The competition for the second annual Kitchen + Bath Awards (KABAs) was held by our local Texas North Plains Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in October during Kitchen and Bath Month. For the NKBA 2021 KABA’s we had four winning designs! Our designers – Rebecca Sutton, CKBD, and Abigail Evans, NCIDQ – worked on these alongside the entire Kitchen Design Concepts team. We want to congratulate all of the winners this year, and cannot wait to get our hands on the upcoming copy of Dallas Style & Design Magazine to see them all in print. But for now, we are more than excited to share our fabulous winning spaces with you all!

Traditional Kitchen – Small

This 1920’s kitchen was due for an overhaul. Originally separated in half, the newly designed kitchen became a singular room with ample storage, prep space, and maneuverability. We integrated with the neighboring dining room by extending hardwoods and creating an enlarged arched opening.
A few “must-have” items influenced the new design. The rangetop to prepare fresh food from their garden was a number one priority. Also, we had to incorporated space for guests to easily get around, a moveable island for homemade pasta, and a favorite color, yellow. Frameless gray cabinets, marble-like quartz, and elongated subway tile pay homage to the home’s 1920’s roots by reinterpreting “Colonial Farmhouse” in a modernized style.

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Original checkerboard red and white marmoleum flooring was upgraded to hardwoods that matched and flowed into the dining room and rest of the first floor. Cabinets are a shaker style in two gray tones to keep a clean look throughout the space. We also used white marble-looking counters (Cambria Weybourne quartz) and a white 4×12 brick lay tile (Interceramic) to recall colors from the 1920’s design style. Yellow was also a popular color when the home was built, so we incorporated a pop of Sherwin Williams 6374 Torchlight on the remaining exposed walls to keep in theme. We also used age-appropriate oil rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures and hardware throughout. And our favorite part? The custom-built moveable island – perfect to make more room for the chef, or to move completely out of the way for large gatherings to increase traffic flow from the house to the backyard!

NKBA 2021 KABA winner designed by Rebecca Sutton, CKBD

Traditional Kitchen – Large

This home – originally built in the 1960’s – needed a little bit of extra love. Traditional charm and homeowners with some maximalist design taste created a great starting palette. However, we wanted to amplify the kitchen and the new century. By mixing bold patterns and some of their favorite colors, this kitchen can now speak for itself! The Dacor custom-colored Julep range is a showstopper, along with the reclaimed wood hood above. Brass accents with some fun pink pendants add other pops of color on a mostly neutral background. And the color flow perfectly into the dining room where you see a stunning Eijffinger’s wallcovering.

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And don’t forget about the bar! This was more of a “kitchen plus” project as seen on the opposite wall. The L-shaped kitchen with an island hosts everyday cooking and cleaning. But the other side of the room? Entertaining and storage options galore! The bar hosts a metallic backsplash with glass shelves to showcase a stunning glassware collection. It’s made functional with under counter fridge and ice maker, along with a small bar sink. On the left is a full-sized wine fridge perfect for entertaining. And take a look under the stairs. Customized storage with hidden roll-outs was a perfect addition to this space.

NKBA 2021 KABA winner designed by Abigail Evans, NCIDQ

Traditional Bath – Large

We love a good repeat client story, and this is one of our favorites! Moving into a new home, they needed to update the primary suite prior to move-in. The original bathroom had inefficient closet space, the vanity area was cramped and tucked away, there was a whirlpool tub that had to go, and the shower felt more like a cave than a retreat. By reworking the footprint, we vastly increased useable wall space and were able to reconfigure the closet. It also meant we could keep two separate sinks while adding a seated vanity and tall linen storage.  The frameless two-person shower meets client requirements while expanding visible space. And since one homeowner does bathe daily, a freestanding tub with a view of the television was also a must-have item. Materials not only make the bathroom feel lighter and brighter but also follow this home’s traditional style.

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The most prominent material in this room is the tile selection. Silver Clouds from Marble Systems is used on the floor while we switched up to a white color in the shower and as the tub surround – Contempo White from Daltile. Another fun detail that went with the traditional styling was the use of furniture-styled vanity pieces, and the delicate wallpaper used around the room. The Brizo Virage collection in Polished Nickel also adds a fun *twist* (look it up, there’s an intentional pun there) to the plumbing fittings. This spa-like primary bathroom is now the perfect place to get ready and energized in the morning or sit back and relax in the evening.

NKBA 2021 KABA winner designed by Rebecca Sutton, CKBD

Contemporary Kitchen – Large

This home built in the 1950’s had a kitchen that was a bit inconsistent with the home’s mid-century architecture. It also greatly hindered the client’s cooking at bi-weekly entertaining. The main goal in the redesign included improving the function of cooking and entertaining 6-12 people on a fairly consistent basis. By expanding the kitchen into the breakfast room we vastly improved kitchen storage. In addition, by tearing down walls and expanding existing openings, we also added visibility to the living room and dining room and increased the overall useability of the kitchen and surrounding rooms.

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Walnut cabinets with accents of gloss white doors create drama. Meticulously designed cabinetry creates ergonomically friendly appliance placement as well as provides ample storage throughout. We used Caesarstone Nougat quartz with a 6cm mitered dropped edge throughout, and Modwalls Kilm Ceramic Wedge tiles add a fun design detail. When tearing down a wall, we didn’t want to completely open the space, and wouldn’t allow us room for a must-have television. Creating a new cabinet-matching wall with an oversized peninsula provides plentiful space for prepping and entertaining. We then install walnut paneling to wrap around the entire kitchen, making the whole space a stunning showpiece.

NKBA 2021 KABA winner designed by Rebecca Sutton, CKBD

Want to check out more of our award-winning designs? See the three spaces that took home a win in the NKBA 2020 Kitchen + Bath Awards for their inaugural year.