One of the oddities of the U.S. health care system is the fact that our eyes and teeth aren’t covered by the health insurance that helps us care for every other part of our bodies — as if being able to see and eat are tangential to our lives. There are lots of reasons for this, from how dentistry and optometry developed as professions to insurers’ attempts at containing costs.
But it’s still weird, right?
The separation of kitchen and bath from the rest of the home furnishings industry has always struck me as similarly odd.
What are more essential to the home than the kitchen and bath?
Yet the kitchen and bath sector has separate retail showrooms, independent trade shows and designers who specialize in those spaces.
Again, there are reasons for this separation, including the distinct channels that produce items like countertops and fixtures, and the contracting skills needed to install appliances and cabinetry.
The discrete kitchen and bath ecosystem works far better than separate dental/vision insurance. But I’m still delighted that with this month’s High Point Market, kitchen and bath is making another step toward integration with the broader home furnishings industry as the National Kitchen & Bath Association (which operates the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) debuts a new, dedicated space at High Point Market, Oct. 25-29.
“The new NKBA space at High Point Market embodies the evolution of kitchen and bath into whole home design,” says Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA | KBIS. “It’s a dynamic destination for discovering the latest trends — across furnishings, surfaces, appliances and more — and understanding how the convergence of these elements is shaping a more connected and powerful design industry.”
On the first floor of Broad Hall and with a connected outdoor area, the NKBA space will showcase bath, indoor/outdoor kitchen, appliance and lighting brands in full-scale vignettes. The brand spaces were designed by Kerrie Kelly, an NKBA board member and CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio.
The new NKBA space opens along with a new Broad Hall space for Cosentino Group, a producer of surfaces for architecture and design. The two are hosting several events and panel discussions during the market. You can find the full schedule here, but I want to draw your attention to a few highlights for interior designers who want to elevate their kitchen and bath design work.
Saturday, Oct. 25
10 a.m. “Expanding Your Expertise Into K&B Design” moderated by Andrea Lillo, executive editor of Designers Today, in conversation with Sarah Robertson (AKBD) Studio Dearborn; Kelly Collier-Clark, House of Clark Interiors; and representatives from BlueStar and James Martin Vanities
Sunday, Oct. 26
10 a.m. “Designing With Light, Finish and Form” moderated by Jill Cohen, editor in chief of LUXE Interiors + Design, in conversation with Thom Filicia, NKBA Design Council and Thom Filicia Inc.; Michel Smith Boyd, NKBA Design Council and SMITHBOYD Interiors; and representatives from Kichler Lighting and Ferguson Home
2 p.m. “NKBA 2026 Report: The Latest Data on Kitchen Design Trends” moderated by Karen Carroll, editorial director of FLOWER magazine, in conversation with Alena Capra (CMKBD) Alena Capra Designs; Julee Ireland, Julee Ireland Design Studio and founder of Home Renovation School; and representatives from Fabuwood and Miele
Monday, Oct. 27
10 a.m. “Design Kaleidoscope: Color and Light Trends in Kitchen and Bath” moderated by Carisha Swanson, director of editorial special projects for House Beautiful, in conversation with Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens & Baths; Heather French, French & French Interiors; and representatives from Lutron and Sherwin-Williams
I’m a proponent of intentionally including visits to at least a few new (or new-to-you) showrooms during any trip to High Point Market, and I hope many designers will add the new NKBA space to their itinerary, both to support the NKBA for bringing more of their brands to the home furnishings market — and to find great sources and ideas for your next project.
