National Kitchen and Bath Show Highlights 2024
Published in the Los Altos Town Crier March 27, 2024
New options for kitchens and baths are presented every year at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show for designers and builders who are looking for the best-in-class offerings to bring to their clients. This year presenters showed many problem-solving solutions, including excellent technical improvements for ease-of-use and environmentally sensitive products to help use less of earth’s resources. While there are too many to list here, the following are some awarded “Best in Show.”
Sustainability Achievements
RainStick, a new way of using less water for showering, was created by a startup in 2019. The product has received several awards from the likes of TIME magazine and the Consumer Electronic Show in the last few years and earned a “Sustainability Standout” at this year’s Kitchen and Bath show.
Courtesy of RainStick
A traditional 10-minute shower uses anywhere from 18 to 26 gallons of water, but the same 10-minute shower under a RainStick uses less than 5 gallons of water while still offering high water pressure.
The water recycling system tested in an ISO-accredited lab under the extremely hygienic rating. It uses both a UV treatment to remove 99.99% of bacteria and viruses and a 200 micron filter which removes any particle larger than a grain of sand. A larger screen captures hair and other particles. This water-cleaning system also addresses the waterborne germs that can live and grow in our pipes and devices. It can be used in new construction, remodels, off-the-grid installations and RVs. An optional wi-fi connected app provides additional features.
Style and Performance
The industry continues to show excellent improvements for induction cooking. There are now high-powered options that rival professional-grade gas cooktops with the added benefit of safety and lower energy usage for the same outcome.
Bertazzoni won a gold award at the Kitchen and Bath show for its new 48-inch wide induction range. It has six high-power heating zones with a maximum power output of 3700W. The right-side heating zones can be bridged to create a larger cooking area. Each induction area is controlled with knobs and has a convenient read-out interface on the glass worktop for people who prefer manual controls, and those who like to use a digital interface.
The 4.6 cubic feet self-cleaning oven is the largest in its class, with dual convection fan for balanced airflow and even temperature baking with roasting on 7 shelf levels. A large, removable cast-iron griddle is included. The attractive digital temperature gauge monitors the actual temperature in the oven and has integrated controls in the bezel for the food temperature probe. The Carbonio color on this range is a rich dark close-to-black, but a lot lighter and softer. Keep an eye on colors like these as stainless steel continues to retreat in upscale kitchens moving forward.
Most Functional Find
While manual pocket doors are not new, there is a new product category called pocket systems which creates opportunities for improving the design of multifunctional spaces. Revego is a new disappearing door system with fully integrated technology operated by touch hardware (no handles), allowing living or sleeping areas to have kitchens, laundry or offices to be opened up for use when needed and concealed again when they are not in use. Full overlay fronts disappear into a dedicated narrow cabinet, the pocket. For apartments, condos or accessory dwelling units, this allows small spaces to work functionally and with improved aesthetics.
Courtesy of Blum
Overall Best Introduction
The overall winner at both the Kitchen and Bath show and CES in 2024 is the FreePower wireless countertop charger. After the success of their second generation wireless chargers for Tesla, kitchen and bath counters are next up for wireless charging integration.
Courtesy of FreePower
The charger has a hard-wired connection when it is installed in the underside of a countertop - however once installed, just mousing over that area will light up the perimeter so a phone can be placed anywhere in the rectangle for instant wireless charging. It will be smart to consider this when building a new kitchen or remodeling one as these rooms should have tools installed in them to span the next 20 - 30 years.
Readers are encouraged to submit design conundrums, which may be addressed and printed in a future column. To submit questions, email design@sherryscottdesign.com.
Sherry Scott is a Certified Interior Designer in California, professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers and the proprietor of Sherry Scott Design in downtown Los Altos, 169 Main St.
