Layers of considerate element fastidiously tailor-made to shoppers’ lives set the winners of this yr’s Kitchen & Bathtub Design Awards aside.
by Autumn McGarr
When requested to level to what may set a profitable challenge aside from the group, the judges of the 2022 Kitchen & Bathtub Design Awards have been unanimous of their solutions: scrupulous consideration to element.
“Element” meant various things to completely different judges, it should be famous. For some, it meant considerate little life-style additions similar to espresso bars or charging facilities; for others, essentially the most outstanding particulars have been small but shocking prospers that actually set a design aside aesthetically. But others indicated considerate lighting design as the true standout.
These tailor-made, typically sudden particulars are celebrated within the 33 areas which have been named winners of the 2022 Kitchen & Bathtub Design Awards. Over 200 initiatives have been judged in 11 classes: Finest Kitchen Over $225,000; Finest Kitchen $150,000-$225,000; Finest Kitchen $75,000-$150,000; Finest Kitchen Underneath $75,000; Finest Specialty Kitchen; Finest Grasp Bathtub Over $100,000; Finest Grasp Bathtub $50,000-$100,000; Finest Grasp Bathtub Underneath $50,000; Finest Powder Room; Finest Showroom, and Finest Specialty Challenge.
The distinguished judging panel for the awards included:
- Jeremy Parcels, Parcels Design Studio, Lakewood, CO
- Lori Miya, Miya Interiors, Clearfield, UT
- Michele Alfano, Michele Alfano Design, Suffern, NY
- Ginger Rabe, Ginger Rabe Designs, Carlsbad, CA
- Angela Poirrier, Acadian Home Design and Renovation, Baton Rouge, LA
- Steven Kampfer, Küster Design, Indianapolis, IN
Every of the initiatives was evaluated on a number of factors, together with: aesthetic attraction, performance of the area, consideration to element, dealing with of bizarre conditions, originality, collection of colours and finishes and total impression. The judges additionally offered design suggestions to all entrants.
The judging panel discovered a lot to rejoice among the many kitchen entries, together with a number of options that they themselves are excited to include into their very own future initiatives. “One of many issues that I’d undoubtedly convey into my designs are these hidden espresso bars with wonderful storage options,” says Alfano.
In response to Parcels, “One of many issues that I’m seeing that I’d most likely incorporate or that I even see getting used extra sooner or later is certainly texture on cupboards, whether or not it’s the ribbed texture or the wire-brushed finishes or horizontal grains.”
Rabe chimes in, “One of many parts that I bear in mind most concerning the kitchen design winners was the layers of lighting – that I’d undoubtedly incorporate into my very own designs.”
The toilet classes have been no slouches, both. “We additionally noticed some actually cool bogs – some sudden particulars that we noticed have been hanging mirrors or taps connected to the ceiling, giving a waterfall impact to the sink space within the powder room,” Alfano provides.
SPACES FOR LIVING
Maybe due partly to the COVID-necessitated reevaluation of how individuals exist of their properties, most of the most outstanding initiatives chosen as winners boasted options that have been designed for gathering, working and socializing.
“One thing I actually appreciated was the incorporation of considerate design – having locations for individuals to collect, cozy spots the place individuals can simply take pleasure in one another’s firm and have dialog,” says Miya. “We noticed a whole lot of actually nice pub rooms and wine rooms, simply someplace individuals can join and loosen up and revel in being with one another.”
Private, personal luxurious areas have been additionally standouts. “For me, the moist room continues to be an enormous pattern that’s persevering with,” says Parcels. “There have been some lovely moist rooms that have been completed with free-standing tubs, whether or not spherical or oval, with pure supplies and connected showers. It actually comprises that water and makes cleansing simple.”
Ease of upkeep, even in heavy use rooms, was additionally one in every of Kampfer’s notables. “A giant factor with bogs, too, was the usage of floating vanities, floating bogs, curbless showers – something that makes it simpler to scrub.”
LAYERS OF INTEREST
Specifically, Kampfer emphasizes the significance of layering in designs which are a feast for the attention. “I feel a giant takeaway from the winners this yr can be the usage of textures and layering – mixing stained finishes and painted, together with blended metals – issues which have been trending now for some time, however actually play a job in issues not being so flat,” he says.
Poirrier notes the position of textural layers in defining an area. “A giant takeaway from the kitchen side of the entries was the vintage glass on a few of the home equipment – I discovered it a extremely attention-grabbing solution to incorporate a special aspect into the area whereas additionally being reflective and making the area really feel bigger,” she says.
Rabe provides, “Inside the lavatory designs of the winners for this yr, a few of the textures that have been utilized in these areas have been so progressive, like…the mirrors that may go from flooring to ceiling, in addition to tying in several textures working up the partitions, like wooden and blended makes use of of metals.”
On pages 42–72, KBDN shares expanded protection of the profitable initiatives within the seventh annual competitors. For extra images of this yr’s winners in addition to insights from the panel of judges, go to www.KitchenBathDesign.com. ▪
