This year, the International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) took place simultaneously, providing building and design professionals access to new products and educational opportunities during the newly established Design and Construction Week in Las Vegas. Wray Ward attended both shows and recently shared five things we learned at the International Builders’ Show, as well as video interviews with industry leaders at both IBS and KBIS.

During KBIS, we co-sponsored a presentation on the latest research on kitchen remodeling trends given by the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI). Here are a few takeaways from the presentation:

• Fourteen percent of homeowners plan a major kitchen remodel in the next 12 months. The majority of those planning a major kitchen remodel do not have specific brands in mind for the project, particularly beyond appliances. This suggests plenty of room for improving brand preference in several kitchen product categories.
• Designers report that the casual/transitional/farmhouse kitchen styles are growing in popularity over modern/contemporary kitchens. While the term “transitional” is commonly used among designers to describe the style between traditional and contemporary, consumers very rarely use this term. Brands should consider a different term to convey transitional styles when communicating with consumers.
• Nearly one in three consumers who had remodeled their kitchen in the past year wished they had spent more money on the project. Manufacturers may want to do more to encourage both designers and homeowners to make quality product selections and design decisions before and during remodeling projects.
• Many homeowners become overwhelmed during a remodel with the number of decisions to make and choices available. Manufacturers’ efforts to simplify the selection process may be appreciated.

What are your thoughts about the findings?