2021 Award Winners
“Less is more” was a phrase heard often during the judging of the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards, sponsored by Kitchen & Bath Design News. Six of the industry’s leading professionals gathered to assess the entries, and while all were struck by the beauty of the entries, they gravitated toward the designs that were streamlined, well thought-out and didn’t try to do too much within the space.
The right details were also key to the winning designs. Clever storage tucked into niches, paneled appliances that deliver a more cohesive look and exceptional cabinets, lighting and hardware were among the elements that elevated the leading entries.
The best of design is what is being celebrated in the 33 spaces that have been named winners of the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards. Over 200 projects were judged in 11 categories: Best Kitchen Over $225,000; Best Kitchen $150,000-$225,000; Best Kitchen $75,000-$150,000; Best Kitchen Under $75,000; Best Specialty Kitchen; Best Master Bath Over $100,000; Best Master Bath $50,000-$100,000; Best Master Bath Under $50,000; Best Powder Room; Best Showroom, and Best Specialty Project.
The prestigious judging panel for the awards included:
• Peter Cardamone, Bluebell Kitchens, Wayne, PA
• Laura Giampaolo, Nu-Way Kitchen & Bath, Utica, MI
• Laurie Haefele, Haefele Design, Santa Monica, CA
• Sarah Kahn Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, MD
• Linda Larisch, CMKBD, DESIGNfirst Builders, Itasca, IL
• Doug Walter, CMKBD, Doug Walter Architects, Denver, CO
Each of the projects was evaluated on multiple points, including: aesthetic appeal, functionality of the space, attention to detail, handling of unusual situations, originality, selection of colors and finishes, and overall impression. The judges also provided design feedback to all of the entrants.
The judging panel was pleased to see a departure from the ever-popular white and gray cabinets. “I actually loved the moody, dark, really dramatic kitchens, and the winners were the ones that had the dark and moody feel in contrast to the light,” stated Haefele. She noted the added use of natural woods, “which have a lot of warmth. Black kitchens have been around for a while, but integrating the lighter wood makes them less stark and more warm.”
“There was a ton of black mixed with naturals,” concurred Giampaolo, along with stone features. “It was very organic, with a lot of warm tones.”
“We saw a lot of moody tones, darker woods, the use of metals and metal paints,” added Kahn Turner. She noted that, while there were still several classic light and bright kitchens, the painted finishes were grays and mushroom tones – a softer, wispy palette.
Walter said that, while white is not dead, there were many shades of off white included. “Darker colors were very popular this year – dark green, navy in particular, and black,” he observed.
Larisch also noted additional combinations going on beyond the dark and light cabinets. “We saw mixtures of gloss and matte finishes, different pops of color, large windows with dark interiors, and different styles for hoods,” she offered.
But, she continued, “I just kept saying ‘less is more.’ Some designers tried to mix too many materials together and they just didn’t pull it off, versus other mixed materials that blended and seemed timeless.”
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
While Cardamone advocated for taking chances with design to stand out from the pack, he also stressed the importance of keeping things streamlined. “There’s a tendency to crowd an element like a tall refrigerator or place a wall oven next to a cooktop, with a hood squished in there. Instead, you should
let everything have room to breathe,” he stated.
“I’m excited to see people really embracing and stretching some of the cabinetry away from hoods and other things,” noted Kahn Turner. “Windows also give rooms a little more breathing space.” She notes the best designs “don’t try to cram as much cabinetry as possible into a small space, which can sometimes feel disjointed and a little heavy.”
Giampaolo agreed, noting that a few of the designs came across as forced, “like they were trying so hard to use the freestanding tub in the bath when there was no room for it. The designs that came off the best may not have had the most materials in them, but they were done correctly. They were sized, they were comfortable,” she explained.
IN THE DETAILS
“What separates a good project from a great project is attention to detail,” Walter stressed. He added that, sometimes, the judging between first and second place is so close, and what can make the difference is some small details. He was especially impressed by the dramatic hoods he saw, and the clever use of the sixth wall – the ceiling.
“I think we saw the cream rise to the top in the subtle details – the fit and finish,” concurred Kahn Turner. “Designers need to pay attention to the little things, such as pulling a cabinet panel forward so that it flushes out with the door, making sure that you have clearances, that your cabinets aren’t too spindly looking and narrow.”
The kitchens that stood out to Giampaolo were those that paid attention to unique details – finding usable space in otherwise unusable areas. “Some of the concepts with the hidden wine cubbies were amazing,” she offered.
“The ones that were outstanding were the ones that were unique and cohesive. They used textured walls. They used hidden storage units. They delivered multi-use designs, blending with the room next to it, making an entire space that you could eat, you could entertain, you could work, you could cook, you could do homework,” she added.
Haefele noted that, when first looking at an image, she knew instinctively when she liked it. “It’s when you really get into the details of the design that you can see why you liked it, that it’s so well thought out,” she reported.
Larisch stressed that the details need to be well thought out to make them work within the design, however. “The details need to make sense. You don’t want ones that are just randomly thrown in or had no thought process behind them,” she remarked. “You also need to take care of the details throughout the space and not miss an area. Every single part of that kitchen or bath should work cohesively through each turn.”
