Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
Builders, designers, architects and other attendees to Design & Construction Week have plenty to see: The first-time event, which includes the International Builders’ Show, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Window Coverings Expo, offers more than 1,500 displays and plenty of product demonstrations and plenty of educational opportunities.
Design & Construction Week runs Feb. 4-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Top Trends
Several trends were evident across the showfloor.
Home automation continues to become more and more popular. “Smart” products work together throughout the home, allowing consumers to lock doors, adjust thermostats and set alarms from the convenience of their smartphones, tablets or computers.
The New American Home, on display in nearby Henderson, Nev., incorporates a completely integrated home technology system, which controls lighting, entertainment, home security and more.
The high-tech products also add to energy efficiency, which has become more and more popular over the past few years and is practically expected by consumers now. Setting these systems throughout the house or adjusting them remotely allows consumers to save on energy bills.
With the recession (mostly) behind us, consumers are willing to spend again, and it shows. From high-end wine racks to auto-adjusting basketball hoops to outdoor living, Design & Construction Week offers a variety of products consumers can splurge on to add to their homes.
Dan Mulrooney, president of Central Valley Hardware in Stockton, Calif., noticed plenty of high-end products at the show.
“It seems the high-end items are popular,” he says. “I’ve especially noticed a lot of really nice fireplaces.”
He’d noticed a variety of new building materials at the show, too. “I’m seeing lots of new building materials, including lots of pre-fab, stone, tile and composites.”
Like many other attendees, Mulrooney was at the show to find out new trends. “We’re a distributor of doors, frames and hardware, and I’m here to get an idea of what people are buying,” he says. “I’m talking to vendors to see what’s hot. I want to make sure the products I’m buying are what customers want.”
When it comes to home design, open floor plans continue to be popular, and the kitchen continues to be the center of the house. Consumers can make kitchens multitask by adding charging stations, workspaces, coffee bars and even a place for pets to sit.
Next year’s Design & Construction Week will be Jan. 20-22 in Las Vegas.
