The synergy between architecture, design and building innovation comes to life at the combined International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) for 2025 in Las Vegas. Known as Design & Construction Week, attendance was about 120,000 with 1,800 exhibitors (of which 200 were international).
The two shows are a comprehensive platform for professionals to explore cutting-edge trends, technologies and materials in the building industry. For architects and designers seeking inspiration, networking and professional growth, IBS and KBIS represent invaluable opportunities. Moreover, it’s giving U.S. design trade shows — especially ICFF — a run for their money as more and more high-end brands choose that show over ICFF or even NeoCon. For example, Ceramic Tiles of Italy which has abandoned ICFF, exhibited at IBS for the first time with almost two dozen manufacturers. And high-end luxury European brands like Cosentino, Laufen, Smeg, and Bertazzoni all exhibit with huge booths containing dynamic displays and interactive exhibits that engage attendees in highly-curated immersive experiences that go beyond traditional trade shows.
A Hub of Innovation and Inspiration
IBS and KBIS stand as beacons of innovation, showcasing the latest in residential and commercial construction products and design. From sustainable building materials to the newest smart-home technologies, these shows offer a sprawling array of exhibits. Architects and designers attending the shows can expect to see firsthand the future of building and interior design, which can significantly influence their upcoming projects and design philosophies.
For architects and designers, understanding and anticipating industry trends is crucial. IBS and KBIS serve as trend barometers, offering insights into what materials, technologies and designs will shape the future of building and design. By attending these shows, professionals can adapt their practices and designs to meet emerging demands and expectations, keeping their work relevant and forward-thinking.
Because the shows are in February, it gives many brands an opportunity to preview or debut their products with a North American focus. Indeed, it’s a great place for inspiration for colors, materials and trends, and there’s a lot of crossover appeal for products that work for both residential and commercial markets — Wilsonart, Mohawk, Shaw and Armstrong — all have a presence in one way or another at the shows. You’ll see true innovations that cater to the latest design trends, sustainability standards and technological advancements, making them great examples for those looking to source high-quality and adaptable solutions for both home and office environments.
Industry experts and leading brands at the shows highlighted how spaces are evolving to be more stylish, personalized, tech-integrated and eco-conscious than ever. Here are some of the highlights:
Look for Monochromatic Color for Kitchens
A notable trend at KBIS 2025 was the refinement of classic kitchen elements. All-white kitchens will never go away, but manufacturers are betting on the move to bright, saturated, single-hue designs in warm blues, deep greens, terracotta, or other tones for a bold yet unified look that are often balanced with warm neutrals for a natural, inviting feel. Look out for richly-hued cabinetry and backsplashes as the new anchor statement in kitchen spaces. And when it comes to cabinets, (look out) for the skinny shaker cabinet, an updated twist on the traditional shaker door that uses thinner frame profiles to create a clean, minimalist look.
We are also seeing manufacturers using materials that bring in warmth and texture. For example, there are new porcelain slab countertops that mimic natural stone, and we are seeing the use of large-format porcelain surfaces that offer the look of marble or travertine with improved durability and sustainability. This emerging alternative to quartz was found at multiple booths. One representative for Kohler pointed out that its new exquisite, hand-carved stone tub “would not be out of place in a castle.” From Kallista, the tub is crafted from Rosso Levanto marble, a striking stone with a rich burgundy hue and exquisite white veining. Stones available will be White Carrara and Nero Marquina.
Cosentino previewed the groundbreaking Q0 collection, which is made using its brand-new Inlayr Design Technology. Composed of up to 90% recycled content, the innovative surface material launches this summer and uses state-of-the-art robotization to create a hyper realistic finish with deep veining.
Toto’s new rectangular Color Vessel sinks in vibrant color hues demanded attention were inspired by nature and the changing of the seasons and will be available in summer 2025. As designers demand alternatives to the traditional gray and white bathrooms, these Toto introductions offer statement pieces that elevate any interior space.
