By Dianne M. Pogoda

Company News

Century Communities Selects LG: Century Communities, a leading national home builder, has chosen LG Electronics USA as its national appliance supplier. The deal with the LG Pro Builder division will supply LG kitchen and laundry appliances to Century’s two homebuilding brands — Century Communities and Century Complete. Century operates in 16 states and more than 45 markets across the country. LG is expected to outfit tens of thousands of homes across the U.S. over the next four years. LG Pro Builder supplies connected home appliance solutions, exclusive packages, and support directly to design and building professionals. The partnership kicks off in the 4^th quarter of this year and features LG’s core line of Energy Star®-certified refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers, and dryers. LG is an 11-time Energy Star Partner of the Year. Learn more about LG Pro Builder here.

Gaggenau Launches Vario Cooling Series: Premium appliance maker Gaggenau has unveiled its Vario Cooling Expressive series, including refrigerators, freezers, and wine cabinets in various sizes and capacities. The refrigerators feature dark brushed stainless-steel interiors with adjustable anodized aluminum and glass shelving. They offer touch-to-open, handle-free doors, interior air purification and food preservation technology, and Gaggenau’s “Fascinating Light” that spotlights food and “reacts” to user behavior. For example, when a drawer is opened, the lighting intensifies in that space.  Refrigerators and freezers are available in combination models and as columns, while wine cabinets are offered in 18-in. and 24-in. widths, with capacities of up to 110 bottles. The wine cabinets have three-zone climate and temperature control, fully adjustable shelving to accommodate various bottles and glasses, and infrared technology that measures the temperature of individual bottles in addition to the ambient cabinet temperature. The line will be available in Europe starting in December and rolled out globally in 2026. More info here.

Cabinetworks Taps CFO: Larry France has been named chief financial officer at Cabinetworks Group, a privately held cabinet manufacturer. He has been serving as interim CFO since last December. France joined the company in 2023 as SVP of financial planning and analysis, bringing more than two decades of finance experience to the role. KBB has the story.

Chapter Updates

SOKY’s True Event: The Southern Ohio/Kentucky Chapter is hosting a “Chef Event” on Sept. 25 featuring a presentation from Tyler Mitchel with True Residential at Lee Supply Dayton, 1546 Stanley Avenue in Dayton, OH. The event runs from 11 am to 1 pm. NKBA members and students are free, non-members are $10. Register here.

Matthew Quinn at Mid -Atlantic: The Mid-Atlantic chapter will host an evening of cocktails and conversation with a keynote presentation by designer, product innovator, and author Matthew Quinn on Oct. 8 at Grothouse, 3971 Independence Drive, Schnecksville, PA. Happy hour and tours of the Grothouse workshop start at 5 pm, with Quinn’s keynote starting at 6:30. Quinn is the CEO of Atlanta-based Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio and founder of the Matthew Quinn Collection, a luxury kitchen, bath, and architectural hardware showroom. NKBA Members are $45, non-members are $55, and students are $10. Register here.

Industry News

Residential Construction Drops: New housing construction appears to be falling, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Privately owned housing starts fell 8.5 percent in August from July and were down 6 percent compared to August 2024. Single-family housing starts in August dropped 7 percent from July. Furthermore, building permits for homes in the private sector were off 3.7 percent monthly and plunged 11.1 percent YOY. August housing completions, however, rose 8.4 percent for the month but were 8.4 percent below August 2024 levels. More info here.

Cost of Home Ownership Keeps Rising: The U.S. Census Bureau released one-year estimates from a new American Community Survey, showing that the median monthly cost of home ownership for homeowners with a mortgage rose to $2,035 in 2024 from $1,960 in 2023. The figures are adjusted for inflation and reflect a YOY 3.8 percent jump. One measure of housing affordability is the amount households spend on costs such as mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, utilities, fees, and other expenses. In 2024, the median percentage of household income homeowners spent to cover these costs was 21.4 percent. More detail here.

Lumber Prices Drop: Lumber prices fell at the end of August in a typical seasonal slowdown, according to Madison’s Lumber Reporter. In the last week of August, the benchmark softwood lumber item — Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 — was $450 per thousand board feet, down 8 percent from the previous week and 10 percent lower than a month ago. However, prices were 43 percent higher than the same week in 2024 and 30 percent higher than in 2023. Tariffs on Canadian lumber exports to the U.S. came into effect in August, doubling the rate to 35 percent. This means that Canadian mills are likely to seek other markets in which to sell, potentially tightening supply in the U.S. when demand rebounds. Builderonline has more details.

The cycling event offered stunning views of New Jersey’s Warren County countryside and glimpses of the Appalachian Mountain trails.

