Leading Kitchen and Bath Brands Turn to Grothouse’s Wood Surfacing at KBIS 2026

Germansville, PA – January 2026 – Grothouse, the leading manufacturer of luxury wood surfacing, will collaborate with BlueStar, Monogram, RA Design, and Architectural Grille to craft three separate booth exhibitions at the 2026 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando, Florida, February 17-19, highlighting the evolving role of wood in high-end residential and commercial design. Featured installations with leading appliance, cabinetry, and metalwork partners demonstrate how Grothouse wood surfacing continues to anchor spaces that prioritize warmth and performance, while delivering engineered solutions designers can rely on.

Grothouse founder Paul Grothouse says these booths are designed to inspire and connect with industry professionals. “KBIS is always an opportunity to reconnect with clients and peers outside the day-to-day of the office and really take the pulse of the industry,” said Grothouse. “After a slower period in residential building, we’re seeing continued strength in commercial and luxury markets, and we’re hopeful that 2026 brings renewed movement across the broader housing market. I’m also especially interested in how software and AI are beginning to reshape design, ordering, and manufacturing across our industry.”

Sharing roots in Pennsylvania and a commitment to craftsmanship and quality, BlueStar is a natural pairing with Grothouse for a KBIS collaboration. Working with Village Handcrafted Cabinetry, Grothouse crafted two end grain walnut butcher block countertops for the BlueStar vignette. Each walnut countertop features precision cutouts for slide-in ranges, with the depth and richness of the wood naturally complementing the custom-colored appliances.

 “We’ve had a long relationship with the team at Village Handcrafted, and this is our second time featuring Grothouse surfaces in the BlueStar booth,” said Grothouse. “BlueStar’s focus on delivering true chef-quality cooking for the home aligns naturally with our approach to usability and performance.”

Walnut butcher block has become a Grothouse signature in kitchen applications due to its warmth, depth of color, and ability to complement today’s appliance finishes. “Butcher block delivers the functionality, and walnut’s tones align beautifully with where design is headed right now,” Grothouse notes. “And finished with The Original Oil™, the surface remains not just aesthetically appealing but built to last a lifetime as well.”

Addressing common misconceptions about butcher block, Grothouse added, “People often worry about food safety, but extensive studies from reputable universities have shown that wood is actually one of the safest food preparation surfaces. It naturally kills bacteria more quickly than many synthetic materials, which should give designers and homeowners confidence when specifying wood surfaces for chopping. We look forward to the conversations that will emerge once designers experience the BlueStar booth.”

Grothouse continues its long-standing collaboration with Monogram and their creative director, Richard Anuszkiewicz of RA Design, with a multi-material display that reflects the growing demand for layered, sophisticated surfacing.

The centerpiece is an island table featuring flat sawn White Oak finished in Grothouse’s Bianca™ Pigmented Oil. The statement wood surface is integrated with stone-wrapped cabinetry fabricated by Bentwood Cabinetry, creating a seamless blend of materials.

“This year’s design brings our wood top and base together with cabinetry and stone in a way that speaks to the continued desire for multi-material environments,” said Grothouse. “High-end designers are using surfacing as a way to create truly special, immersive spaces.”

Additional wood surfaces throughout the Monogram booth include multiple wenge headers with hand-planed texturing and Grothouse’s Durata® Zero finish, a completely zero-sheen, waterproof finish, reinforcing wood’s role in contemporary kitchens and luxury installations.

Grothouse also highlighted the appeal of the Bianca™ Pigmented Oil, a finish introduced within the past several years. “Designers are increasingly looking for uniform color and lower sheen finishes,” he explained. “Pigmented Oil delivers a flat, welcoming appearance while avoiding the harsh chemical bleaching often required to achieve lighter tones in White Oak. The Bianca™ shade gives designers the ‘bleached’ look they want without cost and color variance often seen in White Oak.”

At Booth W3082, Grothouse collaborated with Architectural Grille and Richard Anuszkiewicz on an island table that integrates custom metalwork directly into a walnut wood furniture piece, creating a substantial island display. It is constructed from edge grain walnut and finished in Durata® Satin, one of four sheens available in Grothouse’s exclusive line of highly durable, waterproof finishes.

“This piece represents the powerful complement of wood and metal in custom furniture,” said Grothouse. “Integrated designs that combine multiple materials to exact specifications are exactly what we’re seeing at the upper end of the market.”

Grothouse and Architectural Grille have worked together for many years across magazine features, show projects, and bespoke installations. “Wood speaks to us on a natural, tactile level,” Grothouse added. “When you introduce metal as an accent, it elevates the perceived richness and luxury of a piece while still maintaining warmth and comfort.”

Together, these collaborations with BlueStar, Monogram, RA Design, and Architectural Grille reflect Grothouse’s continued commitment to quality craftsmanship, innovation, and thoughtful material integration. Each installation is designed not just to be seen at KBIS, but to be discussed. Grothouse invites designers and industry partners to experience how wood surfaces continue to evolve as both functional elements and defining design statements.  For more information, visit grothouse.com. To schedule a meeting during KBIS, contact director of sales, Steve Baumbach at sbaumbach@glumber.com or call 610-767-6515.