount of cooking power packed into one appliance.

Best of KBIS – Kitchen Silver: HydroTap by Zip Water: Culligan International Company

Hot water at the kitchen sink? No big deal; that’s been around for years. Filtered water at the kitchen sink: Also no big deal. Bubbly water from the sink? Well, that’s pretty new. Plus, HydroTap delivers. Built in safety features in this sink ensure kids (and adults) don’t burn their hands when they go for a soda at the sink.

Best of KBIS – Bath Gold: Flotation Tub with ZERO DIMENSION, TOTO

Flotation has gained popularity for its relaxing, meditative features. For those who want to splurge on at home relaxation, (since the list price is $19,269), Toto created a consumer flotation tub. This can definitely be the focal point of the ultimate spa bathroom, and may appear in ultra-luxury real estate listings.

Best of KBIS – Bath Silver: PowderRain, Hansgrohe

If you want a relaxing, spa shower, Hansgrohe created a new showering technology that feels like standing under a soft summer rain. The water stream gets divided into micro droplets that soothe as they shower, and is compatible with the strictest environmental codes in the country, so you can feel as comfortable with your water usage.

Best of KBIS – Smart Home Technology: Flo by Moen, Moen Incorporated

Leaks can create tremendous damage in a building, and often go undetected until they do. Flo by Moen helps you spot a leak long before it becomes an expensive problem. It monitors all the faucets and pipes in your home, including the ones behind your walls, and alerts you if it detects a drip or a leak. There’s also a smart phone app so you can see what’s going on anywhere you have access to your data. It also shuts off the water if it sees an issue, ideal for people who travel often or have second homes.

Best of KBIS – Outdoor Living: Kalamazoo Arcadia Series Outdoor Kitchen Cabinet, Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Entertaining outdoors has become an major living trend. The Kalamazoo Arcadia Series Outdoor Kitchen Cabinet is a hardy, attractive set of cabinets that look fabulous in the most luxurious outdoor kitchens. This handsome American-made cabinet line, available in 200 custom colors, ipe wood or stainless steel, is perfect for those with equally handsome indoor kitchens they want to complement.

Best of KBIS – Impact Award: FOTILE Sink Dishwasher, Ningbo Fotile Overseas Kitchen Appliance co., Ltd. DBA Fotile

The Impact Award is really a judge’s choice award that often rewards clever and innovative ideas. Combining a kitchen sink with a mini dishwasher is a creative way to conserve space, which is often at a premium in vacation homes, granny flats, mobile homes and even some condos. It can also be an add-on to a compact prep kitchen or butler’s pantry. The FOTILE Sink Dishwasher fixture-appliance washes produce, as well as dishes, which gives it added appeal for anyone who loves fresh fruits and veggies.

Best of KBIS – Best of Show: Blade 3D Printed Faucet, DXV by American Standard

The Best of KBIS is the most important award of the show, the best of the best. The judges once again honored a 3D printed faucet.

DXV released the first suite of 3D printed faucets, which won a Best of Bath Gold Award in 2016. In 2018, that honor went to Kohler’s Kallista brand for its 3D Grid faucet. In 2019, the new Blade faucet is sensor-based and sends its water stream through a distinctive opening, and took home the gold. The visual is quite dramatic, and would make for a handsome powder room addition.

Last words

While your budget might not accommodate a flotation tub or pro-style range, you can get inspired to embody healthy relaxation and wellness-focused cooking found in these award winners in your new home.