By Nicholas Tamarin

On Saturday, September 13, the NKBA | KBIS team, including staff, family, and friends, embraced the beautiful weather and scenic countryside of Blairstown, New Jersey, for the annual Tour de Farm. This family-run cycling event, led by Sara Morrison with the support of her father Mitch Morrison, offered a day filled with sunshine, rolling hills, and authentic farm-to-table experiences.

Participants had the option to choose from three challenges: a competitive timed race, a 45-mile scenic loop, or a 22-mile ride. NKBA | KBIS Global President and CEO Bill Darcy impressively conquered the 45-mile route, while Vice President of Operations and KBIS Deb Webb and Senior Manager Global and Government Relations Steven Campeau tackled the 22-mile loop. 

Other members of the group drove along the route, meeting riders at each farm stop. “A HUGE thank you to the riders and especially to all of you who sacrificed your Saturday to support us, many driving far distances,” Darcy said. “And special thanks to Global Events Manager Alex Porto and Executive Administration Manager Rania Hanna for organizing this great day. We very much appreciate all of you supporting wellness at NKBA!”

The Tour de Farm offered stunning views of New Jersey’s Warren County countryside and glimpses of the Appalachian Mountain trails, making it not just a ride, but a true celebration of local farmers and community. 

Farm highlights of the day included:

• Race Farm: The official start and finish line, offering a pick-your-own experience
• Crazy Moon Farm: A charming family-led alpaca fiber farm
• Genesis Community Supported Farm: Spanning 20 acres with a colorful and diverse array of vegetables
• Marksboro Mills/Ruthie’s Vintage Garage: Providing fresh flour, bread, baked goods, and a delightful vintage market
• Blairstown Farmers Market: A vibrant hub for local vendors and fresh produce
• Wilson Family Farm: Known for its naturally raised beef, pork, and eggs

Business advisors at NKBA’s Women 2 Women Leadership Conference offered sage advice for succeeding in business and in life.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

Ten accomplished business advisors at NKBA’s 4^th annual Women 2 Women leadership conference in Scottsdale, AZ, told 100 attendees to stay true to themselves, to transfer skills from different careers and life experiences to their current situations, and to appreciate their own value along their career journeys.

The conference, held in September at the Mountain Shadows Resort, was sponsored by Café Appliances, Ferguson Home, and Maxim Lighting.

Moderated by Heather Shannon, SVP of Marketing & Communications for NKBA, the advisor panel included Arianne Bellizaire, owner of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors; Patty Dominguez, VP of Business Development for Cosentino; Erica Bovard, Senior Director of Café Brand & BGI Consumer Marketing; Casey Brand, owner of Cassandra Brand Interiors, Kristin Elder, VP and General Manager of the Consumer Channel for Kitchen & Bath North America at Kohler; Cheryl Fenelle-Dixon, a marketing professional who is an adjunct professor at Columbia University; Alena Capra, owner of Alena Capra Designs; Indira Franca, VP of International Business Development at Emerald; Ivana Molzen, an eCommerce and digital transformation executive; and Nureed Saeed, owner of Nu Interiors.

The panelists shared their own stories, positive experiences, and learning moments as they offered essential advice centered around six key themes.

1. Transfer Skills. “Don’t feel guilty about changing careers to follow a passion,” Bellizaire advised. “Many K&B professionals are in their second or third careers. The skills, knowledge, and information you pick up along the way help inform your next steps. Everything you’ve done is your path to learning the art of storytelling and sales. If you can’t get the client to understand it, you can’t sell it. Effective communication is the most valuable thing [you can] do. There are always nuggets from a previous career that will inform your next career.”

Dixon added that besides selling yourself and your services, it’s all about knowing your worth as well as recognizing what’s important to your audience. “Solve a problem, fulfill a need, show them how you fit into their world,” she said.

2. Overcome Roadblocks. This is especially important when you’re the only woman in a predominantly male-dominated environment or industry.

“I work at Cosentino, in a very male-dominated industry,” said Dominguez. “When I started, some of the men in the boardroom just ignored me, but I wanted to have a voice. Finally, I spoke up — and Eduardo Cosentino recognized me and believed in me. But I didn’t believe in myself. He told me I’d be going to KBIS, and when he was there, he said he wanted to see people coming up to me and asking about my son. Because then, he said, ‘you will have created a relationship.’ A year later, he offered me the role that really launched my career. I overcame my fear of speaking up and being heard, and that created an opportunity for me. So, speak up!”

