The kitchen and bath industry’s most forward-thinking manufacturers have once again been recognized for their commitment to technological advancement, aesthetic merit, and functional innovation. KBB has officially announced the winners of its highly anticipated Product Awards, celebrating the designs and systems that are actively reshaping how people experience their homes. Honoring products that successfully fulfill pressing market needs, the awards highlight groundbreaking achievements across multiple categories, culminating in the prestigious Kitchen Product of the Year and Bathroom Product of the Year titles.
This year’s competition drew immense attention from across the residential design and manufacturing sectors. Judges evaluated entries based on how effectively they pushed the boundaries of modern engineering while maintaining superior visual appeal and user-centric functionality. From resource-conscious plumbing fixtures to intelligent, health-focused kitchen ventilation systems, the recognized products reflect a broader industry shift toward sustainability, accessibility, and intuitive home technology.
Bathroom Product of the Year & Sustainable Offerings Winner: Kohler Anthem EvoCycle Hybrid Smart Shower System
First turning heads at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the Anthem EvoCycle Hybrid Smart Shower System by Kohler captivated the judging panel, earning high praise as a true glimpse into the plumbing of the future. The system secured both the Bathroom Product of the Year and Sustainable Offerings titles by successfully bridging the gap between trailblazing beauty and uncompromising eco-friendliness.
Judges were particularly impressed by the system’s dual-mode capability, which addresses critical global conversations surrounding water conservation without asking consumers to compromise on luxury. In its specialized Cycle Mode, the Anthem EvoCycle delivers up to 80 percent water savings. It achieves this remarkable feat through a sophisticated closed-loop process that captures, filters, and actively reuses water throughout the duration of a single shower. Crucially, this advanced filtration and recirculation cycle operates seamlessly, maintaining the desired water flow and temperature that users expect from a high-end luxury shower experience. By proving that sustainability does not require a sacrifice in comfort, Kohler has set a new benchmark for residential bathroom design.
Kitchen Product of the Year & Air Quality Winner: Hauslane UC-PS19 With SensAble Technology
In the kitchen category, the spotlight turned firmly toward indoor wellness and intuitive home automation. The Hauslane UC-PS19 range hood, equipped with proprietary SensAble Technology, claimed both the Kitchen Product of the Year and Air Quality awards.
Industry expert and competition judge Shea Pumarejo lauded the ventilation unit as a prime example of forward-thinking product design aimed at measurably improving indoor air quality. Beyond its primary function of clearing smoke, grease, and odors, the UC-PS19 incorporates automated features that significantly enhance everyday usability.
Powered by SensAble Technology, the range hood intelligently detects when a user is actively cooking. Upon detection, it automatically adjusts its fan speed and activates its integrated lighting. Furthermore, the unit features zone-specific fan activation, recognizing precisely which burners are in use to minimize operational noise while maximizing capture efficiency. Pumarejo also highlighted the societal value of the unit’s automated sensor capabilities, noting that they provide crucial accessibility benefits for individuals who may have difficulty reaching or operating traditional manual controls.
A Panel of Distinguished Industry Leaders
The rigorous evaluation process behind the KBB Product Awards is driven by the expertise of a respected panel of design professionals, architects, and industry authorities. This year’s entries were meticulously reviewed by four prominent figures in the residential architecture and interior design community, each bringing decades of specialized knowledge to the table.
Nicholas Blavat, AIA, serves as the owner and design principal of Deep River Partners, a luxury residential architecture and design firm based in Milwaukee. Blavat leads high-end residential projects with an acute focus on thoughtful, client-centered design and architectural precision. His perspective helps ensure that recognized products align with the sophisticated demands of luxury modern homeowners.
Paula Kennedy, CMKBD, CLIPP, CACC, is the founder of Timeless Kitchen Design L.L.C. based in Seattle. Kennedy brings a deep-rooted passion for specialized kitchen and bath design, with extensive expertise in creating functional, beautiful spaces tailored for whole-home living solutions and long-term accessibility.
Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD, the founder and principal designer of Studio Pumarejo in San Antonio, contributed her extensive knowledge of transformational interior environments. Specializing in complex kitchen and bath layouts, Pumarejo’s design philosophy centers on creating spaces that deeply impact daily life through intelligent spatial planning and innovative product integration.
Ebony Stephenson, CLIPP, CAPS, rounds out the judging panel as the CEO of Designs by Ebony, located in Newport News, Virginia. Stephenson specializes in residential design and remodeling across the Hampton Roads Peninsula, bringing invaluable insight into how products perform in real-world remodeling scenarios and how design can better serve diverse populations through aging-in-place and universal design principles.
As manufacturers continue to innovate in response to changing consumer lifestyles, environmental responsibilities, and technological capabilities, the KBB Product Awards continue to serve as a vital indicator of where the residential design industry is heading.