Kast’s colorful Orme collection stood out for marrying bold colors with ridged finishes. Handcrafted in Nottinghamshire, England, using locally sourced Derbyshire limestone, the column-like pedestal basin — topped by a round concrete bowl — is offered in a rainbow of 28 mix-and-matchable hues, with your choice of a ridged or smooth finish and an optional vanity shelf. A strong feeling of retro-luxe permeated the halls. Smeg’s retro-style refrigerators in the shape of a car trunk, perfectly encapsulated this mood, which were decked out in bold, exuberant colors like shamrock green, white and cherry red.
Attendees also saw a resurgence of 1980s-inspired details like bullnose-edged countertops and curved island corners but executed in updated ways. One KBIS exhibit showed a triple bullnose edge on a counter, a nostalgic, curvy detail, paired with modern finishes. Such touches add character and softness, proving that curves and arches are still popular features in kitchens and baths alike.
Textured Surfaces and Patterns
To further personalize kitchen design, many brands are incorporating rich textures and patterns. The luxurious, 80’s tambour and reeded surfaces (characterized by fluted or slatted wood details) were a significant style trend in cabinetry and furniture at the show, and no doubt we will be seeing in office cabinetry someday soon. For example, a mantal by Ann Sacks, evoking a British deco feeling, was clad in tamboured ceramic, adding dimension and a handcrafted feel. The pattern was seen again in Ruvati’s Fluted bathroom sink, giving an elegant and luxurious feeling to the product.
When it comes to tile, the idea of more is more was abundant everywhere: Artistic Tile partnered with Donghia (a textile, wallcovering and furniture line under Kravet) to reimagine two of their fabric designs into show-stopping mosaics.
Strong Showings of Metals and Finishes
In terms of hardware and fixtures, brass has firmly re-established itself as the go-to metal tone in 2025. Luxury kitchen designs frequently featured brass cabinet knobs, faucets, and even appliances with brass accents. Take a look at Brizo’s stunning Frank Lloyd Wright Kitchen collection: Building upon its partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, this collection channels the architect’s influence and design philosophy and the range offers split finishes, including striking combinations like Black Onyx/Wood and Luxe Gold/Wood, where each piece blends natural elements with functional artistry, creating a kitchen experience that beautifully honors Wright’s vision. And while industry rumors talked about polished chrome making a comeback, the consensus at the show was that warm metals like brass still reign supreme.
The Smart Kitchen is even Smarter
Appliances at KBIS 2025 were smarter, more customizable, and more design-friendly than ever. A prime example was LG’s showcase of its Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS) appliances, including a new 36-inch cook-zone-free induction range — essentially a stove with a full-surface induction cooktop that allows cookware to be placed anywhere, without defined burners. This range (and its companion wall oven) features Gourmet AI cooking technology, which analyzes the ingredients you have and suggests optimal recipes and cooking modes for a gourmet result. Here, AI integration can assist chefs in discovering new ways to use their kitchen tech. The SKS manufacturers were calling these concept kitchens, “Technicurean” – whereby kitchens seamlessly blend high-tech features with culinary artistry.
Another attention-grabbing appliance was GE’s new Profile Smart Grind & Brew coffee maker, essentially a personal barista for the home or office. This podless, smart coffee machine grinds beans fresh for each cup and adjust brew methods on the fly, and it’s powered by SmartHQ’s AI Coffee Assistant, a voice-interactive system in GE’s app that lets users customize their brew, schedule brewing times, and even ask questions to tweak their coffee to perfection. This level of personalization – even learning each user’s preferred coffee style – underscores a wider trend: where kitchen appliances are using AI and connectivity to adapt to individual preferences. The kitchen of the future will be smarter and more tailored to users’ needs than ever before.