Capra, who hosts a local design TV show in Florida, shared how her journey took her from designer to television host, a role she stepped into after the show’s longtime host moved on.  “I was excited for this opportunity, she said, “but I also knew that with change comes adjustment. The audience had to get used to a new face and energy, so I had to learn how to blaze my own path and help them connect with me.” The best advice is to be authentically yourself, and your audience will cherish what you bring to them.”

3. Identify the Qualities You Want in Your Team. Bovard said if the team isn’t right, nothing will be right. “The number-one thing I look for in team members is curiosity,” she said. “My team needs to know how to learn, how to do it better. The second thing is that they are a team player, and the third is to know their numbers. It’s important to have data ready to support a decision and rally people around you.”

4. Identify Qualities in a Partner. Whether collaborating with an individual or another company or brand, choosing the right partner can be tricky, said Brand, noting, “I want someone who willingly shares info with everyone.” She added that curiosity is also very important here, as is constructive criticism — giving it and taking it.

5. Identify and Use Flaws to Help Build Your Career. “Everything about me could be considered a ‘flaw,’” said Saeed, “for example, being female or a person of color. This can prevent people from connecting with their true selves. Embrace your own unique qualities and understand that even when you lose, you can still win.”

Elder added that not having a college degree was a source of “shame” early in her career. “But my real-life experience made me a better marketer. I learned what resonates most from working on the retail floor and hearing my customers.”

Dominguez said she was often criticized for being “too sentimental” in corporate situations. “But using your heart and seeing the emotional side of the business — the women’s side — helped shape the direction of our company and was ultimately quite beneficial.”

6. Learn the Benefits and Drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence. A big topic was understanding and negotiating AI in the business world, particularly the design arena. Molzen said many of us have replaced Google searches with AI, “because you can do almost anything with it. We should be asking what we are using AI for. You need a strategy and a long-term vision. Replacing the workforce with AI can be catastrophic. Instead, take the time to educate your workforce about how to use AI responsibly.”

Bovard noted that, like most of the Internet, AI is forever. “Be careful about what you feed into Chat GPT, and be sure to protect your company’s data. Think about how AI can help with your productivity, for example, create an algorithm of who your audience is, and ask questions to figure out what your true audience really wants.”

She also advised attendees to learn about the “Large Language Model” — the keywords that AI identifies as being those that propel a company to the top of a search, based on massive analysis of text and human language patterns.

Franca concurred, “We have tons of data to learn about how to be more effective and productive and to learn about our audience, but if you don’t want some information to be public, don’t put it out there.

Saeed concluded, “Ask Chat GPT about yourself — you might be surprised to find out where you stand.”

The Takeaways

Several constants emerged as key ingredients for success in both business and life.

• Use emotion as a strength.

• Don’t change or compromise your values for anyone.

• Appreciate your self-worth and be confident in yourself and your values.

• Don’t allow anyone to disrespect you.

• In a male-dominated culture, find a man in the group who values you, get his support, and the rest will often follow.

• Sometimes you need to leave a bad situation. Understand that maybe your circumstances will dictate a change for you — and that it can be the best thing to happen to you.

Bill Darcy and Daryl Friedman spoke about the ways kitchen and bath designers can collaborate with technology integrators.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

The convergence of all aspects of residential design and construction has never been more vibrant. Designers and remodelers are increasingly adopting a whole-home approach to renovation, as well as new construction, including the integration of exciting new technologies that are rapidly coming to market and gaining wide acceptance.

All this means learning new tools and devising plans that include the infrastructure to accommodate these technologies. To facilitate this, NKBA and CEDIA, the leading home tech integration association, jointly commissioned extensive research, “Technology Integration in Kitchen, Bath, or Whole Home,” to gauge the current level of awareness and integration of tech products in kitchen and bath projects and identify opportunities for collaboration among the various disciplines. The survey polled NKBA and CEDIA members and KBIS attendees, including designers, specifiers, contractors/remodelers, tech integrators, and home builders.

Bill Darcy, NKBA Global President & CEO, and Daryl Friedman, CEDIA Global President & CEO, discussed these findings at CEDIA Expo in Denver this month to help K&B designers and technology integrators discover how to connect, collaborate, and capitalize on the growth in smart-home products and technology. The two leaders shared insights from this exclusive research and strategies for applying it to improve business.

Among the benefits of incorporating a tech plan into kitchen, bath, and whole-home renovation are that it prepares homes for the future and boosts project value by providing the smart-home technology homeowners crave. The research also identified preferences among designers and their clients, challenges hindering more tech integration, and strategies to overcome those barriers.

