NKBA Lauds Stone in 2011 Awards

LAS VEGAS – When there’s a win in 2011 with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) annual Design Competition, there’s usually stone.

  With nearly 500 entries this year, NKBA judges reviewed the projects based on visual appeal and creativity, as well as principles of design, presentation, safety and ergonomics, using the NKBA Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines.

Each of the competition’s 10 categories offers first-, second- and third-place winners, as well as an honorable mention, in each category. Also this year, special honors cited designers  for best kitchen or bathroom/powder room; best before-and-after; best sustainable projects; best budget-friendly work; and, to get popular opinion, a new people’s pick.

Of the 34 award winners in the competition, 25 projects featured natural stone as a component.

The NKBA recognized the winners during a ceremony at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference (K/BIS) held this April in Las Vegas.

The following selection shows some of the best work from the NKBA competition using natural stone.

All photos courtesy NKBA; © 2011 National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Click photo to enlargeBest Kitchen
Open Plan Kitchens, First Place

Chris Novak Berry
Emily Castle (co-designer)
brooksBerry Kitchens & Baths
St. Louis

A circa-1820s cabin now boasts a refined kitchen with elements including natural limestone flooring (at the sink) and walls, along with Typhoon Green honed granite countertops. (Photo by Alise O’Brien Photography)

Click photo to enlargeBest Bathroom
Large Bathrooms, First Place

Holly Rickert
Julia Kleyman (co-designer)
Ulrich Inc.
Ridgewood, N.J.

Inspired by the client’s admiration of the Japanese tradition of family-style bathing outdoors, this indoor installation features a whirlpool tub with in-line heater sitting in loose river rocks (and a fiberglass drain pan underneath). Natural stone also comes into play with the black slate countertops. (Photo by Peter Rymwid Architectural Photographer)

Before – click photo for AfterBest Before & After Kitchen

Savena Doychinov, CKD
Design Studio Int’l Kitchen & Bath LLC,
Falls Church, Va.

The new design created a better, more-convenient connection to the dining room and den, stopping ongoing issues with traffic jams in this kitchen’s hallway. It became all-access with seven opening in-and-out of the room; new features include honed Pietra gray countertops. (Photo by Bob Narod, Photographer)