The annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and the International Builder Show are a spectacle of all things new and amazing in the kitchen/bath and building industry. Every year, this combined event — also known as Design & Construction Week — attracts the best and brightest talent in the home building industry, from architects and designers to showrooms, press and social media influencers. And, of course, the team from Jennings & Co. was there, too! 

The show drew more than 40,000 industry professionals and 600 brands, including 100 new companies from the United States and global markets. Add to that the glitz and entertainment of a venue like Vegas, and it was quite an exciting three-day extravaganza. Not to mention the Jennings & Co. team enjoyed a wonderful French dinner at Bouchon, the celebrated establishment from celebrity chef Thomas Keller. 

Here are our stand-out picks from Vegas.

Past and Future

We were pleased to see Regal Brands make its official debut in its new corporate role as a family of exceptional hardware companies. As the parent entity of Nostalgic Warehouse, Grandeur Hardware and Ageless Iron, Regal Brands represents a modern iteration of companies that have valued traditions of excellence and artistry in their product lines. 

With a new elk-and-mountain logo in honor of their Colorado headquarters, Regal Brands is all about honoring the past and celebrating the future. Nostalgic Warehouse was founded as an antique store and grew into a company known for authentic vintage style and hot-forged brass construction. Grandeur Hardware is renowned for luxury hardware and beautiful transitional styles, while Ageless Iron has built its brand on hand-poured molten iron hardware that is affordable yet incredibly durable. 

Together, the three companies offered an impressive range of hardware carefully curated to appeal to a wide variety of design styles.

Glitz and Glam

In a town like Vegas, where flash and style are prized, we saw lots of brands go all out with glitz and giveaways. Ruvati was set to impress with great goodies such as wheeled carry cases and sparkly bags and a fabulous gourmet coffee bar. It also showcased a parade of beautiful sinks, with an emphasis on prep sinks and fabulous colors and finishes. 

The epiGranite Workstation sink was our favorite. It features all the functional attributes that have made the Workstation series so popular (deep basins, durable construction, sliding built-in accessories such as a stainless-steel colander and tempered glass cutting boards) and it comes in a gorgeous stone-like finish. 

The sinks are crafted from 85 percent crushed natural granite and colored all the way through in eight stunning hues, including espresso, urban gray and Catalina blue. 

Urban Faucet

We were thrilled to attend a private showing of some of Waterstone Faucets’ latest designs. Seeing those fabulous faucets against a backdrop of the Vegas skyline at night was truly incredible. The company’s Industrial PLP faucet is a fitting choice for urban-style kitchens with its minimalist vibe and touch of modern knurling. The extended reach C-spout can swivel 360 degrees, and the Positive Lock Pulldown sprayer switches from full spray to aerated stream with a simple squeeze. 

You can feel the quality craftsmanship in every piece — the smooth pull of the hose, the heavy solid brass or marine-grade stainless steel, the smooth operation of the handle. The PLP faucet is offered in 32 finishes and has complementary accessories such as soap and lotion dispensers. 

Waterstone is proud to manufacture its faucets in the United States and backs them up with a lifetime functional warranty.

Stylish Safety

The Evekare booth caught our eye with the debut of its new collection of grab bars with integrated LED lights. What a clever way to enhance the safety of the bathroom while still being stylish and trendy! These “nightlight” grab bars have patent-pending lights which are sound-activated — perfect for those midnight bathroom trips to allow users to navigate in the dark and provide a support handle when needed. 

The bars are also a smart option for universal design spaces to meet the needs of multigenerational households or those with mobility issues. Manufactured from grade 304 stainless steel, the bars can support up to 550 pounds. They are available in lengths ranging from 12 to 36 inches and come in five different finishes.

 Tiffany Retro

We are big fans of a retro vibe in the bathroom, so we naturally fell in love with the Tiffany vanity by Sapphire Bath. We especially loved the brilliant teal blue finish! The juxtaposition of the deco-style legs and the clean geometric lines of the vanity create a fun blending of vintage and contemporary styles. 

The Tiffany Collection includes vanities in four different sizes with long or short legs, and options for chrome or gold handles and a vessel or integrated sink. In addition to the eye-catching Blue Petroil finish, the vanity also comes in a matte white and graphite. 

Other thoughtful touches include soft-closing drawers and doors, and optional framed LED mirrors with anti-fog technology.

Invisible Drainage

QuickDrain USA drew crowds to its KBIS booth with its impressive WallDrain display. Designed to sit flush along the wall, this innovative drain is nearly invisible and brings a sleek, uncluttered look to the shower. The award-winning system features the brand’s patented Sure Flow System with a sloped trough that effectively removes all water and debris after each use for a cleaner shower environment. 

The system is easily installed and comes in three standard sizes up to 96 inches. The drain cover can be tailored to match existing ceramic tiles or stone to create a seamless effect. 

WallDrain is great for home use or commercial and hospitality settings and is ADA-approved.

Space-Saving Dishwasher

Making smart use of space is always a concern in kitchen designs, and we give top marks in that category to FOTILE Technologies with its 3-in-1 sink dishwasher. Featured as a Best of KBIS finalist for 2020 and winner of last year’s KBIS Impact Award, this fantastic design is perfect for compact kitchens often found in urban living. 

Engineered for maximum functionality, this unit includes a sink, a dishwasher using just 1.85 gallons of water to wash and dry dishes for a family of four, and a very cool produce washer that uses high-frequency ultrasound and turbulence technology to remove dirt and pesticide residues from fresh fruits and veggies. 

The innovative design is an ideal way to make the best use of limited kitchen space and promote a wellness-centered lifestyle. 

Personalized Color

Did we mention KBIS is a great place to get a first look at new product innovations? Victoria + Albert offered attendees a first peek at its new color service that allows customers to personalize the exterior finish of their freestanding bathtubs and basins with a stunning spectrum of 194 colors. Throw in a choice of gloss or matte finishes, and there are more than 28,000 options for tubs and more than 5,000 for basins. 

Victoria + Albert lets customers go as bold or refined as they dare with their color choices, from brilliant blues and rich reds to sunny yellows and luscious purples. All the colors pair beautifully with the naturally white ENGLISHCAST interiors that are durable and easy to clean. Each Victoria + Albert tub is painstakingly finished in multiple layers with a proprietary catalyzed paint that is polished by hand for exceptional luster and long-lasting beauty.

We’re looking forward to seeing what the year ahead brings in the way of new trends when the show moves back to Orlando, Fla., in 2021! To find out more about these products, visit their websites below.