The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA): Celebrating 50 Years

The NKBA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, marking half a century of dedication to industry education, networking and raising the professionalism of their membership. Founded in April of 1963 by a small group of kitchen dealers, the association’s goals included education, standards and advertising and public relations.

 

Since its founding, the NKBA has developed certifications, such as “Certified Kitchen Designer”, to ensure that a kitchen specialist is a valued and recognized profession and to encourage people to make kitchen design a career. The NKBA hosts the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) annually. This show, initially a very small gathering, has grown to be the largest professional kitchen and bath industry show in the world. In 2014, the International Builder’s Show and KBIS will host simultaneous shows in Las Vegas, NV.

Today, the NKBA is the premier association for kitchen and bath professionals, with nearly 60,000 members.

 

So why should you care about this organization? If you have had a bathroom or kitchen designed or remodeled, you may want to have consulted the NKBA. Their guidelines for these spaces are known throughout the construction and design industry to be the standard to design to. Make sure whoever you are working with is aware of and adhering to the standards.

 

Is it really that important to work with a NKBA certified designer? NKBA designers have many years of experience under their belt, have passed exams and must have annual continuing education credits. This knowledge and experience will only serve you better to ensure that your project turns out the best it can be.