February 8, 2024

NKBA | KBIS, the authority on the residential kitchen and bath industry and owners of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), will officially launch its first-ever NKBA Design Council this February, at KBIS 2024 in Las Vegas. Featuring industry-leading designers Thom Filicia, Michel Smith Boyd, Caleb Anderson, and Celerie Kemble, the program teams up with illustrious voices to promote the benefits of NKBA | KBIS membership to the nation’s design community.

NKBA | KBIS is the world’s leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry, providing tools, research, certification, and events to thousands of industry professionals. The addition of the Design Council offers new perspectives to achieve the association’s mission of raising the level of industry professionalism by inspiring, leading and empowering each member of the kitchen and bath community.

“We are excited to introduce our first-ever Design Council, with these amazing and talented designers who will help us continue to promote our association, our community and KBIS,“ said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS. “Leveraging the knowledge of these remarkable designers, we will provide our members with new and valuable insights to support their own professional growth and business success.”

Together, Anderson, Boyd, Filicia and Kemble will be introduced at KBIS 2024 in Las Vegas, where they will tour the show, trend-spotting new debuts and innovations from global kitchen and bath manufacturers and documenting their experience for their social audience. Additionally, the council will host a panel discussion moderated by Interior Design Editor-In-Chief Cindy Allen at the NKBA Booth (#N2539) on Wednesday, February 28 from 1:30-2:00 p.m. PT. Beyond KBIS, the Design Council will serve as an expert resource for NKBA throughout the year, including through NKBA trend reports and top industry events such as High Point Market.

2024 NKBA Design Council

Thom Filicia has emerged as one of today’s most influential and respected interior and product designers. His projects include residential, hospitality and commercial interiors all over the world with clients ranging from Tina Fey, to Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, David & Iman Bowie, and Delta Airlines. Gaining fame on the Emmy-winning “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, Style Network, HGTV, and most recently Bravo’s Get A Room with Carson & Thom, he is a best-selling author and has been praised as a top designer and international tastemaker. He is also the driving force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, which includes furniture, artwork, bedding, textiles, wallcovering, rugs, lighting, accessories and more, and has a flagship showroom, called Sedgwick & Brattle, at The New York Design Center.

Michel Smith Boyd is an American interior designer and star of the hit shows, HGTV’s Luxe for Less, Rock the Block, and Barbie Dream House Challenge as well as Bravo’s Buying it Blind. His Atlanta based firm, Smith Boyd Interiors, is known for Michel’s signature, sumptuous style. Renowned for its distinctive, cultivated, and soulful vibe Michel’s work has received countless accolades including being recognized as one of the Top 10 African American Designers in the country and most recently named The Atlantan’s “Top 50 Most Powerful People.” Boyd prides himself on creating spaces that his clients not only adore but also delight in calling home. Michel’s breadth of influence includes residential and commercial interior design as well as bespoke collections of luxe rugs, artisan case-goods, bold lustrous paintings, and a new collection of fragrances curated for home. His signature style masterfully juxtaposes masculine and feminine sophistication and he seamlessly blends it all under one roof to set the perfect mood.

Caleb Anderson is a principal at award-winning design firm Drake/Anderson and the co-founder of Well-Designed, a new venture committed to sharing resources and tools to support a happier, healthier and more harmonious design community through meaningful shared experiences. Along with his dedication to creating and fostering more opportunities for authentic connection and sustainable work practices among his peers, Anderson is using his design expertise to heighten awareness within the community around healthy materials, sustainability and social consciousness.

Celerie Kemble’s priority is always to express the personality and sentiment of her clients through gracious interiors. Never one to dismiss nuance or drama, Celerie seamlessly engages both forces to create dynamic and comfortable rooms. Kemble Interiors is a multi-generational firm with over 50 years of experience designing hotels, country clubs, and residential spaces, and has offices in both New York and Palm Beach. Celerie received a B.A. in English from Harvard and lives in New York City with her three children. Her current licensed product lines include fabrics, trims and wallpaper for Schumacher, lighting and occasional furniture with Arteriors, outdoor furniture with Lane Venture, and in 2023 she launched a line of case goods with Woodbridge Furniture and upholstery with Taylor King.

Photo credit: Courtesy of NKBA | KBIS