BlueStar® Brings Continued Innovation to KBIS 2026 
Booth Curated by Shumaker Associates Draws in Comfort and Nostalgia, Showcasing the Color of the Year and Latest Product Releases

BLANDON, PA — February 6, 2026 — BlueStar®, manufacturer of professional-grade kitchen appliances for the home, is thrilled to return to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida, from February 17-19, 2026. This year’s booth (S24039) will introduce a redesigned legacy product, highlight its latest innovations, and showcase the brand’s color of the year, Purple Violet, in a specially designed booth by Shumaker Design Associates.

Susan and Garry Shumaker, the duo behind the architect-led design-build firm, drew inspiration from warm family vacations and spaces that invite gathering and evoke lasting memories. Anchored in this philosophy, the booth design is a cohesive expression of storytelling through materials, patterns, and color. As the Shumakers describe it, the goal was to create spaces that feel softer and utilitarian, environments that are approachable and immersive, transporting visitors through each vignette.

“We wanted to design a booth that didn’t feel precious or untouchable. The booth represents how kitchens are meant to be used and, often, how they are integrated in the home. The space feels warm, functional, and lived-in, even on the show floor,” says Garry Shumaker, half of the Shumaker team and registered Architect. “BlueStar’s products have an aesthetic honesty to them that is something we look for when designing: they’re durable,  professional, commercial-grade ranges that still blend seamlessly into kitchen design and work in a way clients use them in the real world. These pieces aren’t just filling a hole; they’re an integral part of the kitchen, both aesthetically and tactilely.”

In 2026, BlueStar is relaunching its premium Platinum Series gas range line which will now feature the brand’s proprietary X-8™ burners and a newly redesigned gas oven. BlueStar’s revolutionary X-8™ burners are defined by their expansive 8-point star-shaped sealed design. With a 20-inch circumference, the burners ensure even heat distribution across cookware of any style or size. Each burner offers 152 precision-control heat ports—delivering three times the flame distribution of any other sealed burner on the market. With the widest range of BTUs available, X-8™ burners reach an ultra-high sear at 25,000 BTUs and an ultra-low warm at just 500 BTUs.

The Platinum Series gas range line will feature a newly engineered gas oven. The range offers faster pre-heat times and an improved convection fan system for both ovens. Additional lighting creates a bright oven interior for increased visibility from more halogen lights. The design aesthetics have been updated with a modern look, featuring seamlessly aligned control knobs, laser-etched graphics, an embossed oven door, redesigned island trim, improved oven venting, and modern push-button fan and light controls.

In addition to the refreshed Platinum Series Range, the BlueStar booth will showcase the brand’s recently launched X-8™ Drop-In Cooktop, featuring the brand’s exclusive X-8™ burners in two sizes: 30” and 36”. The 36” model delivers 95,000 BTUs across six burners, while the 30” model features four burners delivering 67,000 BTUs.

“We’ve had exciting new ‘firsts’ for the brand in recent years, and with that innovation and growth, we wanted to bring all the knowledge we’ve gathered back to where the brand started. Innovation isn’t just a checkpoint in our legacy; it’s part of our dedication to home cooks, experienced chefs, and everyone in between,” says Ann Muth, Vice President of Marketing at BlueStar. “We’re thrilled to return to KBIS to showcase the brand’s evolution and new innovations, along with a booth design meant to inspire.”

The booth will feature three vignettes designed by Shumaker Design Associates that together create a cohesive, emotionally driven environment. Rather than existing as standalone moments, each vignette is connected through material continuity, color progression, and intuitive circulation, encouraging a fluid and natural movement through the space.

At the center of the booth, two islands form a standing social zone, a design choice informed by Shumaker’s hospitality and restaurant experience, that invite visitors to pause, converse, and engage, much like high-top tables in a social setting. This layout enables fluid movement between the East and West vignettes without requiring guests to exit one space before entering another. 

Visually and materially, they act as an extension of the back wall, introducing the richness of the brand’s Color of the Year, Purple Violet, selected by the Shumakers. Featuring dark-stained wood and red-toned detailing, the islands preview the depth of the Color of the Year’s palette while maintaining continuity throughout the booth. One island houses BlueStar’s award-winning 36” Platinum Series Induction Range in a special Mystic Wine finish with copper trim and knobs, while the other features the classic 36” Nova Series Rangetop.

The East vignette is one of the most utilitarian and approachable spaces in the booth. Inspired by mountain homes and alpine retreats, it draws on Swiss vernacular architecture, seamlessly blending centuries-old materials with modern living. The result is a kitchen that feels grounded, warm, and genuinely livable. This vignette showcases one of BlueStar’s latest innovations, the X-8™ Cooktop, and Manhattan Hood paired with a stainless steel French Door Double Wall Oven. Countertops by Onur Marble & Granite reflect light across a green tile backsplash inspired by traditional ceramic-tiled Swiss stoves. Cabinetry by Village Handcrafted throughout, features high-gloss white uppers to reflect light and complement the stone surfaces, which are paired with White Ash base cabinets that reference old-world Alpine construction and exposed ceiling beams.

The West vignette offers a more expressive, layered interpretation of warmth and color. Inspired by the designer’s time spent in Zurich, where koi imagery frequently appears in retail and hospitality spaces, the design draws on the symbolism of movement and vitality. A bold blue koi mural anchors the vignette, creating a visual midpoint between the rustic Swiss-inspired space and the dramatic Color of the Year destination towards the back of the booth. While still approachable, this vignette introduces a more elevated design language through color, finish, and composition. BlueStar’s 48” Dual Fuel Range is featured here in Brilliant Blue, accented with antique brass and matte black knobs, with a Normandy Hood above. A BlueStar Pro French Door Built-In Refrigerator in deep Cobalt Blue complements the mural’s layered blue tones.

Anchoring the booth at the back wall, the Color of the Year vignette serves as the emotional and visual crescendo of the space. Designed as the ultimate destination, it envelops visitors in depth, warmth, and material richness. Purple Violet is a bold yet inviting hue, chosen by the Shumakers for its richness without feeling exclusive. At the center of the vignette is a 60” Platinum Series Range in Purple Violet, framed by cabinetry stained in the Color of the Year to create a dramatic focal point that elevates the range as the heart of the kitchen. Village Handcrafted aniline dye cabinetry surrounds the space, with stained Rift White Oak base cabinets grounding the composition. A custom 143” Atlas Hood in a statuary bronze finish with brushed brass strapping centers the vignette. Its extended length mirrors the cabinetry, reinforcing symmetry and drawing the eye to the range. Together, the layered materials and finishes create a bold yet welcoming environment that unifies the booth and brings the Shumakers’ vision to life.