Meeting the consumer demand for decorative outdoor living spaces, the upcoming Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) will introduce a new Outdoor Products area at the 2016 show, January 19-21 in Las Vegas. The designated pavilion will feature the latest in outdoor kitchen and living design trends, as well as showcase new outdoor products from more than 15 brands. Located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the pavilion will also include expanded programming for attendees including panels and demonstrations.
“The outdoor appliance category has grown exponentially. It’s no longer about what grill are people buying for their backyard, it’s about bringing the entire kitchen experience outdoors. Everything from weatherproof cabinets to dishwashers, refrigerators, and even pizza ovens,” says Brian Pagel, VP/Kitchen & bath for show organizer Emerald Expositions. “Identified among the top 10 kitchen design trends for 2015 by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in its yearly Kitchen & Bath Style Report, outdoor kitchen and living spaces are among the hottest trends in the housing industry today. This new Outdoor Products Area keeps our attendees at the forefront of the trend and helps to educate the industry to show homeowners how they can substantially extend their living spaces and bring all the comforts of home outdoors.”
In the same report, about half of all NKBA designers specified an outdoor kitchen in 2014 – an increase of seven percentage points from 2013. The popularity of the outdoor living trend among its readers is among the many reasons why The Retail Observer is sponsoring the area at KBIS.
“We at The Retail Observer are very excited to be a part of the ‘new’ Outdoor Products area at KBIS 2016,” notes Eliana Barriga, Publisher of The Retail Observer. “The Outdoor Space is a personal favorite of mine in the design world that has been rapidly expanding and creating new opportunities for retailers, designers, and the builder industry – growing and improving their profit margins while creating amazing outdoor living spaces for their clients.”
Among the highlights of the pavilion are an outdoor display with products and designs by Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, Caliber Appliances, Challenger Designs LLC, Open Air Outdoor Cabinetry by Desavino & Sons, Fontana Forni USA, Glideware, Grill Dome, Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, Liebherr, Louisiana Grills, Memphis Wood Fire Grills, Modern Home Products, New Age Products, Sunshine Stone Products, Overstock Stone, and Richelieu Hardware Ltd.
Attendees will experience a fully functioning “outdoor space” featuring outdoor cabinetry by DeSavino and Sons and New Age Products, undercounter beverage center and wine coolers by Liebherr, along with Caliber Appliance presenting the Pro Kamado™ Charcoal Grill and Smoker and vent designs from Grill Dome. Visitors to the pavilion will also be able to taste-test fresh pizza courtesy of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet and its Artisan Fire Pizza Oven.
The focus on outdoor living continues with programming on the KBISNeXT Stage, located adjacent to the Outdoor Products area. The panel will discuss powerful business opportunities opening up to kitchen designers by taking it outside and through the creation of alliances with landscape design professionals.
Moderated by Melissa Gillespie, Managing Editor of Ocean Home Magazine and Editor of Luxury Pools Magazine, the panel will tackle topics including who leads the process when designing an outdoor kitchen, how do kitchen designers work with landscapers, and how do appliance manufacturers support design professionals. Design pros will learn to translate this trend and promote the growth of outdoor living spaces amongst different demographics — from the large yard and the petite patio to the urban terrace. For more info, visit www.KBIS.com.
