KBIS 2022: Gwyneth Paltrow Talks Wellness, Pot Fillers Get Reimagined, and Extra

It’s no secret that remodels—particularly in kitchens and bathrooms—have been unfolding at a breakneck pace during the pandemic. So perhaps it should be no surprise that cold, rainy weather couldn’t keep architects, interior designers, and contractors away from this year’s KBIS and IBS events. (Even in Florida!) The refrain on the ground among exhibitors was consistent: “We just can’t believe how busy we are.”

Indeed. While crowds may not have reached the shoulder-to-shoulder levels of pre-COVID times, turnout among specifiers and exhibitors alike has been healthy. This year, a squad of AD editors has been trawling the show for the latest and greatest products in kitchen and bath. From trending finishes to the latest innovations in home tech, here’s (some) of what we’ve seen, one day in. Be sure to check back in tomorrow for more KBIS and IBS coverage.

Gwyneth Paltrow Talks Wellness

Gwyneth Paltrow made headlines in the design world last week when she graced the cover of AD’s March issue and showed off her fireplace- and spa-studded Montecito home, designed by Roman & Williams with interior decoration by Brigitte Romanek. Recently announced as a Monogram partner, Paltrow took the stage at KBIS via Zoom, along with Romanek and Monogram creative director Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, to discuss the continuing trend toward wellness in design.

“Wellness is a huge part of the conversation for me because I want my clients to live their best lives,” Romanek posited during the panel. For Paltrow, a few points were critical in the layout of her home, such as the ability to socialize while cooking, and the promotion of indoor/outdoor living. “We can all do little things in our lives to make us feel better, mentally, spiritually, physically,” she said. Romanek agreed: “A home should be a love letter to oneself.”

Spa Sanctuaries, Apothecary-Inspired Designs, and More

Occupying a generously sized pavilion in the West Hall, this family of brands is debuting a host of innovations across hardware, basins, baths, and showers. Xander Noori, the design collaborator for a new bath line known as the Apothecary Collection, was in-booth to detail how the hardware’s carefully crafted silhouettes were drawn from the faceted contours of antique bottles.

Proponents of a personalized, colorful bathroom will want to scope out House of Rohl’s new architecture-inspired palettes, aptly titled Bathitecture. A collaboration with Wallpaper*, the three curated color families include the Brazilian Modernism palette (defined by earthy reds, blues, and greens, and evoking South American talent like Lina Bo Bardi), Belgian Minimalism (comprising chill, muted grays and pastels), and American Postmodernism (bold, poppy hues). Elsewhere in the booth, the geometry-laced Riobel Ode Bath Collection offers aesthetically versatile fixtures that—despite launching this week—feel innately timeless.

That sense of versatility and ease threaded throughout the show with one fixture in particular: the pot filler. Several manufacturers, including House of Rohl’s Perrin & Rohe and Rohl, spoke to the faucet’s “whole-home moment,” noting its range from a professional kitchen element to a pet station’s knee-level spout for filling bowls or washing the dog.