Material Innovation at KBIS 2026
Every year, KBIS reveals where kitchen, bath, and whole home design is headed. Some years, the conversation centers on technology, color, or appliances. This year, however, the story was materials.
From stone that bends and glows to appliances that disappear into the architecture, KBIS 2026 demonstrated how materiality is shaping the next generation of kitchen and bath design. Surfaces are no longer just finishes; instead, they are becoming structural design elements, functional systems, and visual anchors that influence how a space looks and feels.
Walking the show floor, several ideas stood out. From innovations in surfacing to practical solutions to real-world design challenges, innovations are impacting the way we live in our homes. Together, they reflect how the industry continues to rethink the relationship between materials, technology, and everyday living.
A World of Materiality
Materiality is a word that has firmly found its way into the vocabulary of designers, manufacturers, vendors, and industry thought leaders. Materiality is the thoughtful and intentional use of materials not just as finishes, but as elements that shape the character and performance of a space.
What I found especially interesting this year at KBIS was surfacing material on display beyond horizontal surfaces. Quartz is still big, but I am seeing more inventive uses of real stone, including quartzite, marble, and granite. In addition, translucency appeared repeatedly across the show floor. Materials that were once used only as decorative accents are now being illuminated and integrated in more architectural ways.
KBIS 2026: The New Look of Stone
Real Luxe Marble displayed real stone milled down to one millimeter thick and mounted to a fiberglass backing. The result is a translucent and moldable material that can be curved and shaped. I could see it being used for decorative wall panels, cabinetry details, and other applications where stone would traditionally be considered too rigid.
Bendable marble. Photo by Sharon L Sherman
Stone is typically thought of as inflexible, yet this material becomes surprisingly pliable. It feels like just the beginning of what designers may do with it.
Cambria Continues to Push the Boundaries
Cambria is pushing the boundaries of what can be done with surfacing materials with fluting details, bending quartz, hardware fabrication, and architectural detailing.
Cambria: more than just a counter top.
Instead of the smaller reeding details that designers often use, they showed larger fluted surfaces that created a strong visual presence on kitchen islands and cabinetry elements.
How about quartz cabinet hardware? Long, narrow pieces of Cambria were routed and drilled to create dimensional pulls that became design features rather than simply functional elements.
Lighting integration is another direction they are exploring. Routing light directly into the material allows the surface itself to become part of the lighting experience. Summer Kath, the Creative Director, continues to reimagine how the material can be used architecturally.
KBIS 2026 Bathroom Innovation: Fleurco
The bathroom category also revealed thoughtful product development that addresses real construction conditions. Fleurco introduced a freestanding tub that combines the overflow and tub filler into one system. This can be especially helpful when a floor-mounted filler cannot be installed due to construction limitations.
They also offer a tri-door medicine cabinet with integrated lighting called the Halo Tri View. I have not seen this configuration before, although there may be another one out there. A game-changing product was their sliding shower door designed for a 90-degree enclosure. The door stays within the footprint of the shower itself, which avoids having the door swing out into the bathroom.
FreePower Expands Countertop Technology
Technology continues to integrate directly into surfaces as well. With a simple wave of your hand over the countertop, a lighted halo appears to indicate where the charging area is located. This allows users to easily find the charging zone.
FreePower is expanding its wireless charging system, working with Philips on wireless small appliances. Demonstrations included a blender, waffle maker, toaster, and coffee maker. The concept is similar to the phone charging system, but with a larger footprint designed to accommodate small kitchen appliances.
SKS and LG Bring AI into Everyday Living
Innovation also appeared in appliances, particularly in how technology is integrated into everyday tasks. SKS introduced an AI-assisted washer and dryer, continuing the movement toward smarter laundry systems.
In the kitchen, SKS featured an invisible induction cooking surface integrated into the countertop. Instead of seeing the cooktop itself, the surface becomes active when a cooking vessel is placed on it. The system is paired with a thoughtfully designed downdraft that includes two small cooling chambers intended to keep condiments at the proper temperature while remaining easily accessible during cooking.
On the LG side, a new and improved AI-assisted Styler remains one of my favorite products.
True and Caliber Bring Color and Innovation Outdoors
True + Caliber brings a full line of cooking and refrigeration to outdoor entertaining. Combining forces with David Rockwell, they premiered an innovative 360-degree walk-around social grill.
One of the most interesting features is the grill hood. Often, the hood is bulky and blocks the cook from the guests. This design allows the hood to be operated with one finger and fully retract behind the grill, allowing a more social interaction with the grill master. Stay tuned for new introductions in several colors and cooking configurations, including French top style and traditional grill setups.
True refrigeration also showcased bold colors, including pink, purple, orange, and a beautiful espresso brown finish. Color-matched doors, hardware, and grills allow appliances to become part of the overall design story. The beautiful colors of these luxury appliances are inspiring.
A Look Ahead: Oxygenated Water Filtration Systems
One final product that caught my attention was in the Delta booth and is still in development. The system uses ozone and oxygenated water to help remove harmful chemicals and impurities directly at the faucet. It appears to be in the final phase of introduction and will be interesting to watch as it comes to market.
KBIS 2026: More Than Just Kitchen and Bath
KBIS is often thought of as a kitchen and bath show, but every year it reminds me that what we see there reaches far beyond those two rooms. And while the show may focus on kitchens and baths, the inspiration always carries forward into total home design.
Innovation, new materials, color, and technology may debut in kitchens and bathrooms, but the ideas quickly ripple across the entire home. The materials we saw bending, glowing, and integrating with light and technology are not limited to countertops and shower walls. They become a design language that influences millwork, furnishings, lighting, and architectural details throughout the home.
Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, NCIDQ, CID, CKD
Sharon founded Thyme and Place Design, headquartered in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and has been practicing kitchen and bath design for over 20 years across New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Eastern Seaboard. She is the Past President of the American Society of Interior Designers, New Jersey chapter, a professional member of ASID, as well as a Certified Interior Designer in New Jersey, and a Certified Kitchen Designer, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Interior Design Community.
She is a current member of the editorial board of KBB Magazine, the official magazine of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Sharon was named KBB Person of the Year 2025 and Kitchen Bath Design News 2022 Innovator of the Year Award and Her award-winning designs and editorial comments have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Design Milk, Furniture Lighting and Decor, Designers Today, Kitchen & Bath Design News, Design NJ, New Jersey Home Magazine, 201 Magazine, as well as several books. She has authored the Interior Designers’ Guide to Kitchen and Bath Business Success, available through the website. Sharon is a sought-after conference speaker and CEU provider. You can contact her through the website www.thymeandplacedesign.com.
