2023 International Builders' event showcased latest trends and products in homebuilding
The 2023 National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas attracted approximately 70,000 attendees to ogle more than 1,300 exhibiters showing off the hottest trends and products in the building industry, plus two tricked out official show homes.
The show was part of Design & Construction Week, which this year also included the National Kitchen & Bath Association Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, the National Hardware Show and The International Surface Event, the largest North American floor covering, stone and tile industry event.
From fridges that change color along with your mood to appliances designed to dry humans or animals without the need for towels, the shows promised to make consumers’ lives better and brighter.
Design & Construction Week’s centerpiece was the New American Home. It was the 40th year of the program, recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious home exhibits. The 7,575-square-foot desert contemporary beauty in the luxe Ascaya community is set among the vast foothills that surround Sin City. At night, the lights of the Strip glitter in the distance.
A 45-foot — yes, 45-foot — six-panel stacking door system opens from the main great room to the outdoor kitchen and infinity pool. A seamless transition between the outdoor spaces and the “culinary showcase,” aka the kitchen, enhances the atmosphere of openness.
The second-floor master suite, designed as a secluded hideaway, incorporates a morning kitchen, custom glass-enclosed sauna and private outdoor space with fireplace.
The Ascaya home was the jewel in the crown of the show, but there were many gems to be gathered on the show floor. Here are a few:
The latest in solar generators
Geneverse solar backup generators are like traditional gas generators, except they rely on solar energy rather than combustible fuel. With plenty of free sunshine, Florida residents can use these hurricane aids safely and at zero cost, even on cloudy days. The appliance can also be charged through an AC wall outlet or even with a car battery.
A full capacity Geneverse power station can hold their charge for up to a year.
Magnificent mailboxes
Florida is tough on mailboxes, but the Sunshine State’s mailbox-destroying rays have met their match with Step 2. The company manufactures sun-defying resin molded mailboxes with intricate detailing and coloring that mimics woodwork without the maintenance.
The Atherton Grand is stately, extra-large, with all sorts of recessed panels, crown molding and crisp corners. It fits over standard 4x4 wooden post and thanks to a stainless steel support plate, it does not suffer from mailbox “sag.”
For retirees who like traveling, or purchasing a lot of things through the mail, the Atherton Reserve package and storage mailbox safely stores a sizable amount of mail and small packages. A removable mailbox floor opens up a storage area accessible only to the keyholder.
Change the light, change the mood
Can a lightbulb make you feel better? Yes, according to Sylvania, makers of TruWave LED lights that reduce unnecessary blue light. Blue light can cause headaches and eyestrain and make falling asleep more difficult. Since it is closest to natural light, the TruWave bulbs bathe the space with a more relaxed ambiance.
Getting to the root
Inspired by the need to keep a family orchard alive, inventor Robert Summers created RootQuencher, a watering innovation that delivers water and fertilizer yet saves 50% of water versus sprinkler watering.
The deep-root watering system telescopes from nine to 22 inches, depending on the needs of the particular tree or shrub.
The tube-like device installs just inside the canopy of the plant and connects with existing irrigation or hose as standalone. Water fills the chambers and wicks out the holes with capillary action, absorbing laterally and vertically to nourish roots. Root Quencher Jr works with smaller shrubs and veggies. Root Quencher Spike connects directly with a drip line to bring water to specific plants or areas.
A faucet that goes places
“America’s Test Kitchen” co-hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison were at the show’s massive Kohler booth to demonstrate some of the company’s newest products. The pair were enamored with Kohler’s Purist Suspend, a ceiling mount kitchen sink faucet. Yeah, that’s right, ceiling mount.
A statement piece, the Purist Suspend mounts from the ceiling, staying out of the way until needed. A seven-foot braided hose allows the sprayhead to move around the kitchen, filling a kettle here or watering a potted plant there.
Spray functions are controlled by a remote puck that can be moved throughout the kitchen.
It’s not just out-of-the-park innovative, but the Purist is also sculptural, transforming the kitchen faucet into a work of art.
Moody fridge
LG Studio’s MoodUP customizable refrigerator with color-changing panels stirred attendees at Design & Construction Week with 190,000 color combinations that change via ThinQ app, plus music capabilities via Bluetooth speaker.
Preset seasonal color options get you in the holiday spirit. If you’ve had a particularly tough day, you can program the appliance to lift you with color or surrender to your funk with sober colors that match your mood.
Simply knock twice on the fridge’s InstaView to illuminate the contents within and see if you need to stop by the store for some milk.
Bye-bye bites
In 2016, a bunch of clever German students decided to tackle the issue of insect bites. They zeroed on the principle of hyperthermia to relieve itching and pain with concentrated heat. The result is heat it, now available in the United States through Amazon and soon at REI.
As with seemingly everything in life these days, heat it works with your smartphone. You plug the small device into the phone’s charging port and the corresponding app opens. The device almost instantly becomes a tiny heating plate you put on the bite. Depending on the setting, treatment takes four, seven or 10 seconds max, with the app giving you feed back as soon as treatment is successfully completed.
No chemicals are used. The device attaches to a keychain, so it’s ready at a moment’s notice.
Vovo AirCare
Towels and towel racks could go the way of the horse and buggy with the Vovo AirCare, which allows users to dry their bodies just by standing on the appliance, which looks like a weight scale on steroids (actually, it’s also a scale). Settings allow for wind power control so kiddos and pets can be dried safely.
The product connects via Bluetooth.
Pizza (oven) to go
The Roccbox is one of Gozney’s collection of outdoor pizza ovens. It’s restaurant-grade, but portable, and can be used with gas or wood as fuel.
Also professional-grade, Gozney’s Dome pizza oven also roasts, smokes, steams or bakes, using propane, natural gas or wood.
Glowing reviews
Glow Path Pavers are indeed luminescent pavers. These unique pavers offer a self-illuminating system perfect for low-light areas such as driveways and walkways.
The pavers will glow for up to eight hours after sunset with a look that is other-worldly subtle.
Maria Sonnenberg is a Melbourne-based freelance travel and lifestyles writer.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Home builders' event showcases what's new and cool for your home
