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Cosentino hosts C.Next Designer Summit

Jan 30, 2024 | Los Cabos, Mexico | Courtesy of Cosentino

From February 4 to February 8, Cosentino hosted the third edition of C.Next Designers, its gathering of nearly 300 designers and partners from across North America, which was held for the first time at the Grand Velas in Los Cabos, Mexico. Over the course of the four days, attendees took part in dynamic programming to learn, connect and explore the future of the industry. The one-of-a-kind experience brought together emerging and top designers, best-in-class brands, and editors from Elle Decor, House Beautiful and Veranda, including Asad Syrkett, Joanna Saltz, Steele Marcoux, Carisha Swanson, Camille Okhio and Grace Haynes.

Patty Dominguez, vice president of business development for Cosentino Americas, kicked off the summit with an opening statement: “It’s important that we continue to create opportunities to come together and cultivate relationships among designers across the country. We are stronger when we work together, and by joining some of the greatest minds in the industry as we are this week, we can find creative new solutions to the challenges we are all facing.”

C.Next Designers 2024 programming highlights included a keynote panel on designing for the future featuring Eduardo Cosentino, CEO of Americas and executive vice president of global corporate sales, Stanley Cheng, founder and CEO of Hestan, and Laura E. Kohler, chief sustainable living officer and member of the board of directors at Kohler Co.; a presentation of the latest innovations in outdoor living from Ryan Bloom, founder and president of Urban Bonfire; and a talk by Valentin Tijeras, vice president of global product, R&D and quality at Cosentino, on how the brand continues to make sustainable advancements with its products.

Among the many notable designers in attendance and featured in session programming were Jeremiah Brent, Barclay Butera, Tom Dixon, Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, Ryan Gordon Jackson, Olga Hanono, Laura Kirar, Miles Redd, Jesus Velazco and Wambui Ippolitio. The summit also featured more than 20 brand partners, including Architectural Grille, Arteriors, Baldwin, Bauteam, Benjamin Moore, California Closets, Fabuwood, Four Hands, The Galley, Ganedo, Hestan, Kohler, Miele, New Moon, NKBA, Perlick, Pitt Cooking, Studio M Lighting and Urban Bonfire.

The third edition of Cosentino’s C.Next Designers was hosted in Los Cabos, Mexico

A sunrise yoga session with Lutron

Eduardo Perez and Adriana Hoyos

Alexandra Badolian, Craig Badolian, Elizabeth Valentina and Nar Bustamante

Rayman Boozer (left) and Tina Ramchandani (third from left)

Mark Williams, Kelly Kole, Joann Kandac Arianne Bellizaire and Steve Summers

During opening remarks, Francisco “Paco” Martínez-Cosentino, Cosentino Group CEO and president, welcomed designers to the event

Acclaimed interior designer and author Jeremiah Brent and Edward Leaman, chief brand and design officer for California Closets, shared insights on emotional and mindful design in a panel moderated by Joanna Saltz, editorial director of House Beautiful

C.Next Designers 2024 brand partners included Urban Bonfire, Hearst Magazines, Bauteam, Hestan, NKBA, Perlick, Studio M Lighting, Arteriors, California Closets, New Moon Rugs, ASID, Architectural Grille, Baldwin, Benjamin Moore, Fabuwood, Four Hands, Gancedo, Kohler, Lutron, Miele, Pitt Cooking and The Galley

Interior designer Claudia Afshar and Urban Bonfire co-founders Stefan Marchant (left) and Ryan Bloom (right) showcased a new Dekton Ukiyo and Urban Bonfire collaboration

A fireside chat with Asad Syrkett, editor in chief of Elle Decor, and Tom Dixon at C.Next Designers

Barclay Butera during the “Art of Collaboration” panel at C.Next Designers

Valentin Tijeras, vice president of global product, R&D and quality, presenting Cosentino’s latest product innovations

Kerrie Kelly moderating the C.Next Designers keynote panel with Francisco “Paco” Martínez-Cosentino, Laura Kohler and Stanley Cheng

A breakout session with Benjamin Moore included an ancient Mayan cacao ceremony

While introducing Francisco “Paco” Martínez-Cosentino, Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, acknowledged Cosentino’s 25-year tenure as a KBIS participant

Carisha Swanson, director of editorial special projects at House Beautiful, moderated a discussion between designer Richard T. Anuszkiewicz and Pilar Martinez-Cosentino Alfonso, deputy chairman and executive vice president of the Cosentino Group

Eduardo Cosentino spoke to 2024 C.Next Designers attendees at the welcome dinner on Sunday night

The third edition of Cosentino’s C.Next Designers was hosted in Los Cabos, Mexico

Guests enjoyed live music by a mariachi band

Patty Dominguez, vice president of business development, spoke to guests during the cocktail hour before the welcome dinner

Fireworks on display at the C.Next Designers welcome dinner

Attendees gathered at the C.Next Designers nighttime beach party with Perlick

Adam Dunn, vice president of design at Four Hands, during a creative sensory experience breakout session

Steele Marcoux, editor in chief of Veranda, moderated the C.Next Designers Arteriors panel “Infinite Space: The Blurred Lines of Indoor and Outdoor Living” with designers Wambui Ippolito and Laura Kirar and vice president of marketing and visual merchandising Barb Fuller

Miles Redd, Erika Kurtz and Ryan Gordon Jackson explored the glam and glitches, risks and rewards of working on custom designs during a panel with New Moon moderated by Steele Marcoux, editor in chief of Veranda

Patty Dominguez, vice president of business development at Cosentino, and Olga Hanono, chief creative officer at OH Studio, in a discussion about exploring Mexican design