Two Shows, One Week of Inspiration: What We Saw at IBS Orlando and High Point Market

Inside the International Builders’ Show and High Point Market — The Trends That Are Shaping What We Build Next
By Addyson Vining  |  The Vining Group at eXp Realty  |  Fort Mill, SC

One of the perks of working with a mom who’s both a realtor and a custom home builder? I get to attend the industry shows that most people my age don’t even know exist.

In February, we went to the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando—the largest annual residential construction trade show in the world, with 70,000+ industry professionals and over 1,700 brands. We also attended the Fall 2025 High Point Market and are headed back for the Spring 2026 Market in April. High Point is the world’s largest home furnishings trade show, with over 2,000 exhibitors across 180 buildings in High Point, North Carolina, just a couple hours from our home base in Fort Mill.

Between the two shows, I came home with my head spinning, in the best way. Here’s what stood out and what we’re bringing back to our custom home builds.

IBS Orlando: The Build Side

Smart home integration is no longer optional

Every builder at IBS was showing off smart home tech — and it's way past voice-activated lights. We're talking full systems: HVAC zones, security, lighting, window treatments, water leak detection, all from one app. The takeaway for our custom builds? You have to wire for this stuff from day one. You can't drywall over everything and figure it out later.

Energy efficiency is driving design decisions

The SPAN Panel won Best Energy Efficient Product at IBS 2026, and it represents where the industry is heading. Smart electrical panels that give homeowners real-time visibility into energy consumption, integrate with solar and battery storage, and allow zone-by-zone control of circuits. We’re also seeing a major push toward higher-performance windows, advanced insulation systems, and heat pump technology that’s become significantly more efficient in the last two years.

Material innovation keeps accelerating

New tile shapes and textures are pushing design in unexpected directions—the Martel scalloped tile from E by Emser won Best Kitchen & Bath Product and it’s exactly the kind of detail that makes a custom home feel curated rather than catalog. We also saw engineered stone products that are virtually indistinguishable from natural stone but perform better in high-use areas, and siding innovations that combine durability with architectural detail.

High Point Market: The Design Side

Warm tones are fully back

The all-gray, all-cool-toned era is officially behind us. High Point confirmed what we’ve been seeing in our custom builds: warm woods, rich earth tones, terracotta accents, and brass and gold hardware are dominating. It’s not a return to the dark, heavy traditional style—it’s warm with a modern edge. Think walnut cabinetry with clean lines, or a matte brass fixture against a warm white wall.

Curved and organic shapes everywhere

Arched doorways, curved furniture, rounded edges on islands and vanities—the hard angles of the past decade are softening. This showed up in furniture, lighting, and architectural details at High Point, and we’re already incorporating it into our mood boards for new custom home clients.

Textural layering is the new luxury

Instead of luxury being defined by one expensive material, it’s now about layering textures. A fluted stone island base, a ribbed tile backsplash, a bouclé chair fabric, a hand-troweled plaster wall—all in the same space. It creates visual richness and tactile interest that flat, uniform finishes can’t match. This is something I incorporate heavily into the mood boards I create for our custom home clients.

What This Means for Our Clients

Attending these shows isn’t a vacation—it’s continuing education for our team. When a client sits down with us to plan a custom build in Fort Mill or the Charlotte area, we’re not showing them ideas from three years ago. We’re bringing the latest materials, technologies, and design directions directly from the show floors at IBS and High Point into their home design.

That’s the advantage of working with a team that doesn’t just sell homes but builds them, designs them, and stays immersed in the industry at the highest level. We go to the shows. We touch the products. We talk to the manufacturers. And then we bring that knowledge home to Fort Mill.

Spring High Point Market is April 25–29. Follow along on our social channels—I’ll be sharing live updates on the trends, products, and design moments that catch my eye. If you think trade shows are boring, you haven’t been to one with me.

Addyson Vining
Content Creator | Home Designer | Future Realtor®
The Vining Group at eXp Realty | Fort Mill, SC
www.teamvininggroup.com  |  @Addyvining