Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM APRIL 2026 10 Among the biggest challenges the industry faced in 2025 were tariffs, which along with continued consumer uncertainty, impacted business growth and opportunities. In addition to tariffs, other factors contributed to this sense of consumer uncertainty, from rising housing costs to questions about Federal Reserve decisions on interest rates. Darcy revealed that NKBA's 2026 K&B Market Outlook projects that the U.S. residential kitchen and bath industry will begin to recover in the second half, returning to growth gradually after three years of contraction, and that American K&B revenue, including materials and labor, will grow slightly to $228 billion in 2026. • State of the Industry Following the State of the Association, Darcy introduced creative strategist and trend forecaster Jaye Anna Mize to deliver the State of the Industry presentation. Mize is vice president of advisory + partnerships at Future Snoops, a global trend forecasting agency that helps brands develop insight-driven strategies that future- proof their businesses. She shared five key insights about how the home is changing and how behavior is shifting, what this means for consumers, and in turn, for designers. These included: – Beyond the Dream Home: Millennials and Gen Z homeowners don't share the same lifestyle goals as their parents, and instead prioritize efficiency, adaptability, and everyday usability in a home that will perform well over time. – Preservation: Consumers today live with visible economic, environmental, and social volatility, which changes the emotional role of the home. The home is no longer just an expression of taste. It's becoming a form of protection – from rising costs, environmental exposure, health concerns, and general uncertainty about the future. This shifts the definition of premium from refined to reliable. The home is increasingly treated as protective infrastructure, and kitchen and bath are where that shift is most visible. – Streamlined Shopping: This shift is about how consumers decide what they want in their homes, and it's where AI comes in to reshape the discovery process. Clients now research layouts and products before meeting with a designer, and look to designers for clarity, guided decision making, confirmation that their choices will work and that they will avoid costly mistakes. – The Kitchen Community: As the spatial hierarchy of the home has shifted, only about 14 percent of new homes now include a dedicated formal dining room, while about 75 percent now integrate the kitchen into the main living area. The kitchen absorbs the role of gathering space, work zone, hosting environment, and emotional anchor. It has evolved from a functional workspace into the primary social infrastructure of the home. – Lifestyle Living: This final shift is less about the house itself and more about the role design plays in how people live. The home stops being a separate design project. It becomes part of a continuous lifestyle expression. Lifestyle living reflects a shift from designing rooms to designing alignment." • Best of KBIS Sponsored by LUXE Interiors + Design, Best of KBIS recognizes the latest cutting-edge products and innovations at the show. – Best in Show: KitchenAid's Smart Double Wall Oven with Live Look-In. – Style Statement: Kitchen Gold: The Signature Rockwell by True Caliber Silver: Atipica Decorative Hardware by Richelieu Hardware – Style Statement: Bath Gold: Sensa Expanded Quartzite Collection by Cosentino Silver: Ametrine Collection by Pfister Faucets – Game-Changing Innovation: Gold: FreePower for Countertop 2 by FreePower Silver: X20MAX Dishwasher Sink by Fotile America – Most Functional Find: Gold: More AntiEtch Next Gen by More Surface Care Silver: PureWash E860 by Kohler – Sustainable Standout: Gold: More AntiEtch Next Gen by More Surface Care Silver: 48-inch Professional Induction Range by Induction Hardware – Wellness Trailblazer: Gold: Electric Lift for Upper Cabinets Verti 840 by Richelieu Hardware Silver: Indoor/Outdoor Cold Plunge Tub by Empava • Innovative Showroom Award (ISA) Winners The ISA honored best-in-class showrooms for their inspiring designs, innovative environments, outstanding customer experi- ences, and creative selling strategies. NKBA | KBIS recognized 10 winners in five categories: – Kitchen & Bath Design Centers: Design centers that offer design and project management, from fixture or appliance replacement to full K&B remodels. Small (under 2,500 square feet): Two30Nine by Décor, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Designer: Candace Rudd, CMKBD Medium (2,500 to 5,000 square feet): USA Cabinet Store, Houston, TX. Designer: Joseph Oz Large (more than 5,000 square feet): Laurysen Kitchens Design Experience Center, Ottawa, Ontario. Designer: Caroline Castrucci KBIS: BIG SUCCESS IN ORLANDO

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