Attendance at the recently completed 2025 IBS Show in Las Vegas was high, reflecting some optimism of improved homebuilding markets to come. Thousands of people from different countries walked through the halls of the Convention Center on February 25-27.
Vendors (and Alder users) like Kolbe, Murphy Door, Masterbrand, Mastergrain, Sun Mountain Door, Quaker Windows, and hundreds more were there. It is always of interest to seek out the companies that are using Alder, and it seemed that more Alder was shown this year than in prior ones.
Trending the show were the kitchens with colorful appliances. Most of the featured stoves cost a small fortune, making one wonder where stoves costing as much as a car fit in most budgets. They were stunningly beautiful though, colorful and shiny red, navy blue, green and even pink. Walking through the exhibits one wonders, “Who exactly buys these stunning appliances?” and “What type of cabinets would adorn them?”
Kitchens with sleek lines and colorful, shiny, high-density laminate panels were everywhere. Oftentimes, one would have to go “hands-on” with a cabinet door to see whether it was real hardwood. Yet one would pause with pairing a stove worth thousands of dollars, with melamine cabinets to showcase it? Most buyers opting for high-end appliances would also want the rich and warm feeling of hardwood cabinets around it.
While the cabinet companies at the concurrent KBIS show continued to showcase the white shaker look that has been popular for the last several years, along with more TFL (Thermally Fused Laminate) cabinetry, there was a noticeable trend to darker wood-stained finishes. For many of these finishes, Alder is a solid fit. It is easy for wood shops to work with because it is easy on their machines and blades. It can be stained in thousands of shades or painted, with combinations of stain and paint shown in many display kitchens. The trend to frameless cabinetry was also obvious, as the cleaner lines seemed to fit well with the high-end appliances so prevalently featured.
With such a focus on high-end looks, it seemed the middle market, where the bulk of the cabinetry is installed, was somewhat overlooked. As many navigated the over 1 million square feet of exhibit space, reality came home. This made me come back to reality, and I figured I best go get some late lunch as I finished my 27,500-step day!
Bonnie Camarena
Territory Manager, Mexico
