C&D President Maria Frank Shares Her ‘Best of KBIS’ Products

When Cabinets & Designs President Maria Frank returned from Las Vegas, she was bursting with excitement over the new products and trends she found at KBIS 2016.

“It’s just such a huge show, and I try to see as much as I can,” said Maria. “I couldn’t wait to see what Wood-Mode would be showing at their booth, and I also had to see the new GE Monogram Pizza Oven in person. I tried to take a lot of pictures, and talk to a lot of people. It’s important to get as much out of KBIS as possible, so I took a lot of notes!”

The official list of 2016 Best of KBIS Award winners featured a lot of wonderful choices. The new Electrolux for Perfect Steam Washer is truly the ‘next generation’ of washing machines, and its high consumer ratings are impressive. View a full list of winners here.

Each year Maria brings back her own curated list of products and trends from KBIS—let’s take a look at what caught her eye on the show floor in 2016.

New From Wood-Mode

Wood-Mode caught Maria’s eye with not one but two particularly exciting new innovations. First, the introduction of the ribbon mahogany to the species options; when it comes to wood species, customers want more—not fewer—options to choose from.

“The ribbon mahogany is just beautiful,” Maria told us. “It’s important to see the new styles up close, and as usual Wood-Mode knocked it out of the park.”

In addition to ribbon mahogany, Wood-Mode also recently expanded their walnut options with new styles and finishes, so homeowners can create a custom, one-of-a-kind look for their new kitchen or bath.

GE Monogram Pizza Oven

“This pizza oven is incredible!” exclaimed Maria, flipping quickly through the photos on her cell phone to show off the oven’s sleek design. “The pizza tasted absolutely delicious, and the oven itself has so many settings—it’s really quite something. I think this is going to be incredibly popular with homeowners.”

You can tell GE really did their homework for the new pizza oven, which can reach temperatures of 800 degrees, and in some cases cook a pizza in as little as two minutes!

Towel Warmers

A small change can make all the difference in the morning—what if that small change was a warm towel when you step out of the bath or shower? A relatively inexpensive change ($150-200) can brighten up your morning, fast! Manissa offers a range of towel warmers in a variety of styles and finishes that will add a spa-like touch to your bathroom.

A Throne Fit for a King

Finally, Maria couldn’t stop talking about the ultimate high-tech commode from Kohler. The $6300-plus NUMI toilet has every bell and whistle you can think of, from water conservation to automatic lid and seat, to wireless technology for music streaming, it may just be the most luxurious seat in the house.

Stay tuned to the blog for more updates from our 2016 trip to Las Vegas for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show! And don’t forget to stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Houzz.