Well Fed On the Town

A couple of weeks ago (yes, I am so late posting), I had the opportunity to attend the K/BIS (Kitchen/Bath Industry Show) 2009 conference in Atlanta. The show exhibited innovative kitchen and bath products that work for a wide variety of consumers.

According to the K/BIS website, K/BIS is the premiere industry event to showcase the products that change the kitchen and bath through their innovation and ability to meet the needs of the marketplace. At K/BIS, you’ll have the opportunity to visit with the top manufacturers, attend informative conference sessions that provide valuable insight on today’s design trends, and network with other industry professionals to share and learn new design strategies and concepts. That being said,  I admittedly didn’t know what to expect.  I am just lil’ ol me, the home cook who loves to blog.  When I entered the World Congress Center and saw the vendor booths as far as my eye could see, I think my jaw dropped.  I laughed at the time I was intimidated by my home builder’s small decorating center.  Ha!  That center was the size of one of these vendor areas.  How to begin…press credentials first, them attack the conference head on…

The specific vendors noted below caught my interest.  I will post more about them, and others, later on other Well Fed sites.  There were simply too many cover here, but it was evident that everyone had a mission and vision.  The A and C sections of the Center consisted of kitchen and bath, as well as a lot of fixtures and accessories.  The second floor, Section B, was mostly kitchen.

Of course, being from Well Fed, I headed toward anything kitchen.  While it was evident all the booths were geared for the home shopper, but geared for the contractors, etc.  Therefore, I tried to talk to representatives I thought would provide the most useful, new, and innovative products.  I also looked for Green options as well. Some of my stops?

Sea Stones.  Bringing mother nature in homes, the New Hampshire based company presents a unique and beautiful look to hooks, knobs, and even wine classes.

Kohler wowed attendees with their enormous square footage, their raised stage, and projection televisions airing their presentations.  I felt as though I was in the audience of a food TV show with the three chefs, their commentary, product knowledge, and humor.  It helped that they were passing out the items being cooked/prepared on site, including cocktails!  (A little early for me, but many people around me proceeded with the thought that, regardless of the 11:30 AM time, it was 5 p.m. somewhere!)

The rep from Artisan Manusfacturing was actually the first person to (a) come up to me and (b) speak with me (not to me) with the understanding that I was not a contractor, but a potential customer nonetheless.

Bosch was a little different in their marketing, as their reps handed out USB drives with detailed information about their products.  What a great way to save some trees!  They also had a chef working within their booth at one of their stoves, one I would love in my kitchen!  If not for anything else, each burner had its own timer.  That’s love!

Kenyon Appliances’ chef was cooking on their cook tops with their cookware.

I am really excited I went and now have my dream kitchen in my brain, ready to go, when my secret benefactor, mysteriously bestows kitchen fabulousness upon me.  Until then, I will look forward to next year’s show, April 2010, happening in Chicago.