NKBA | KBIS Design Council

The NKBA Design Council brings together influential designers whose perspectives, experience, and creativity help shape the future of the kitchen and bath industry. Created to amplify the voice of the design community, the council provides insight, inspiration, and real-world expertise that supports NKBA’s mission to elevate professionalism across the industry.

NKBA Design Council at KBIS 2024.

The NKBA Design Council:
Where Insight Meets Innovation

Throughout the year, council members serve as ambassadors for NKBA | KBIS, sharing their knowledge through trend reports, industry events, and educational programming. From identifying emerging styles and materials to discussing the business and cultural forces shaping the profession, the council helps keep the community informed, inspired, and connected.

At KBIS and beyond, the Design Council collaborates with NKBA to spotlight innovation, highlight key trends, and engage with the broader design audience. Members participate in panel discussions, content creation, and special appearances, showcasing the ideas and products defining the next era of kitchen and bath design.

What the Design Council Does

Trendspotting: Identifies emerging design directions and product innovations across the industry.
Thought Leadership: Contributes insights to NKBA reports, content, and educational programming.
Industry Engagement: Participates in panels, events, and special initiatives throughout the year.
Community Connection: Inspires and supports designers at every stage of their careers.

Meet the 2026 NKBA Design Council

Here are the designers who will represent the NKBA | KBIS Design Council in 2026.

Bobby Berk

Design Expert, Emmy-winning TV Host & Author

Bobby Berk is an Emmy-winning design expert, television host, and author. In 2006, Bobby started his own company and opened his first showroom in lower Manhattan the following year, eventually expanding the business nationwide. He earned global recognition in 2018 for his work transforming lives and living spaces on Netflix’s Queer Eye, and has since established himself as a preeminent leader in the design industry. Bobby leads his eponymous multi-faceted brand, including comprehensive lifestyle destination BobbyBerk.com, while his design firm has become one of the most sought-after in the home building industry. In 2023, Bobby released his first book, Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good For The Mind. Most recently, he returned to television as host of the HGTV series Junk or Jackpot?

Nathan Orsman

Founder and Principal of Orsman Design, Inc

Nathan Orsman, Founding Principal of Orsman Design, Inc., is a highly regarded figure in the architectural and landscape lighting design industries. Leading his acclaimed firm based in New York City, with additional offices in Miami and the Hamptons, Nathan has established a global reputation for his exceptional work. With a team of 50 talented individuals, Orsman Design consistently delivers transformative lighting solutions that enhance the beauty of residential and commercial spaces around the world.

Orsman Design, Inc. stands out for its unwavering focus on the artistry and beauty of light, particularly in the nighttime environment. Orsman’s firm recognizes the profound impact that light has on a space and how it can completely transform its character and ambiance. With meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the interplay between light, shadow, and art, Orsman Design creates intimate nighttime environments that highlight, rather than distract.

Nathan Orsman’s commitment to the importance of light as a transformative element is evident in his firm’s extensive list of awards, press coverage, and recognition. The company’s work consistently receives accolades for its ability to bring out the best in architectural, interior, and landscape designs, enhancing their aesthetic appeal and creating immersive experiences. Orsman Design’s focus on the artistry of light sets them apart, ensuring that each project they undertake becomes a testament to the profound influence light can have on the beauty and functionality of a space.

In October, Nathan will release his first book, Light, published by Rizzoli, further exploring the transformative power of illumination.

Mandy Cheng

Principal and Owner of Mandy Cheng Design

Mandy worked in the film/television industry for almost two decades, giving her an expansive knowledge and network in the industry. She began her film career working at the prestigious DreamWorks Animation Studio, and eventually branched off to become a Production Designer in film and commercial television. She has designed music videos for chart-topping names such as J.Cole, One Republic, and Dillon Francis & DJ Snake, and worked as a graphic designer on projects ranging from 20th Century Women and Ladybird to Beyonce’s Lemonade.

