By Dianne M. Pogoda
Company News
Bertazzoni Names North America Chief: Bertazzoni S.p.A., the world’s oldest family-owned appliance company, has named Kevin Headley as CEO of Bertazzoni North America, He was also appointed to Bertazzoni NA’s Board of Directors. Headly has more than 24 years of experience, previously holding sales leadership roles at Sub-Zero Group, Whirlpool and Rinnal. Bertazzoni, founded in 1882, is led by the fifth and sixth generations of the founding family, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in the U.S. in 2025. More details here.
SieMatic’s New Surfaces: Premium kitchen manufacturer SieMatic unveiled a range of new materials, surfaces, and colors at the Interior Design Days Event in Lohne, Germany, in December. The exclusive advancements include a Metallic High-Pressure ZeroMatic that’s fifteen times more scratch-resistant than previous finishes, and a broadened selection of natural-looking wood veneers and three new ZeroMatic wood reproductions with subtle texture. Its SimiLaqueplus, launching early this year, features a rich, velvety texture, offers antimicrobial and oleophobic properties, prevents fingerprints, and is easy to clean. This spring, the company will introduce a Metallic Lacquer, applied entirely by hand. More details here.
GH Awards Honor NKBA Members: Good Housekeeping revealed its 2026 Home Reno Awards, recognizing superior products and services for all aspects of home renovation and enhancements. Judges handed out 80 awards in 13 categories, ranging from kitchen, bath, sustainability, smart-home technology, and outdoor living, to exteriors, windows and doors, lawn care, and tools, and for the first time, included an aging-in-place category. NKBA members among the kitchen and bath winners were Cosentino’s Le Chic Bohème by Silestone XM, Kohler’s Leap Smart Toilet, Benjamin Moore Bath & Spa paint, LX Hausys’ Teracanto Onyx Pearl surfacing, and James Martin Vanities Marigot Collection. In the aging-in-place category, Emser Tile’s Radiant Floor non-slip flooring integrated with a light source and Amba’s Cape Collection heated towel bar were winners. Caesarstone’s porcelain surfacing won in the outdoor category, while LG’s Inverter Heat Pump water heater was a smart-home tech winner. See the full list of winners here.
Capra Named Café Designer in Residence: Award-winning designer Alena Capra, CMKBD, principal of Alena Capra Designs in Fort Lauderdale, FL, has been named Designer in Residence for Café Style Studio, part of the GE Appliances portfolio. In this role, she will respond to design questions from consumers, share design inspiration and tips on Café’s Instagram and TikTok accounts, host Q&A sessions, and offer advice online and in-person at select retail locations. Capra is a member of NKBA’s National Board of Directors and was KBB’s Person of the Year in 2024. KBB has more detail.
Officine Gullo Reopens in L.A.: Italian luxury appliance maker Officine Gullo reopened its newly renovated space in West Hollywood, in the heart of the Los Angeles Design District. The space presents the complete range of Officine Gullo kitchen collections, “Tailor Made” and “Contemporanea,” showcasing its ranges, cooking appliances, outdoor grills, and accessories, for the first time on the West Coast. The showroom, at 8844 Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood, features design and exhibition space, and a cooking school is expected to open soon. More detail here.
Chapter News
Health & Wellness in San Diego: The San Diego Chapter’s first meeting of the year features a CEU-qualified session with Caleb Jackson, who will share how “Redefining Kitchen Design Improves Health and Wellness” and how to optimize today’s kitchens, nutrition, food preservation, and working from home through well-appointed appliance selection. Jackson, a CEU speaker from the Sub-Zero Group, specializes in innovative appliance technologies, kitchen design trends, and their integration in architectural projects. The event is Jan. 13, 5:30 to 8 pm, at Artisan West Appliance, 5925 Kearny Villa Road in San Diego. More info here.
Protect Your Job In Minnesota: The Minnesota State Chapter kicks off 2026 with “Don’t Put Your Job in Jeopardy,” an interactive seminar that explores three real-life design challenges and their solutions. The program takes place Jan. 16, 8:30 to 11:30 am, at Fuse, 275 Market Street, #265, in Minneapolis. The case studies will explore what went wrong, how issues were resolved, and key takeaways that strengthen any design practice. Wrap up the morning with a design-themed “Jeopardy” trivia game, prizes and networking. NKB Members are $10, non-members are $15, and students are free. Learn more here.
Industry News
Kips Bay Set for Florida: The Kips Bay Decorator Show House has selected two homes in Palm Beach for its annual fundraiser benefitting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, opening Feb. 25. Both homes are in the exclusive Northwood Shores neighborhood. One is a three-bedroom cottage, and the other is a five-bedroom estate on the water. Designers Today has more.
