Kitchen Contenders in 2013

The Equivalent of the Oscars in Kitchen Design Takes Place This Week.

Here's a Sneak Peak at the Contenders:

This week, The National Kitchen and Bath Association reveals the winning kitchens and baths in its 2013 Design Competition. The competition is the equivalent of the Oscars in kitchen design and I’ll be there for the big announcement at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans. In advance, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at the contenders.

We’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about kitchens with transitional style, that blend of classic and contemporary design that’s trending big time in the home. However, these entries depart from that popular script with their own fearless take on color, form, fixtures, and finishes. Perhaps their work will inspire your own kitchen couture.

Diner Darling

[caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Retro Kitchen by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

This retro kitchen riffs on the whimsy of a 50s diner.  Color pops of turquoise, charcoal and red come into play with Formica surfaces and a blue framed oven and microwave.

[caption id="attachment_689" align="aligncenter" width="560"] kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

The kitchen's 1950s aesthetic marries a modern sculptural piece of artwork as an unexpected focal point.

[caption id="attachment_690" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

 

I adore the stove range.  It looks like something straight out of  "The Jetsons" with its futuristic-industrial feel.

[caption id="attachment_688" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

 

Cork floors, restored rare 1940s plywood and Formica countertops infuse Americana iconic materials that remain authentic to the home's mid-century modern design.

 

Kitchen with a Personality:

[caption id="attachment_679" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Rhonda Knoche Design[/caption]

 

I love a kitchen with a sense of humor because the kitchen should be a place for laughs, good conversation, and making memories. This kitchen achieves all of the above with its swirling metal pulls, fun, red sculptural wall elements and a copper backsplash as if to say: "Hey, relax, don't take yourself  so seriously. Let's have a laugh and some good grub."

[caption id="attachment_683" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Rhonda Knoche Design[/caption]

 

Boldly Blue:

[caption id="attachment_662" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors[/caption]

 

How about forgetting all the rules on neutral palettes and just painting your kitchen your favorite color? There's no color off-limits because any hue strategically applied and properly accented can work. This kitchen is a great example of being brave with color- unafraid of using bright, happy, strong colors. The turquoise island, backsplash and interior cabinet walls work together in crisp contrast with the kitchen's white canvas, creating what the designer calls "a contemporary twist on a beach cottage."

 

[caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors[/caption]

 

The graphic printed window shade brings in the cool factor pulling together the porcelain floors, black walnut counter section with prep sink, and geometric backsplash.

 

Sleek & Stylish:

[caption id="attachment_652" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Jonas Carnemark, CKD[/caption]

This kitchen's uber-sophistication reminds me of those Euro-Italian inspired kitchens many homeowners aim to emulate with its stainless appliances, gray flat-panel cabinetry with sleek long handles, thin slate counters and a splash of color in painted-glass backsplash that pops against a neutral palette-very chic.

 

Pearly Whites:

[caption id="attachment_655" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Karen Swanson, New England Design Works[/caption]

All white kitchens are synonymous with contemporary style but this kitchen goes pearly white with a pop of lime to keep you  guessing. You can't box it in as certain aesthetic which makes it all the more powerful visually. The dark floor contrasts with white custom planked walls and an unexpected color pop appears from the red butler’s pantry.

[caption id="attachment_660" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Karen Swanson, New England Design Works[/caption]

 

Warehouse WOW:

[caption id="attachment_707" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Bryan Reiss, CMKBD, Distinctive Design[/caption]

This kitchen feels as if it has a storied past, another life as a once bustling warehouse now renovated and retrofitted by homeowners who respect its roots.  Antiqued, hand-painted finishes, a brick wall, copper hood and vintage looking hanging pendants hint at an aging structure restored to its former glory.

[caption id="attachment_708" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Bryan Reiss, CMKBD, Distinctive Design[/caption]

A large antique Chinese print on the wall over the stairs give the kitchen's contents a collected quality while  oversize cabinets contrast with dark countertops and the hefty details on the island. The original heart pine floors, large arched windows and exposed beams add to the unique character of the soaring space.

Rustic-Eclectic:

[caption id="attachment_711" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Wendy F. Johnson, CKD, CBD, Designs for Living[/caption]

This kitchen's style defies conventional labels so I invented its own term, Rustic-eclectic. To me, it describes an ingenious amalgamation of  rich natural materials such as the wood barrel ceiling and copper range hood juxtaposed with an edgy diamond-pattern floor with a translucent island counter.

[caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Wendy F. Johnson, CKD, CBD, Designs for Living[/caption]

The double tier island mixes a futuristic translucent material with traditional stone while a recycled tile backsplash and colorful glass panels keep the kitchen uncontrived looking.

Keep It Simple Kitchen:

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Brigitte C. Fabi, CMKB, Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio[/caption]

The designer of this kitchen references architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a champion of the Arts & Crafts movement and Art Noveau. Simple forms and natural materials such as mellow, toned quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, intermixed with black hickory cabinets are punctuated by a stainless steel hood.

[caption id="attachment_721" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Brigitte C. Fabi, CMKB, Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio[/caption]

I invite you to check back with me this week as I head to the National Kitchen and Bath Show in New Orleans where I'll be trendspotting and speaking with tastemakers about the latest in kitchen design. Plus,   don't you want to find out which of these kitchen contenders takes home the winning title?