NKBA 2022 Design Competition
Photo by Mayra Roubach
Finding the Best in Kitchen and Bath
Hard surfaces again played a prominent part of the 2022 winners of the annual National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) design competitions.
Granted, there will very few winners without hard surfaces for countertops, backsplashes, vanities, shower walls and more. What’s striking with the latest edition of residential-project winners are the variations in materials – natural stone, quartz surfaces, porcelain – and the colors. There’s plenty of white marble, but other hues and patterns offer some eye-catching scenes. One of the darkest shades seen in the competition managed to collect the Best Kitchen award.
The following offers the highlights of notable hard-surface award winners in the kitchen and bath categories, along with projects cited for outdoor kitchens and builder-remodelers at work in their own homes. And, there are also two winners in the NKBA’s Innovative Showroom awards that prominently feature large-format hard surfaces.
One additional bonus: Included in the product specifications are the designers’ costs for hard-surface categories, as well as a total of non-appliance costs. It’s interesting to see how much that hard surfaces figure in the mix of materials.
Traditional Kitchen
The Uncommon Kitchen
Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD Younique Designs, San Antonio
Pushing the boundaries of traditional design, this kitchen utilizes shapes, lines and color define this space and draw the viewers eye around the room to the various details. Traditional materials such as wood cabinets, marble countertops and backsplash and brass fixtures are utilized in non-traditional ways to redefine the traditional kitchen.
The use of color and pattern in the marble backsplash tile commands the focus and is contrasted by the simplicity of the shapes of the custom brass vent hood and light sconces. A custom barn door repeats the backsplash shapes with inset brass detailing and was designed to close off the breakfast and family rooms
1st Place - Large Kitchens
Countertops: Calacatta Verda marble, 1 3/4" mitered ($8,000)
Tile: Artistic Tile 20" 20" Alison Rose Euclid, Large Green ($8,600)
Total non-appliance: $175,400
Photos: Jennifer Siu-Rivera
Cobble Hill Kitchen
Shai Arviv
Decori Kitchens, Brooklyn, N.Y. Elizabeth Gray (co-designer)
Elizabeth Anne Decor
The main objective requested by the developer/client, was to create a bold kitchen, that would make a dramatic statement to potential buyers. The developer wanted to sell this condominium for $4 million. Because off the kitchen design, it sold for $4.5M
A stone full backsplash was requested, that would reach the ceiling, and that would have reduced upper cabinet usage. The designer replaced the lost cabinet storage in that zone with open shelves, allowing more usage of the stone for a greater impact, resulting in a unique look.
3rd Place (>250²)
Countertops and backsplash: Artistic Tile Carribean Island marble; 2cm slab, 1-1/2 built-up on main top ($28,351)
Total non-appliance: $85,987
Photos: Adam Kane Macchia
Tavern Kitchen
Courtney Zanelli, CMKBD
Courtney Zanelli LLC, New Vernon, N.J.
The tavern kitchen was a special project for a family whose property included a 110-year-old barn and stables repurposed as an entertaining space, and referred to as "the tavern." The designers created a kitchen built to support large gatherings of family and friends, as well as a space where a small group could observe future cooking demonstrations by chefs during intimate dinner parties.
The building had stone walls, Douglas fir wainscotting, window and door casing, and metal accents throughout. To connect the kitchen to the larger surrounding space, the designer used open shelving, limestone backsplash, handmade metal shelf brackets, and the custom steel hood with hand-rubbed finish. In addition, quartz countertops made to look like concrete were selected to coordinate with darker polished concrete floors throughout.
1st Place (<250 ft²)
Countertops: MSI Fossil Gray honed with mitred build-up ($10,250)
Backsplash: Limestone ($4,600)
Total non-appliance: $84,985
Photos: Adam Kane Macchia
Luxe Black & White
Kimberly Platt
Mannino Cabinetry, Rutherford, N.J.
Rosario Mannino, AIA, LEED AP (co-designer)
Mannino Architecture, Rutherford, N.J.
One of the project challenges was to remodel an unfinished basement into a multi-use entertaining space that includes an open kitchen and living room that looks out to the pool, guest bedroom suite and luxury bathroom, home gym concealed by an oversized barn door, and sliding glass doors that connect the kitchen to the patio.
The two tone show kitchen is universally friendly to both design ideas. The kitchen island offers additional seating for guests during fun gatherings and still functions well for family dinners while grandparents visit. (The family’s dog Sophie walked on to the photo shoot for her cameo in a yellow tuxedo tie.)
1st Place (<250 ft²)
Countertops: Silestone® ($3,700)
Backsplash: Silestone® ($2,000)
Total non-appliance: $67,700