NKBA’s VFTI Conference at KBIS 2025 offers a compelling slate of CEU-qualified learning sessions.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
The Voices from the Industry Conference, NKBA’s highly regarded professional development program at KBIS 2025 in Las Vegas, gives attendees more than 70 seminars and webinars to learn about the latest trends and business strategies shaping the future of the industry and earn CEU credits, with options for on-site training or on-demand viewing after the show.
The VFTI series is generously sponsored by Floor & Decor.
Subject Matter Experts will share their deep knowledge during the upcoming edition, Feb. 25 to 27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Seminars and workshops are organized into six tracks: Building & Remodeling, Design, Hot Topics, K&B Trends, Leadership & Management, and Marketing. KBIS attendees may purchase a package including the Expo pass plus a conference pass for all on-site VFTI presentations and unlimited access to on-demand sessions throughout 2025. All sessions are CEU-qualified.
Here’s a closer look at the nine sessions in the K&B Trends track.
Tuesday, February 25
Transatlantic Trends: Bringing European Kitchen and Bath Designs to the USA
9 – 10 am
Instructor: Julee Ireland, Founder and Principal, Presenter, Julee Ireland Designs and Home Renovation School
Ability Level: Beginner
Julee Ireland regularly attends design shows in Europe, where she gathers insights into emerging trends that often appear in the U.S. about 18 months later. She’ll share the latest K&B trends observed in Europe in 2024. The audience will explore how to adapt these trends for North American designs, covering everything from color schemes and tiling to appliances and lighting, and will walk away equipped with the knowledge to anticipate and integrate future design innovations.
Design Has Gone to the Dogs…and Cats!
10:45 – 11:45 am
Instructor: Candace Rudd, General Manager, Presenter, Two30Nine by Decor
Ability Level: Beginner
Pets hold a special place in homeowners’ lives, and now more than ever, their homes reflect just how important they are. This session will explore ways to incorporate pet spaces into design projects, and the growth of the product category around building dedicated pet spaces into the home.
Winning Outdoor Kitchen Design
2:45 – 3:45 pm
Instructor: Ryan Bloom, Co-Founder and President, Presenter, Urban Bonfire LLC
Ability Level: Beginner
The purpose of this course is to educate architects, designers, contractors, and other specifiers about the design potential for fully functional outdoor kitchens. Ryan Bloom will share specifics about how to create kitchens that homeowners will use, potentially year around, with great enjoyment, ease, and safety.
Wednesday, February 26
Luxury Kitchens Remain King Amidst Rising Mortgage Rates
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Instructor: Massimo Ballucchi, Vice President of Institutional Relations, VFTI, Cosentino
Ability Level: Intermediate
Designers and homeowners agree that kitchens are their top renovation priority, and according to Cosentino’s 2024 trend report, nearly one-quarter of the total home design budget is dedicated to kitchen updates. Even as mortgage rates remain high, homeowners still seek ways to redesign their current kitchen with a luxurious feel. This session will explore how this trend will influence the market and expectations of future homebuyers, how luxury trends influence design, and specific luxury kitchen elements that designers can start incorporating now.
Thursday, February 27
Legacy Through Tile: Elevating Kitchen Design as Creative Canvases
9 – 10 am
Instructor: Mercedes Austin, Owner & Founder, Presenter, Mercury Mosaics
Ability Level: Beginner
Mercedes Austin guides attendees through the process of envisioning kitchens as blank canvases, primed for transformation with cutting-edge trends and enduring designs. Learn how innovative mosaic patterns, vibrant colors, and imaginative elements can be harmonized to craft stunning spaces, and discover the transformative power of personalized design in kitchens, illustrating how spaces can be tailored to reflect clients’ unique tastes and lifestyles. Using compelling case studies, she shows how thoughtful design choices enhance aesthetics and functionality, and shares practical insights about how designers may leverage new tools and resources to enrich their design portfolios.
Infusing Color Into Kitchen Appliances
10:45 – 11:45 am
Instructor: Shae Wilder, Trade Marketing Manager, Presenter, BlueStar
Ability Level: Intermediate
Explore the latest trends in kitchen aesthetics, from bold color palettes to soothing natural hues, and learn how to harmonize them with your unique design vision. This course will guide attendees through creating kitchens that balance beauty, function, and personal flair, drawing inspiration from renowned chefs and modern design concepts. Gain practical skills and insights to create kitchens that not only reflect personal style but also optimize the culinary experience.
Blueprints for Tomorrow: 2025 Kitchen & Bathroom Design Trends
5 pm — On-Demand Only
Instructor: Marine Sargsyan, Staff Economist, Presenter, Houzz
Ability Level: Intermediate
Get ahead of the competition with exclusive insights into 2025’s leading home design trends. In this session, Houzz staff economist Marine Sargsyan will draw on a decade-long data set and dive into the most popular colors, styles, and products for kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor kitchens. Get an insider’s perspective on the motivations driving homeowners, and discover how priorities like sustainability and accessibility are shaping consumer design choices, with insights by generation and region.
The 5-Star Effect — Bringing Hospitality Design Home
5 pm — On-Demand Only
Instructor: Candace Rudd, General Manager, Presenter, Two30Nine by Decor
Ability Level: Beginner
Uncover how to bring that vacation feeling home! This session explores why elements of hospitality design are increasingly being requested in home interiors, and discusses where to find inspiration, the products that support this movement, and how to incorporate these elements into the home.
Welcome to the Technaissance: Unraveling the Complex Layers of Kitchen and Bath Trends 2026+
5 pm — On-Demand Only
Instructor: Tressa Samdal, Trend and Innovation Director, Presenter, Cabinetworks LLC
Ability Level: Intermediate
Digital consumption and connectivity are skyrocketing, as AI pushes the boundaries of creativity and “going viral” transforms the industry daily. This is the Technaissance: a convergence of media, social media, and a flood of information, shaping a vibrant and intricate design world. Tressa Samdal explores the emerging and complex trends that will define the next wave of kitchen and bath aesthetics. Discover the allure of Dark Academia and the resurgence of Deco Revival, and learn how these captivating styles are setting new standards.
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Early-bird pricing is available through Jan. 10, 2025. NKBA members pay $575, and non-members are $775. From Jan. 11 to Feb. 22, members are $675, non-members are $875, and for on-site registration, Feb. 23 to 27, members are $775, and non-members are $875. (Student and faculty rates are also available, click for more detail.)
For more detail and a full schedule of sessions, click here.
