The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) have jointly revealed the key findings of their comprehensive 2026 Whole-Home Design Study. The release took place during the HPMA’s Fall Market Keynote Series event, held at the High Point Theatre. The presentation drew significant attention from industry professionals eager to understand the shifting landscape of residential architecture and interior design.
The flagship keynote presentation, titled “Evolution of the Home: The Consumer Shifts Reshaping Design & What It Means for Your Business,” featured a dynamic live discussion between Bill Darcy, NKBA Global President and CEO, and Tammy Covington, HPMA President and CEO. The conversation was moderated by Kaitlin Petersen, Editor-in-Chief of Business of Home, who guided the panel through the core metrics, challenges, and emerging opportunities highlighted by the new research initiative.
According to industry leaders, the collaboration between the HPMA and the NKBA reflects a shared strategic vision. Both organizations aim to identify critical growth opportunities and understand the evolving consumer expectations that continue to reshape residential design across the United States.
“Our joint Whole-Home Design Study reveals how whole-home design is reshaping the designer’s role,” said Bill Darcy during the panel discussion. “As project scope expands, designers coordinate more broadly and increasingly tap into specialized expertise.”
The study outlines several major shifts in how residential design projects are conceptualized, managed, and executed by industry professionals. One of the most prominent findings is that residential design is rapidly expanding far beyond the traditional single-room project model. Data from the research indicates that 61 percent of current residential projects are multi-room or encompass the entire home. Furthermore, nearly half of surveyed designers report that project scope typically expands as work progresses. Looking toward the future, professional enthusiasm for larger projects remains exceptionally high, with 66 percent of NKBA designers and 76 percent of High Point Market designers expressing a desire to take on more multi-room or whole-home assignments.
When examining how these extensive projects begin, the study highlights distinct entry points depending on a designer’s primary background or network. The kitchen continues to serve as a vital gateway to whole-home design, but other living spaces play an equally crucial role in initiating broader renovations. Among NKBA designers, 78 percent identify the kitchen as the typical starting point for a comprehensive project. In contrast, designers who frequent the High Point Market are nearly evenly split between starting in the kitchen at 40 percent and beginning in living or entertainment spaces at 39 percent.
The research notes that client trust in the designer, combined with adjacent rooms feeling outdated or visibly disconnected by comparison, acts as a primary catalyst for expanding project scopes from a single room to the entire residence. As clients spend more time evaluating their living environments, the desire for a cohesive aesthetic across all rooms drives the demand for holistic design planning.
This transition toward whole-home design is fundamentally broadening the day-to-day role of the interior and specialty designer. Because whole-home projects require meticulous coordination across multiple spaces, professionals must collaborate with a much wider network of specialized tradespeople and industry experts. The study reveals that NKBA designers report working with an average of 10 distinct types of professionals on whole-home projects, while High Point Market designers report collaborating with an average of 12 specialized professionals to bring a cohesive vision to life.
As independent trade organizations working in tandem, another primary goal of the whole-home study was to qualify the evolving relationship between kitchen and bath professionals, interior designers, and the broader home furnishings industry. By examining the intersections of these two major design communities, the organizations sought to uncover how stakeholders can better navigate the modern marketplace.
“The partnership between HPMA and NKBA is a strategic one,” said Tammy Covington. “When we work together to reduce friction for our stakeholders, everyone wins. This study greatly emphasizes the critical and central role designers play in a project. The findings also highlight areas of opportunity for designers looking to potentially expand their services or reach.”
The leadership from both organizations emphasized that modern residential projects have become too complex for a single individual to handle entirely on their own, making professional partnerships and referral networks indispensable.
“No single designer can do it all, so building a strong network of specialists is essential,” added Bill Darcy. “That intersection is where NKBA and HPMA align, and High Point Market is the perfect place to foster those connections.”
The collaborative research also shed light on the current awareness and crossover between the two distinct member bases. The findings reinforce that while the NKBA and the HPMA serve different core communities, there are substantial opportunities to connect their respective audiences and foster mutually beneficial professional relationships.
According to the demographic and awareness data compiled in the study, 78 percent of High Point Market respondents report being aware of the NKBA. Conversely, 66 percent of NKBA respondents indicate awareness of the High Point Market and the HPMA. Engagement metrics also show potential for future cross-attendance and collaboration: 27 percent of High Point Market respondents have attended the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), while 22 percent of NKBA respondents have attended the High Point Market. Furthermore, the study notes that only 5 percent of High Point Market respondents are currently NKBA members, underscoring the reality that there is limited structural duplication between the two major communities, leaving significant room for strategic networking and membership growth.
Industry professionals interested in reviewing the comprehensive findings can access a summary report directly on the High Point Market website. The full, unabridged report is currently available to NKBA members and is offered for purchase by non-members through the official NKBA research portal online.