On pages 48-73, KBDN shares expanded coverage of the winning projects in the sixth annual competition. For more photos of this year’s winners, as well as insights from the panel of judges, visit www.KitchenBathDesign.com. 
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2021 Best Kitchens Over $225,000
GOLD
Contrasting Colors
TODD ATKINS
Phil Kean Design Group, Winter Park, FL
Photos: Uneek Image
The objective for the kitchen design team – which included designer Todd Atkins along with architect Phil Kean and interior designer Keri Ferguson – for the 2021 New American Home was to demonstrate how the space could be beautifully designed using a combination of multiple colors and textures.
Cabinets from Plato Woodwork’ INOVAE Classic line are used in contrasting colors of walnut, creamy whites, dark carbon, sparkling champagne and reflective glass in gray. A traditional walnut finish is showcased on the 10′ illuminated walnut hutch, which includes glass-front doors that highlight the contents. Walnut is also used in a chevron pattern on the island cabinetry, interior cabinetry in the TV niche, and custom hood built using a Panasonic 36″ range hood.
The kitchen also features a range of interior storage options, including peg boards, spice racks, utensil dividers and roll-outs. Specialty spaces including a coffee bar and TV niche can be closed off and hidden behind their retractable bi-fold doors.
Modo cabinet hardware from Schaub & Company adds a touch of gold, along with the Kohler Crue Semi-Professional Kitchen Faucet. The faucet is paired with Kohler’s Prolific Undermount Sink.
The Signature Kitchen Suite appliances deliver luxury built-in cooking and refrigeration options. Included are: 48″ Dual-Fuel Range with Sous Vide and Induction, 30″ Double Wall Oven with Steam-Combi and Microwave Oven Drawer, all in stainless steel, as well as 30″ Integrated Panel-Ready Column Refrigerator and Freezer units, and Quadwash Panel-Ready Dishwasher.
To contrast the Engineered Natural Walnut flooring, the designers used a bright white Viatera Quartz from LG Hausys for both the countertops and the backsplash. Idril Sconces in brushed nickel, as well as the Loop Linear fixture in brushed aluminum above the island – all from Kichler – provide illumination.
SILVER
Form & Aesthetic
STEVEN COOPER
Cooper Pacific Kitchens, West Hollywood, CA
The request for this project was to create a kitchen that felt architectural rather than noticeably “kitchen.” Steven Cooper, in collaboration with interior designer Thomas Schoos of Schoos Design, chose Form and Aesthetic as the key objectives needed to create a high-functioning kitchen that would allow for caterers and chefs to prepare for large parties and entertaining.
Since the client doesn’t cook but entertains quite a bit, concealed appliances were highly desired. The column refrigerator with freezer and Gaggenau dishwasher were integrated, and a drop-down flat screen television can be hidden from view when not in use. A custom hood that matches the Cooper Pacific Kitchens Custom 861 cabinets hovers over the island, which houses five independent burners from Pitt Cooking. A Gaggenau speed oven and two single ovens disappear behind pocket doors and feature a custom temperature gauge and safety shutoffs in case the doors are ever closed over the units while in operation. A bar area with Thermador Wine Undercounter Refrigerator also vanishes from view.
Balancing the mix of texture in the 351-sq.-ft. penthouse kitchen was the focus. Oak logs, sourced from German forests, give the space an organic, tactile quality, while cement and stone augment the more austere architecture. The Caesarstone Rugged Concrete quartz countertop and backsplash blend with the overall aesthetic, while the Waterworks Regulator faucets and custom bronze sink from Rocky Mountain Hardware enhance the industrial feel.
BRONZE
Contemporary Condo
JENNIFER GILMER & MEGHAN BROWNE
Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath, Chevy Chase, MD
Photos: Anice Hoachlander, Anice Hoachlander Photography
The contemporary style of this full condo remodel needed to be reflected in the kitchen as well, where the desire for more open space and increased size were primary. Jennifer Gilmer and Meghan Browne, working alongside Greg Wiedemann of Wiedemann Architects, focused on these interests, along with having a more functional work triangle and providing seating for four in the 350-sq.-ft. room.
A focal-point back wall blends the Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer columns into the space, with a narrow pantry finishing the look. On that same wall are a Miele convection oven and Miele Speed Microwave.
The Gaggenau cooktop was moved to the other side of the room so that the wall in the hallway could be reduced, a request of the clients. The Amore hood above was hidden by connecting it to a ceiling panel, with a cabinet of the same color reaching down to the countertop. This cabinet has bi-fold/retractable doors and houses the coffee machine and other amenities.
A peninsula was created to the left of the bi-fold cabinet, which offered a landing space at the end of the hallway.
Contemporary cabinets from Premier Custom Built are featured in white and pale wood tones, topped with Bianco Lassa marble with a waterfall edge. Along the wall, the countertop is met by handmade ceramic tile from Pratt + Larson. The island now houses The Galley sink, paired with a ROHL faucet, with a Miele dishwasher to the side. A Miele warming drawer and Sub-Zero undercounter refrigerator are also featured in the space.
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