Proving to be a recipe for success for the third time, Design and Construction Week brought together two of the country’s largest trade expos — the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builders’ Show (IBS) — at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whether they were attending one event or the other — or both — professionals from the architecture, design and construction industries numbered more than 100,000.
We’ll highlight some of our favorite products and trends from each show throughout this week, but for now, here are the winners from the shows’ own product awards programs.
BEST OF KBIS
The annual competition recognized the best in kitchen and bath, from tile and plumbing fixtures to appliances. The top honor, Best in Show, went to Electrolux for Perfect Steam Washer with LuxCare Wash and SmartBoost. This innovative laundry appliance currently is the only system that pre-mixes the detergent with water in a special chamber before the cycle begins for a deeper and more even clean.
Perfect Steam Washer With LuxCare Wash and SmartBoost from Electrolux
Best of Bath: Gold was bestowed upon DXV by American Standard’s Vibrato faucet. Previewed at last year’s show, Vibrato made noise as one of the first residential faucets to be 3D-printed. The weightless-lace design — which appears to magically discharge the water thanks to multiple waterways in the latticework — is now available on the market.
Vibrato from DXV by American Standard
Robern’s Balletto Vanity took Best of Bath: Silver not only for its sexy ballerina-inspired legs, but also its amazing, hidden storage compartments that reclaim space typically lost in under-mount sink consoles. (More on this one in our KBIS bath product roundup on Wednesday.)
Balletto from Robern
A partnership with bespoke concrete tile company Kaza proved fruitful for Walker Zanger, which won the Best of Kitchen: Gold for the Kaza Concrete collection (also shown at top). Coming to the United States this spring, the line offers bold, geometric and dimensional patterns — some existing, some brand-new collaborations — sure to make heads turn.
Kaza Concrete from Walker Zanger
Finally, Liebherr took away Best of Kitchen: Silver for its UPR 503 Undercounter Pull-Out Refrigerator. This built-in refrigerator is ideal for tight kitchens or living areas or as a secondary, cooled storage drawer. The unit optimizes space in the small footprint using its SoftTelescopic system of self-retracting and fully extendable tiered compartments.
UPR 503 from Liebherr
BEST OF IBS
Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced the Best of IBS product winners, which were selected from among 325 entries for nine categories including the overall Best in Show. The latter was awarded to WINBAG by Red Horse USA. It’s got a funny name, but this strong, inflatable bag product is a useful and extremely easy-to-use tool that pumps to fit, adjust, hold, press, install and lift up to 220 pounds (for applications such as window and door installations and heavy appliance lifting). In addition to Best in Show, WINBAG won the Most Innovative Building Product award.
WINBAG from Red Horse USA
Lowe’s Holoroom by Marxent and Culinary Preservation Centers by Thermador tied for Best Kitchen Product. The Holoroom is a virtual-reality visualization tool that borrows from video game technology for home improvement projects, while Thermador’s Culinary Preservation Centers provide complete customization for freezing, refrigerating and chilling, from wine storage units to fresh-food columns.
Culinary Preservation Centers from Thermador
Best Bath Product was awarded to Armstrong Flooring’s Alterna. This luxury vinyl tile product mimics stones such as slate and travertine but feels comfortable and warm to the feet and boasts sound absorption. Alterna is also well-suited to wall applications such as backsplashes.
Alterna from Armstrong Flooring
The ZIP System Sheathing and Tape by Huber Engineered Woods won Best Energy Efficient Product. The structural roof and wall system — consisting of panels and seam tape — integrates a water and air barrier to simplify the weatherization process of homes and installs 40-percent quicker than conventional house-wrap.
ZIP System from Huber Engineered Woods
With water conservation and reuse being critical today, it’s no surprise that the Wisy WFF 150 Vortex Filter by Rainwater Management Solutions was named Best Green Building Product this year. The system works to remove particulate matter from rainwater from an area of up to 5,500 square feet to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria before redirecting the water to non-potable uses such as evaporative cooling, toilet flushing, fire protection and site irrigation. While typically installed within underground piping systems, above-grade installation is also possible.
Wisy WFF 150 Vortex Filter from Rainwater Management Solutions
Best Home Technology Product was bestowed on Freshbrix, an app that culls up-to-date owner’s manuals, spec sheets, DIY tips and warranty information on all of the installed products in one’s home. It also connects the homeowner to local builders, contractors, manufacturers and retailers when repair or replacement is needed.
Freshbrix
Halo Smart Labs snagged the Best Indoor Living Product award for its Halo and Halo+ smoke and carbon monoxide alarm systems. Both are alarms with dedicated sensor technology that can distinguish between false alarms and slow- or fast-burning fires. Halo+ adds an embedded weather radio to alert to major threats such as a tornado or hurricane. Both use a ring of light (hence the name) and specific voice alerts as well as phone alerts.
Halo Smart Labs
Knotwood’s Aluminium Batten System won the award for the Best Outdoor Living Product category. The system replicates the look of slatted wood, minus the fading, cracking and affixing issues. The lightweight system is nontoxic, non-polluting, completely recyclable, termite-resistant and cost-effective.
Aluminium Batten System from Knotwood
Lastly, Endura Products’ Next-Generation Z-Articulating Cap Sill was named Best Window and Door Product. This self-compensating sill features integrated end-sealing assemblies and a unique cap to eliminate the need for caulking — saving both time and money lost on door assembly service and repair.
Next-Generation Z-Articulating Cap Sill from Endura Products