Building Awareness

The research revealed that K&B designers need to understand project workflows, various roles, and patterns of collaboration to fully integrate the technology into their projects. One key finding is that only 32 percent of NKBA respondents are familiar with the term “integrator.” Of that 32 percent, 44 percent have worked with an integrator on a project, and 49 percent acknowledge it’s “extremely” or “very” important to work with one. Overall, however, just 14 percent of NKBS/KBIS respondents have ever worked with an integrator.

Further, it’s most often (75 percent) the homeowner who suggests the need for technology integration, compared to 53 percent of designers and 36 percent of builders/remodelers/contractors. This indicates significant upside potential for the professionals to recommend tech integration. Additionally, compared to two years ago, 68 percent of respondents said there has been an increase in interest in home tech.

The solution, Darcy and Friedman concurred, is to increase familiarity among NKBA pros with the technologies, products, and installation processes, so that they may present a more informed plan to homeowners. Designers and builders also need to understand the role of the integrator and the importance of initiating the tech conversation early in the project.

Darcy said the co-location of KBIS and the National Association of Home Builders’ IBS show helped facilitate and accelerate collaboration between builders and designers. “We feel the same with CEDIA,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for us — designers, builders, integrators — to find a way to accelerate this relationship development and make the integrator a critical piece of the project planning on the front end, so it’s not so mysterious.”

The relationship between NKBA and CEDIA can help foster networking and connections and guide the NKBA audience on where to find integrators, he added. In fact, the research showed that 47 percent of NKBA respondents who had worked with an integrator said they found the connection through a trade association.

“The really interesting thing to me is that almost half of all designers who know the word ‘integrator’ are using an integrator,” said Friedman. “But that half is only half of one-third of designers. So, this is telling us that the awareness level is the biggest barrier because once they know what it is and what technology can do and once homeowners see what it can bring to their home, they want it. If we can increase that knowledge and awareness, that’s where our conversations are going to be fruitful.”

Product Familiarity

To capitalize on emerging technologies, designers must familiarize themselves not only with the products most likely to be adopted but also with the target audiences that are most likely to adopt them.

Not surprisingly, there are plenty of smart products for the kitchen, bath, and the entire home that have awareness levels above 80 percent among NKBA respondents. These include heated floors and towel bars, exhaust fans, smart toilets and steam showers in the bath; motion-sensor faucets, lighting control, smart refrigerators, and motorized window treatments in the kitchen, and video doorbells, smart lighting, motion detectors, and security systems for the whole home. The research reveals that focusing on high-conversion products like these leads to higher-value projects, but still requires continuing marketing and education, especially for emerging tech like smart toilets and smart ovens.

Smart products with lower levels of awareness include leak detection, heated shower benches, and waterproof TVs in the bath; connected countertop appliances, voice-activated faucets, networking outlets in the kitchen, and occupancy sensors, smart windows, full video walls, and health monitors for the whole home. The survey indicates that niche products like these require additional support and education to become mainstream.

Benefits and Barriers

Many emerging home technologies will soon become must-have elements in design and remodeling. However, two significant barriers to adoption are cost, cited by 86 percent of respondents, and a lack of understanding of the technology’s benefits, mentioned by 70 percent.

Strategies to overcome the cost factor include building infrastructure that allows tech to be added later and integrating technology on a smaller scale. Since NKBA respondents cite convenience (83 percent) and security (74 percent) as the biggest benefits of smart-home technology, it is essential to educate homeowners about these benefits and demystify the complexities of the technology. This means educating themselves to gain a deeper understanding so they may better explain it to their clients.

The Bottom Line

The market for smart-home tech is expanding rapidly, and like most emerging technologies, it’s catching on with higher-end consumers first. Insights from this effort will enable NKBA and CEDIA to more effectively support their members, help them make connections, raise awareness, and accelerate home-tech integration.The full report is available at nkba.org/research and is included with NKBA membership or can be purchased by non-members.

Alison Kenworthy, founder of home-design showcase Homeworthy, imparted important advice at NKBA’s Women 2 Women conference, including the value of sharing a great story.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

“My 20-year career has not been a ladder, but a scavenger hunt. But every unexpected turn has led me to this place,” said Alison Kenworthy, founder of Homeworthy, as she delivered the keynote address at NKBA’s 4^th annual Women 2 Women conference in Phoenix, Sept. 3 to 5, sponsored by Café Appliances, Ferguson Home, and Maxim Lighting.

The three-time Emmy Award-winning television producer shared her journey and offered some critical advice to 100 NKBA members, all women from various disciplines within the kitchen and bath industry, including design, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. One of the keys, she said, was asking for help along the way.

She began by sharing her own origin story. Homeworthy is a design video production company that shares tours of  homes and apartments around the world on YouTube. The company, founded in 2019, shows how homes and design shape the lives and tell the stories of those who live there.

