We love joining in on #KBTribeChat, which takes place every Wednesday from 2-3 pm EST across Twitter. Every week a topic is discussed and manufacturers and designers alike all jump in with opinion, advice and facts. This week we discussed the importance of social media in our industry, with #KBTribeChat supplying the questions. Even though I’m a millennial, I still have quite a lot to learn when it comes to social media, and these folks really showed me.

1. Is Twitter useful to you beyond #KBTribechat?
   Twitter is like real-time dialogue – you could get drawn into it all day chatting with others in the business and clients if you could. It also allows you to post links, whereas Instragram doesn’t.
2. What social platforms are musts? For what reasons?
   This one is pretty clear: Twitter, Instram, and Facebook. GooglePlus is a must for SEO users, and Houzz and PInterest are also helpful for reaching new clients.
3. What advice do you have for the design pro who is skeptic about social media?
   Although it’s doubtful that anyone really has skepticism, we all agreed that you need to figure out who your target audience is and what platform they use. Several designers also pointed out that social media in itself is a great outlet for showing off design skills.
4. How has social media benefited your business?
   Everyone agreed that social media is crucial. It allows a new group of users to engage and provide real-time feedback, is a great networking tool and is marketing without physically going door-to-door.
5. Do you have a strategy for when to like a tweet and when to retweet?
   Retweets show up as “repeats” of what someone else tweeted, while likes just add up little hearts next to the tweets. Basically, if you want to share with your audience someone else’s tweet, then retweet it. If you just want to show appreciation for a tweet, but it’s not applicable to you business, then like it.

If you want to join in next week, just follow @KBTribeChat on twitter, and when it comes time for the talk, find #KBTribeChat. You can participate by adding #KBTribechat to the end of your tweets. See you next time!

KBIS is changing it up this year and moving to Orlando, but all of my time with KBB and our sister publications has granted me countless trips to Vegas. I’m not one for the Vegas “experience,” but I do love opening the door to a different hotel every time and marveling at all the unique designs.

Recently I got a secondhand look at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental – specifically the 2,126-sq.-ft. Penthouse 4101. Speaking with the designer, Pedram Rahimi of Las Vegas-based Rahimi Designs, I learned that designing for such a luxurious space is a challenge in high thinking.

KBB: What were your challenges, and how did you solve them?

PR: The challenge was to set the design apart from the norm and provide a luxurious living experience, providing everything that one would want and need while at the same time taking your breath away. This was achieved by the selection of materials and the use of space, and features like marble baseboard, a television built within a mirror, artwork, high-end furniture and a luxurious master suite bathroom with a spa tub and a teak-paneled ceiling and floors.

KBB: What was your goal for the kitchen?

PR: The idea was to create a kitchen that blends and expands into the dining room and the unparalleled strip views to create an overall dining experience. The choice of appliances, materials, cabinetry and finishes enhances the appeal of this space. A focal point of the kitchen is the waterfall design on the island.

KBB: What was your favorite part of this project?

PR: I was able to design the space in a way that I could express my design ideas and utilize materials in order to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

I’ve always been a book-lover, so I’m excited to share what just came out: Trends & Influences, vol.3, completed by the product experts at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

And it’s one of my favorite kinds – a 25-page, full color inspirational look-book. This newest edition showcases product design trends for the kitchen, bath, laundry room and outdoor.  New this year are four online-exclusive trends: Interactive Features, Stacked Design, Larger Fixtures and Modern Industrial.

Here’s a quick look at the trends illustrated in the guide:

Metallics – From soft rose gold to strong black stainless steel, products are now available across the entire metallic spectrum.

Form = Function– No longer competing for importance, form and function are united and stronger than ever.

Texture– Creative use of texture awakens the senses in products that feel as intriguing as they look.

Approachable Pro – Enjoy the benefits of commercial grade kitchen fixtures and appliances – without them having to look that way.

Striking Forms– Modern shapes and forms are daring, yet their clean, curved lines and soft edges make them easy to incorporate into any design style.

Mid-Century Modern Lighting – Mid-Century Modern re-emerges as a dominant lighting trend, incorporating updates for the 21st century.

Of the Earth – Celebrating nature with designs that showcase organic forms and materials, the Of The Earth trend is inspired by the great outdoors.

Tech Innovations – From digital readouts to wireless connectivity, today’s thoughtful tech innovations give you more “smart” choices than ever before.

Classic Black, Cool White – Stand out or blend in with classic black and cool white.

LED– Planes and plates of LED modules are showcased in varying widths and lengths, blending into the shape of sculptural fixtures to produce illuminated pieces of art.

Have you been seeing these trends too? We’d love to hear!

As KBIS 2017 draws nearer, KBB is on top of all of the new products that will be introduced. Please join us from Jan. 10-12 in Orlando to see these and many more. Here is a sampling to whet your whistle.

Kohler’s Inia Wading Pool sink is made through pressed-glass construction, and its deep basin minimizes splashing. It is available in a variety of colors, is easy to clean and features a subtle, hammered texture with a painted underside to hide fixtures.

KWC’s stylish and functional PIANA bath collection includes a single-lever faucet, a single-lever vessel faucet and a widespread faucet – all available in chrome or splendure stainless steel.

Omega will introduce four new neutral cabinetry colors, including Meteor – a warm whisper of gray – and Colonnade, a slightly darker hue. The white shades include Elemental White – a bright, clear pigmentation – and Beach House, a creamy white.

Sterling’s stain-, scratch- and chip-resistant Lawson Oval Bath features an integrated headrest and lumbar support for added comfort. It is comprised of Vikrell Material, which is a solid composite material made of resins, fiberglass and filler.

The Marco bathroom collection from Ronbow and designed by Ramon Esteve emulates a strong, linear design and features such storage elements and accessories as a towel bar and drawer and side cabinets. It is available in two sizes and three finishes and can be customized.