As anticipation builds for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2027, members of the KBB Editorial Advisory Board are looking ahead to what promises to be another landmark year for design, technology, and industry networking. Recognized as North America’s premier annual event for kitchen and bath design professionals, KBIS continually serves as the ultimate backdrop for groundbreaking product launches, insightful educational sessions, and dynamic peer connections.
For industry professionals planning their itineraries, early registration is already open, signaling the official countdown to the massive trade event. To help frame expectations and highlight the emerging movements shaping the residential design landscape, leading voices from the KBB Editorial Advisory Board have shared an exclusive look into what they are most eager to discover, evaluate, and experience on the upcoming show floor.
Laura Eagan, President, Architectural Interiors, Buckeye, Ariz.
When interior design professionals prepare for an intensive trade show experience like KBIS, strategies can vary widely depending on current project demands and personal design philosophies. For Laura Eagan, President of Architectural Interiors based in Buckeye, Arizona, navigating the vast exhibition halls often begins with keeping an open mind, particularly when she is not actively hunting down specific vendors for a client build.
Eagan notes that she has always possessed a profound appreciation for the mechanics and underlying technology of new product introductions. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetic finishes, she frequently gravitates toward functional hardware, innovative hinges, and cutting-edge construction methods that improve the structural integrity and daily performance of custom cabinetry and architectural millwork.
Highlighting recent industry trajectories, Eagan points to the surging popularity of walk-thru pantry trends and the specialized engineering behind components like Harmon hinges as prime examples of why tactile exploration remains irreplaceable. Being able to see, feel, and physically interact with these mechanical elements on the trade show floor provides designers with an invaluable depth of knowledge, directly translating into smarter, more robust specifications in the field.
Furthermore, Eagan emphasizes that lighting technology continues to command her attention. She looks forward to observing how contemporary cabinetry vendors are weaving creative, highly integrated lighting solutions directly into their product ecosystems, transforming how ambient and task illumination is deployed within modern residential spaces.
Pat Gaylor, Owner, Patricia Gaylor Interiors, Las Vegas
For seasoned designers like Pat Gaylor, owner of Patricia Gaylor Interiors in Las Vegas, the allure of KBIS extends far beyond individual product specifications, encompassing the vibrant, collective atmosphere of the design community. Gaylor consistently looks forward to immersing herself in the creative energy that permeates the entire event.
Within that dynamic environment, Gaylor remains on a perpetual hunt for the latest sustainable and green products entering the marketplace. As environmental consciousness becomes an increasingly urgent priority for homeowners and specifiers alike, tracking eco-friendly manufacturing methods, non-toxic finishes, and sustainable materials at KBIS is essential for staying ahead of consumer demand.
Beyond product discovery, Gaylor highlights the invaluable interpersonal dimension of the annual gathering. For her, KBIS functions as an essential reunion hub—a place where longtime industry friends reconnect and new professional relationships are forged. Year after year, Gaylor notes, the premier trade show consistently delivers on its promise of inspiration and connection.
Rose Dostal, Owner, RMD Designs LLC, Hudson, Ohio
For Rose Dostal, owner of RMD Designs LLC in Hudson, Ohio, approaching KBIS 2027 requires a comprehensive, wide-angle perspective. Dostal is entering the upcoming exhibition with her eyes open across the board, eager to gauge the current trajectory of technology and smart home integration. As digital automation and connectivity become standard expectations within luxury residential spaces, tracking how manufacturers are refining these systems is a top priority for her upcoming projects.
In addition to smart technology, Dostal is monitoring the evolution of sustainability more closely than ever before. This focus is heavily influenced by her current clientele, noting that modern luxury clients are increasingly intentional about environmental impact and resource conservation. That heightened client mindset directly dictates the specific types of eco-conscious products, materials, and manufacturing transparency she intends to scout on the show floor.
Dostal’s approach to KBIS 2027 is also uniquely informed by her recent international travels. This past year, she had the opportunity to attend EuroCucina in Milan for the very first time, an experience that has profoundly shifted her perspective on global design movements. Consequently, she approaches the domestic exhibition with a renewed sense of curiosity regarding the transatlantic design dialogue.
Specifically, Dostal is eager to observe how American manufacturers are responding to the innovations introduced by European brands, particularly in the realms of advanced technology, rigorous sustainability standards, and avant-garde design. Evaluating where domestic manufacturers are currently leading the market versus where they may still be catching up provides the foundation for the critical professional conversations she anticipates having on the exhibition floor.
Ebony Stephenson, CLIPP, CAPS, Owner, Designs by Ebony, Newport News, Va.
While product innovations and technological breakthroughs dominate much of the conversation surrounding KBIS, the human element remains a cornerstone of the event’s enduring success. For Ebony Stephenson, CLIPP, CAPS, owner of Designs by Ebony in Newport News, Virginia, a primary highlight of KBIS 2027 will be reuniting with her professional community.
Stephenson is particularly looking forward to catching up with her National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Thirty Under 30 family. The annual gathering provides a unique platform to celebrate the continued growth of past award winners while officially welcoming the newest class of industry standouts into the fold.
From a logistical standpoint, Stephenson shares her enthusiasm for the show’s return to Las Vegas. The convention infrastructure and city layout in Las Vegas offer practical advantages that streamline movement across the expansive exhibition halls. For design professionals operating on tight, demanding schedules during the intense three-day event, these logistical efficiencies make it significantly easier to navigate the venue, maximize appointments, and absorb a broader spectrum of new product offerings.
Meredith Weiss, President, Merri Interiors Inc., Commack, N.Y.
As appliance manufacturers increasingly race to integrate complex digital interfaces, Wi-Fi connectivity, and advanced technological features into kitchen machinery, some designers are pausing to reevaluate what true innovation means for the end user. Meredith Weiss, President of Merri Interiors Inc. in Commack, New York, brings a refreshing perspective to KBIS 2027 by questioning whether appliance brands fully recognize that innovation is not always synonymous with adding more technology.
Reflecting on timeless design principles, Weiss points out that some of the most intelligent refrigerator features she has encountered throughout her career were not digital at all. She fondly recalls earlier design iterations featuring interior shelves that could be adjusted effortlessly via a simple crank or push-button mechanism, allowing users to customize interior configurations on the fly to accommodate bulky grocery hauls.
Similarly, Weiss highlights clever, mechanical storage solutions that fundamentally ease everyday domestic life. Features such as durable stainless-steel shelving, built-in lazy Susans, removable prep bins, and comprehensive storage systems engineered specifically around real human behavior and ergonomics remain just as relevant and valuable today as they were decades ago.
As she prepares to walk the expansive show floor, Weiss expresses a strong desire to discover whether any modern manufacturers are actively exploring these types of practical, human-centric innovations. After all, as the veteran designer aptly notes, making daily life easier through thoughtful, functional design never goes out of style.