Homeworthy today boasts over 50 million followers and logged over 1.2 billion minutes viewed last year. Kenworthy started her career as a TV journalist doing traffic reports. After growing up in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC, where she discovered a love for the beautiful design and character of homes, she moved to New York for a job as a news desk assistant, and eventually a producer for ABC’s Good Morning America. During her time in New York, she lived in an apartment so tiny she dubbed it “The Dollhouse.” However, it taught her about the beauty of small spaces and that good design isn’t exclusively about grand mansions. “Often it’s the small spaces that resonate most with our audience — especially the ones that tell a story,” she said. This would become one of the cornerstones of her future brand.

From each of her work experiences, she said she learned invaluable lessons: how to work quickly; the art of compelling storytelling; time management; and how to capture people’s attention within the first few seconds.

Time for a Change

The news business was fulfilling but quite demanding, and Kenworthy said it was time to take a leap of faith. “I knew if I didn’t leave GMA, I would never take the risk needed to pursue my passion,” she said. “So, I started this project, and I was an accidental entrepreneur. Sometimes not knowing everything involved in launching a business is beneficial; when you’re in the middle of it, you just have to figure it out.”

Her first year, she was a one-woman show, handling everything from booking subjects for her home-showcase videos — all shot on her cell phone — to producing and posting the content. “In the beginning, I had to ask for help, ask friends for favors and connections. I liked creating episodes from beginning to end, learned how to solve problems and get things done, and in the process, I honed my skills. And because of this, I knew every aspect of the company, so I knew what to look for in the people I needed to hire to grow the business.”

She posted her first video, and on its first day, it drew just 14 views — a far cry from what she was accustomed to, considering GMA had 6 million daily viewers. But as she continued posting, her videos began to resonate with an audience. “Then the pandemic happened, and people were eager to see how others lived, to see inside their homes and hear their stories,” she revealed. “Going into people’s homes is not just about what the place looks like, it’s about the stories of the people who live there. It’s not just ‘before’ and ‘after,’ it’s about the middle and how they got there.”

The Growth Spurt

Kenworthy seized every opportunity to ask to go into people’s homes. An interview with the designer Bunny Williams was her first video to reach one million views. A chance meeting with Amy Schumer in a Manhattan boutique led to a piece on the comedian’s New Orleans home and taught another lesson: “When an opportunity presents itself, go for it!”

Homeworthy now has a team of 10 producers and collaborates with over a hundred videographers worldwide. The company produces a massive amount of content — three episodes a day — and averages about 7 million minutes watched monthly and over 1 billion impressions annually across multiple platforms. Her core audience is 79 percent female, with 60 percent of viewers between 25 and 54 years old. This key demographic has an affinity for luxury brands and experiences, which helps her with branding partnerships.

Top Takeaways

Kenworthy said the key to managing any kind of business comes down to hiring a great team. “This is pivotal. My first hire was someone who could do my job, to free me up to figure out how to grow the brand. It’s not easy to give up creative control, but that’s how we grew.

“I’ve never been afraid of people who are smarter than me,” she mused. “Hire people who have qualities you don’t have, and who may outperform you in certain areas. You have to trust them completely and empower them — don’t micromanage. The key is delegating and finding the right people to delegate to.”

Kenworthy advised the audience to “remember the power of your own story and narrative. You’ll unlock your most powerful tool for inspiring others.”

A special thank you to our 2026 W2W Sponsors:

Nominations will be open until September 30.

By Nicholas Tamarin

NKBA | KBIS is now accepting self-nominations for its national elections. This is an opportunity to take volunteerism from the local to the national level by serving on the association’s Board of Directors (BOD) or one of its key standing committees.

Open positions include:

1. Board of Directors (BOD)—Two positions
2. Chapter Leadership Committee (CLC)—One position
3. Leadership Recruitment Committee (LRC)—One position
4. KBIS Exhibitor Committee (KEC)—Five positions

To be considered for the Board of Directors, Chapter Leadership Committee, or Leadership Recruitment Committee, candidates should be NKBA members in good standing. Please note that Chapter Leadership Committee applicants must be a current chapter officer or have previously served at least one full term as a chapter officer within the last two years. The applicant does not need to maintain officer status, however, to remain in the CLC position.

Additionally, to be eligible for election to the KBIS Exhibitor Committee, applicants must have been an exhibitor at KBIS 2025 and must commit to exhibiting at KBIS 2026.

To learn more about open national volunteer roles and apply, please visit here.

Nominations will be open until September 30, so be sure to apply!