Mandy Cheng has been on Architectural Digest’s AD 100 list for the past four years and has transitioned her set design experience into a career as one of the most sought-after interior designers in Los Angeles. She designed the home of Emmy Raver-Lampman and Daveed Diggs, which landed the April 2021 cover of AD.

Cheng has designed homes, retail stores, and offices from California to New York to Florida. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband, Rory, their dog, Scout, and their grumpy cat, Miniature.

Previous Design Council Members:

Here is a list of designers who served as NKBA | KBIS Design Council members from 2024 through 2025.

Caleb Anderson

Principal Drake/Anderson and Co-Founder of Well-Designed

Caleb Anderson is a principal at award-winning design firm Drake/Anderson and the co-founder of Well-Designed, a new venture committed to sharing resources and tools to support a happier, healthier and more harmonious design community through meaningful shared experiences. Along with his dedication to creating and fostering more opportunities for authentic connection and sustainable work practices among his peers, Anderson is using his design expertise to heighten awareness within the community around healthy materials, sustainability and social consciousness.

Celerie Kemble

Designer and Author

Celerie Kemble’s priority is always to express the personality and sentiment of her clients through gracious interiors. Never one to dismiss nuance or drama, Celerie seamlessly engages both forces to create dynamic and comfortable rooms. Kemble Interiors is a multi-generational firm with over 50 years of experience designing hotels, country clubs, and residential spaces, and has offices in both New York and Palm Beach. Celerie received a B.A. in English from Harvard and lives in New York City with her three children.

Celerie is the author of “Island Whimsy”, “To Your Taste” and “Black & White (and a Bit in Between)”. She has been included in Architectural Digest’s AD100, House Beautiful’s Top Designers, Elle Decor’s A-List Designers, and Luxe’s Gold List among others.

Her current licensed product lines include fabrics, trims and wallpaper for Schumacher, lighting and occasional furniture with Arteriors, outdoor furniture with Lane Venture, and 2023 she launched a line of case goods with Woodbridge Furniture and upholstery with Taylor King.

Michel Smith Boyd

Principal and Founder, Michel Smith Boyd, LLC

Michel Smith Boyd is an American interior designer and star of the hit shows, HGTV’s Luxe for Less, Rock the Block, and Barbie Dream House Challenge as well as Bravo’s Buying it Blind. His Atlanta based firm, Smith Boyd Interiors, is known for Michel’s signature, sumptuous style.

Renowned for its distinctive, cultivated, and soulful vibe Michel’s work has received countless accolades including being recognized as one of the Top 10 African American Designers in the country and tapped as Veranda’s “Next Legend, most recently he was named The Atlantan’s Top 50 Most Powerful People.” Additionally, Michel’s work has graced the pages of Elle Décor, Traditional Home, Vogue, Veranda, Ebony, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post just to name a few. Boyd prides himself on creating spaces that his clients not only adore but also delight in calling home. Michel’s breadth of influence includes residential and commercial interior design as well as bespoke collections of luxe rugs, artisan case-goods, bold lustrous paintings, and a new collection of fragrances curated for home. His signature style masterfully juxtaposes masculine and feminine sophistication and he seamlessly blends it all under one roof to set the perfect mood.

Thom Filicia

Interior Designer, TV-personality and Author

Thom Filicia has emerged as one of today’s most influential and respected interior and product designers. His projects include residential, hospitality and commercial interiors all over the world with clients ranging from Tina Fey, to Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, David & Iman Bowie, and Delta Airlines. Gaining fame on the Emmy-winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, Style Network, HGTV, and most recently Bravo’s Get A Room with Carson & Thom, he is a best-selling author and has been praised as a top designer and international tastemaker. He is also the driving force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, which includes furniture, artwork, bedding, textiles, wallcovering, rugs, lighting, accessories and more, and has a flagship showroom, called Sedgwick & Brattle, at The New York Design Center.