Eye-Catching Aesthetics Combine With Functionality To Meet Clients’ Needs

The National Kitchen + Bath Asso­ciation (NKBA) has awarded 27 outstanding professional designers in its 2018 Design Competition. This year’s winners honor kitchens and bathrooms that “deftly combine eye-catching aesthetics with purposeful functionality to meet the needs of a diverse range of clients. They’re also proof that good design can overcome nearly any challenge, whether size, space, or budget,” according to the NKBA.

As the NKBA also notes, the winning designs offer a healthy dose of inspiration for homeowners and are a way to see those design elements that never go out of style, along with the latest trends and what’s to come.

Lifestyles & Homes is highlighting the award-winning kitchens in this issue and the baths in our August issue.

Best Kitchen And Large Kitchen: First Place Sandra Gjesdahl, Bristol Design And Construction, Seattle, Wash.; Co-Designer: Scott Gjesdahl

The overriding objective was to create a smoothly functional flow for food storage, preparation, cooking, cleaning and how guests would interact.

Because it is an open kitchen, visual boundaries were created by having the prep island be workable from all sides. The island was integrated with the scullery sink and clean-up area that keep the mess out of view of the dining area. Industrial elements were incorporated, such as the polished stainless jewel-like “prongs” that support the vent hood.

Sustainability was important due to the house being off-grid. The sense of place was heightened by the floor-to-ceiling doors that blur the boundary between inside and outside.

Large Kitchen: Second Place And Before And After Kitchen Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland; Co-Designer: Scarlett Breeding, AIA

The former kitchen in this historic home was turned into the client’s desired luxurious and visually interesting environment for entertaining. Up-to-date functionality and opulent materials were added, such as crystal, unlacquered brass, antique mirror, pewter, polished stainless steel, real silver and exotic burl. A furniture-styled island and refrigeration cabinetry architecturally blend into the home’s other living space.

Storage solutions are concealed within wall wainscot paneling. The challenge of extremely low ceilings was met by relocating the kitchen and underpinning the structural foundation to gain ceiling height.

Large Kitchen: Third Place: Sandra L. Steiner-Houck, Ckd, Steiner-Houck & Associates, Llc., Mount Joy, Penn.; Co-Designer: Candis J. Warren

More storage, a space conducive to entertaining and everyday life and an overall transitional design were created with the mix of materials that provide an old world European feel, including cabinetry designs and finishes, pewter countertops, custom mosaics, Spanish limestone flooring and range backsplash, and a mantel cast from a 13th century French chateau mantel. The range hood is cast stone with a pewter fleur-de-lis detail.

The designers also incorporated islands for Hibachi-style and Fondue-style cooking and a Fire Vortex, which is usually used in an outdoor setting.

Medium Kitchen: First Place Breck Dangler, Ckbd, Dangler Design, Honolulu, Hawaii

A sleek, modern kitchen designed for entertaining family, friends and club members was created from one located in a 1960s apartment building. Numerous contraints included the footprint that could not change, an immovable large column that houses the building exhaust chase, and the walled-off area with a narrow entrance to one side. Much rearranging was done: designing around the column and moving walls and the kitchen entrance created the spaciousness and functionality desired.

Improvements included moving the work zone to the back of the kitchen, making the area that held the old sink and cooking area into an entertainment zone and turning storage cabinets into a wet bar area and glass display.

Medium Kitchen: Second Place David McFadden, PB Kitchen Design, Geneva, Illinois; Co-Designer: Debbie Larson

A serious cook wanted to upgrade to appliances seen in a showroom with interesting finishes and design elements. The small kitchen space was remodeled to contain a range, built-in refrigerator, steam oven, built-in coffee maker, under-counter beverage center and dishwasher.

The client also wanted to retain as much of the display cabinetry, counter tops, backsplash and plumbing as possible. Neutral walls and floors help make the room visually comfortable with the addition of the dark green perimeter cabinetry, stained/glazed island, limestone counters, hammered pewter sink and handmade backsplash tiles.

Medium Kitchen: Third Place Hannah Hacker, Akbd, Adapt Design, Llc., Beaverton, Oregon

The kitchen in a vacation home built in the 1970s was showing its age. The homeowners wanted it to have an upscale feel in line with their contemporary personal style, with improved layout that would allow two cooks to work at the same time and have seating for three. They wanted to retain some rustic touches and incorporate durable, easy-to-clean surfaces.

The designer eliminated a door into a hallway to create more wall space and made room for a cooktop and hood on exterior wall. The hickory floors that were maintained and contemporary cabinetry with fir cabinet panels give rusticity. Monorail lighting system provided a light source closer to the work areas.

Small Kitchen: First Place - Martin De Sousa, DID, Binns Kitchen + Bath Design, Pickering, Ontario

The client wanted chic condo styling that would open the kitchen space to the living area, provide for casual eating space and built-in appliances, and have a modern material palette. The challenges included the fixed location of water utilities in the condo building, how to ventilate the island cooktop due to ceiling height, and how traffic would flow in and around the kitchen.

Room was created for a large island with cantilevered eating area that also created an alternate path into the kitchen. Separate zones make the space seem larger. A low profile hood fan motor allows for a minimal drop in ceiling height. A countertop trough at the back of the island provides additional storage and divides the area and living room. Velvet Gray handleless cabinetry and distressed laminate add to the eclectic yet modern appeal.

Small Kitchen: Second Place - Kurt Hakansson, Haddad Hakansson Design Studio, Watertown, Mass.; Co-Designer: Jaye Gordon

With fewer than 100 square feet, the kitchen could hold one person at a time, while a large structural column constrained an open plan concept. With smart design choices, the space became a functional one with modern styling that the client wanted.

Removing the wall between the niche and the kitchen made room for a pantry, refrigeration and for two people to work in the kitchen together; removal of cabinetry above the sink also added to the open feel. Storage was improved with the mix of white and dark cabinetry that create contrast and interest. The elegant door that was custom designed by the design firm is now offered by its national cabinetry partner.

Small Kitchen: Third Place And Budget Friendly Kitchen - Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors, Pensacola, Florida

This small kitchen went from dark and dated to a functioning, bright, more crisp aesthetic with no space wasted and where fun kitchenwares were displayed and multiple work areas created.

The gas Bertazzoni range and convection oven and shelves add a golden color, while the glass mosaic backsplash adds a slight hint of blues and the roman shades feature a stylized floral print. Flooring was replaced and the color palette lightened. The ceiling was raised. A clean layout with more accessible custom cabinetry also provides for long-term storage above the refrigerator and upper cabinets. The client opted to go without a dishwasher for now due to space constraints.

Outdoor Kitchen: Sandra Gjesdahl, Bristol Design And Construction, Seattle, Wash.; Co-Designer: Scott Gjesdahl

The owners wanted a fully functional exterior cooking zone in a large outdoor entertainment area. They also wanted the BBQ area to be integrated. Ac­cessibility and ease of maintenance were priorities.

The design shows that luxury can be part of an eco-conscious and sustainable home that is completely off-grid, powered only by micro-hydro and solar. Appliances can run on butane or propane on days when hydro and solar are weak.

In this location, rain comes from all directions including sideways so stainless cabinetry was chosen and was installed on a concrete plinth to allow for drainage to flow underneath.

Although the outdoor kitchen is completely stand-alone, the design gives cohesion between it, the indoor kitchen and the architecture over all.