“You’re in for a real treat,” Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen shared, opening her talk at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), hosted by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in Las Vegas, with Interior Design Hall of Famer Lauren Rottet, founder of Rottet Studio. “She’s a dear friend, who really is a hero—she is a hero for women, and for all designers in the industry.”
Joining Allen in stage, Rottet delved into the inner workings of her powerful studio, which runs on a staff of 75. “There is a DNA in the design, whether its a super funky little hotel in Texas or high-end luxury,” she shared, stressing the importance of using research to understand the “why” behind a design choice over a signature aesthetic.
Cindy Allen talks with Lauren Rottet at KBIS.
Addressing the importance of mentorship in the industry, Allen asked Rottet to share who she considers a hero of design. “As I advance in my career, something I’m so passionate about is trying to bring design to everybody,” Rottet adds, referencing Charles and Ray Eames’s focus on accessibility. From acclaimed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto to Interior Design Hall of Famer Shigeru Ban, who uses his expertise to bring relief to disaster ridden areas, Rottet agreed that design heroes are vital.
“Design is an accumulation of your life’s memories,” Rottet added, noting that she grew up in Waco, Texas, where, around the age of five, a friend’s house bridging a stream first opened her eyes to design. “I thought: Wow, that’s amazing; everybody should live like that,” she shared recalling the moment. The rest, as they say, is history.
From chic hospitality locales to unique homes (including her own beach house in Montauk, New York) and modern offices, Rottet Studio’s reach is vast. “Kitchens are becoming huge in the office space, and so are bathrooms,” Rottet said, describing the increasing demand for full kitchens in commercial spaces. Turning to residential design, Rottet noted that kitchens are increasingly becoming part of the living space. “Even in this multi-million dollar penthouse, the kitchen is part of the living space,” she said, referencing a project in Houston, Texas. “There is a back kitchen, of course, which is also trending in some of these large, large homes.”
As for broader kitchen design trends, keep an eye out for light-filled spaces with lots of personality. As well as indoor-outdoor kitchens and high-tech appliances. “Interesting ceilings we’re seeing, and wallpaper—lots of wallpaper—in the kitchens and patterns and fun furniture and nooks and more fun, not just your standard kitchen,” Rottet shared. “Rounded is everywhere, 2025 will be the year of round—round furniture, round corners, round cabinets.”
Editor’s note: See more work by Rottet Studio, including this Best of Year Award-winning Fort Worth Hotel.
Interior of the Crescent Hotel by Rottet Studio. Photography by Eric Laignel.