Awards were divided into six categories: Color, Living in Place, Outdoor Living, Smart Home, Sustainability, and Wellness/Health.
By Nicholas Tamarin
On Thursday, May 22, the NKBA | KBIS Thirty Under 30 30s Choice Awards took center stage in a virtual broadcast, honoring innovation in the kitchen and bath industry. Sponsored by SKS and Kohler, the event recognized achievements in product and design innovation, technology, sustainable business practices, and emerging business models.
This year, the young professional leaders from the Thirty Under 30 program were divided into six teams of five and tasked with selecting award winners across six diverse categories—Color, Living in Place, Outdoor Living, Smart Home, Sustainability, and Wellness/Health—by exploring the KBIS 2025 show floor to find their favorite products.
Angela Rath, Director, Director of Brand Development at NKBA | KBIS, served as the featured presenter for the event, which offered .05 Continuing Education Units. The awards kicked off with Rath, who expressed her excitement for the first-ever virtual production of the 30s Choice Awards, thanking Kohler and SKS for their support of the Thirty Under 30 program and shouted out the 2025 class’s design acumen and teamwork skills. Reps from the selecting teams and the winning companies then articulated the benefits of the winning products. They are as follows:
Color: The Color team selected LaCava’s new Terra Collection for its nature-inspired design, wide range of options and finishes, and handmade quality. The collection’s vast color selection, diverse palette, and unique texture and finish offerings stood out.
Living in Place: The Living in Place category winner was the Moen Smart Shower. The selection highlighted how technology is becoming more prevalent in the home, particularly in the shower. Its compatibility with Alexa and Google allows users to set presets for temperature, water pressure, and shower duration. The shower system was lauded for its user-friendly experience, personalization features, and water-saving capabilities.
Outdoor Living: The Outdoor Living group chose Concretti Designs. The team praised it for being American-made, woman-owned, and using consistent elements for pigmentation. The cold plunge offering, app control, and customization options were highlighted.
Smart Home: The Smart Home team went with the SKS Transitional Series Combi Wall Oven With Gourmet AI Food Recognition Technology. This oven combines convection, microwave, and traditional heating. The built-in camera identifies the food and suggests recipes and also allows monitoring from a mobile device and provides a time-lapse video of the cooking process. The oven’s sleek, modern design, and innovative features were also appreciated.
Sustainability: The Sustainability team named Neolith its winner and praised it for using all-natural, recyclable materials and a zero-waste production process. The material’s low silica formulations, top environmental certifications, and carbon-neutral status were key factors in the team’s selection.
Wellness/Health: The Kohler Anthem and Ice Shower were selected by the Wellness/Health team for the combination’s innovative cold plunge shower valve and adaptable lights, speakers, temperature controls, and fixtures. The pair offers immediate and gradual cold plunges with customizable pre-set routines suitable for regular showers. Their mass appeal, enhanced experience, and sleek design were key factors in the selection.To view the awards in its entirety and earn .05 Continuing Education Units, head over here!
