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The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) will debut findings from their inaugural 2026 Whole-Home Design Study during the opening-day keynote at Fall High Point Market, offering new research on how changing consumer expectations are reshaping residential design.
The keynote, "Evolution of the Home: The Consumer Shifts Reshaping Design & What It Means for Your Business," is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the High Point Theatre.
Presented by Tammy Covington, president and CEO of HPMA, and Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA, the session will examine how evolving consumer preferences are driving greater collaboration among kitchen and bath designers, interior designers and the home furnishings industry.
The study draws on survey responses from NKBA members, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) attendees and design professionals within the High Point Market network. According to the organizations, the research explores cross-disciplinary design trends, emerging business opportunities and the growing influence of whole-home design on purchasing decisions.
For manufacturers serving the surface and panel industry, the findings could provide valuable insight into changing material preferences, cabinetry, furniture and interior product specifications, as well as opportunities created by increased collaboration across residential design disciplines.
"As the largest trading and educational hub for the design industry, we've partnered with NKBA on this inaugural, one-of-a-kind survey," Covington said. "High Point Market is the design industry's destination for growth strategies that move business forward."
Darcy said the partnership reflects the growing connection between kitchen and bath design and the broader home furnishings market.
"Kitchen and bath design continues to shape the rest of the home, and this collaborative study will equip industry professionals with valuable insights to better serve their clients and grow their businesses with confidence," he said.
The keynote is open to registered High Point Market attendees, with doors opening at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.