More Voice Control, Touchless Tech and Intuitive Gadgets
As our interior spaces become smarter and smarter, we’re seeing more touchless or voice-activated products that reduce the need for a switch or a knob, and instead, motion-sensor faucets and voice-controlled showers are increasingly common. For instance, Moen’s latest smart faucet allows users to adjust water temperature with simple hand waves — one direction for hot, another for cold — and can dispense precise amounts via Alexa or Google Assistant commands. Another great example is Kohler’s Anthem+ smart shower system which lets homeowners pre-program their perfect combination of water temperature and spray outlets, all controllable through an app or voice, delivering a personalized spa-like experience at home. These advancements show how AI integration and Internet of Things are making home tech more intuitive; the technology adapts to people, rather than people having to adapt to the technology.
Manufacturers are also remembering that products can be fun. Just look at Laufen’s VAL Luminex bathtub, a ground-breaking creation made with the most cutting-edge technology with high-end LED panel to deliver immersive light and color experiences.
Spaces that are Safer and More Secure
Home security is growing more sophisticated and proactive. Gentex’s new “Place” smart alarm system, is a great example, which reimagines smoke detectors as multi-functional safety hubs. Each smoke alarm is tailored with extra features of different parts of the house. So for example, The Kitchen unit alarm not only detects smoke and carbon monoxide, but also has sensors for gas leaks and harmful fumes, and the nursery unit version, adds air quality monitoring, a built-in white noise speaker to soothe babies, and a 1080p camera with two-way audio to double as a baby monitor. We also saw dozens of innovative examples with smart home security systems integrating smart door locks and video doorbells with AI facial recognition.
New Building Design Innovations for Today’s Living
Beyond specific products or single-room trends, IBS 2025 highlighted several overarching innovations in residential design and construction. These big-picture trends are shaping how homes are conceptualized and built, reflecting new lifestyles and technological possibilities.
Viewrail’s Flight Stack is an excellent example of the innovative use of a building material. This stair system that incorporates a closed riser design incorporated with completely hidden stringers. Available with dimmable, dotless LED lighting for the treads and handrails provide discreet illumination, the stairs are custom crafted for each installation.
Indoor-Outdoor Living Spaces Remain Strong
Outdoor living categories remain strong and steady five years after the pandemic inspired a newfound interest in spending more time outside. Many companies are getting into the game, including luxury refrigeration brand, True Residential. Known for its trusty refrigeration, it has teamed up with Caliber, a leader in outdoor grills, for a grill that combines both companies’ areas of expertise. The Rockwell Social Grill, designed by David Rockwell, is available in four sizes and offered in stainless steel or any of True Residential’s curated colors, like their new Olive color.
A clear architectural trend is the blurring of lines between indoors and outdoors. Home designs are increasingly incorporating features that enable a fluid indoor-outdoor living experience, a lifestyle element that gained even more popularity in the wake of people spending more time at home. At IBS, one could see folding glass wall systems, retractable screens and innovative structural systems that allow for entire corners of a home to disappear for an unobstructed indoor-outdoor flow. NanaWall unveiled its Generation 4 MultiSlide Glass Wall, Tilt Turn Window Series and Individual Swing Door that provide uniform glass lines and matching frames for all Generation 4 products.
Wellness-focused spaces are another big trend to complement the outdoor living trend. But it’s not just about bringing the inside out, but rather also taking the outside in. Think home spas with saunas and cold plunge tubs installed indoors. Klafs’s S11 sauna by Studio F.A. Porsche transforms any indoor space into a chic spa that comes with both freestanding and customizable built-in options. The cabin-like design has a definite Japandi-like feeling making you feel like you’re relaxing sand rejuvenating somewhere in Japan or Finland, with its state-of-the-art light and sound system.
As Design & Construction Week 2025 wraps up, it’s clear that the convergence of innovation, design, and technology at IBS and KBIS has set new standards for the industry. From the bold reimagining of color and textures in kitchen and bath design to the integration of smart technology into every corner of the home, the shows have showcased not just the future of residential and commercial environments, but have provided a roadmap for sustainable, efficient and sophisticated living spaces. For those committed to staying at the forefront of architectural and design innovation, IBS and KBIS remain invaluable resources that continue to inspire and challenge the norms of building and design. The next iteration of KBIS and IBS moves to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. on February 17-19, 2026.