Large Kitchen
1st Place
Family Farmhouse
Danielle Lardani, Studio M Kitchen & Bath
To make much-needed improvements to this young family’s kitchen, floating shelves,
larder-style cabinets, and a wall removal (which created clear sightlines to the living
room) were top priority. In addition to these family-friendly functional changes, farmhouse-style design touches were icing on the cake. The space was updated with mixed metal elements, shaker doors, and a shiplap range hood that matches the kitchen island—all designed to give this family a rich, warm-toned space to spend time together.
2nd Place
Baking With A View
Kate Roos and Evangeline Fitzpatrick, CKBD, Kate Roos Design LLC
For this artist and baker, the kitchen needed to be a workspace and an in-home oasis for family. To accommodate her culinary business, dedicated task stations were defined—making spaces for gathering, entertaining, and decorating cakes and cookies. Before, the lake outside offered a tranquil view from the cooking area, but the connection to the water could be strengthened. To achieve this, a wall was removed and wider windows were added, letting natural light stream inside through the new glass-sided dining hutches. Blue accents and textured tile complete this now-serene space.
3rd Place
Mary Maney, CKBD, ASID, CLIPP, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Medium Kitchen
1st Place
Additions to the Kitchen
Kate Roos and Evangeline Fitzpatrick, CKBD, Kate Roos Design LLC
This turn-of-the-century kitchen needed some big changes to accommodate the needs of a family of four. The back entryway was moved to create direct access from the garage, and the exterior back porch and butler’s pantry were repurposed to be part of the kitchen, thus creating room for a beautiful walnut island. To compensate for the loss of the butler’s pantry, a light-hued birch hutch was built as a tribute to the original 1910 design. Nearby, a marble backsplash and countertop catch light and add contrast
to the space.
2nd Place
Modern & Metallic
Tricia Tidemann, Sawhill Kitchens
At the request of the owners, an artist and his wife, this downtown loft kitchen doubles as a display space for a curated art collection. The kitchen received several upgrades, including metallic rust-rimmed ceramic and ribbed tiles, rusted rock perimeter countertops, and open shelves with white interiors to house the eclectic finds of this creative couple. To create distinction between the living room and kitchen, a tall cabinet was added to the range wall. A raised countertop on the back of the island boasts an oxidized metallic look to complement the tile backsplash.
3rd Place
Mary Maney, CKBD, ASID, CLIPP, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
Small Kitchen
1st Place
Cape Cod, Reimagined
Lynn D. Monson, CMKBD, and Sandy J. Monson, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
The clients of this 1938 Cape Cod home wanted to preserve its charm while adding modern touches of luxury that would make the space more functional and open. The removal of a wall plus a reconfigured cabinet layout allowed for storage and organization without sacrificing access to natural light and the open-air feeling the clients desired. White shelving paired with light oak wood floors complement the base cabinets, painted a soft sea green to match the dining room rug and seamlessly tie the two spaces together. The carefully selected decorative tiles above the range are handmade by a local tilemaker.
2nd Place
Radiant & Red
Jolynn Johnson, CMKBD, CAPS, CLIPP, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
This space was designed as both a traditional kitchen and place for entertaining. The bar-height island keeps guests separate from the kitchen area, avoiding disruptions to cooking and conversation. The pantry cabinet is custom-built and accommodates wine storage and a Nespresso coffee machine that can be tucked away behind pocket doors—creating easy access to your beverage of choice. One of the kitchen’s most striking details is a stripe of red that runs along the entire unit, a feature inspired by the owner’s Swiss heritage. The red shade (also found on the backsplash and kitchen island) is complemented by waterfall-edge countertops, high-gloss black wood, and white accents.
Large Bathroom
1st Place
Lovely on the Lake
Tracy Hains, Calie Pierce, and Stefanie Cohoe, Che Bella Interiors
It was the details that transformed this bathroom from a functionally flawed space to a beautiful and modern room that highlights the home’s lakeside charm. To create additional storage, the vanity was replaced and a medicine cabinet added to keep clutter off the counters and floors. Privacy was also essential, so a half wall was integrated into the shower area, adding to the existing wing wall. A cavity behind the shower allowed for a new bench and shampoo ledge. While the space is made complete with a custom Corian shower pan, a colorful feature wall is the star of the space—balanced with detailed, textural tiles.
2nd Place
Stay-At-Home Spa
Kailee Klevan, CKBD, Beyond Kitchens
Although a large bathtub may sound divine in theory, this particular tub was making the bathroom feel congested. To clear space and create a more practical area, a rift-sawn oak vanity cabinet was paired with eye-catching hardware and plumbing fixtures (like the wall-mounted faucets, for example). Extra drawer storage was added to clear off the cluttered counters, and two recessed medicine cabinets were also added—now illuminated by three mounted wall sconces. A separate tub and shower with a removable, handheld shower head, body sprays, and a sleek grab bar were installed.
3rd Place
Lisa Pope, AKBD, Partners 4, Design
Medium Bath
1st Place – Tie
Making Vintage New
Kate Roos and Evangeline Fitzpatrick, CKBD, Kate Roos Design LLC
This bathroom had several classic touches of Victorian-era design (such as its original clawfoot tub and linen closet from 1914), and the clients wanted to incorporate modern updates while maintaining its period elegance. New cabinets were designed to fit the bathroom’s sloped ceilings, a new vanity replaced the old pedestal sink. Gray marble flooring, subway tile, and marble accent wainscoting add modern flair to the vintage vibe, while deep blue walls provide an additional touch of richness.
1st Place – Tie
Class & Consistency
Kaitlyn Stokes, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
The clients of this sizable bathroom wanted the new design to effortlessly match the rest of their home’s aesthetic. The toilet could not be moved far due to plumbing, so the solution was to build out the area behind it and add a recessed storage cabinet above to maximize space. A pocket door between the bathroom and adjoining bedroom allows for more convenient access and adds to the flow the house.
Small Bathroom
1st Place
Blue Beauty
Lynn D. Monson, CMKBD, and Sandy J. Monson, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
This bathroom was stuck in the ’80s and in desperate need of a makeover. The clients wanted to transform the dated space into a dual-purpose powder room and guest bathroom featuring bold color. The space now includes an easy-to-use, low-profile shower base, a comfort-height toilet, and non-slip tile floor. The 36-inch vanity features quartz countertops, while a stone panel of ocean blue onyx adds a pop of color, contrasting with neutral and silver tones seen within the shower walls.
Powder Bath
1st Place
Pretty in Purple
Nicole Sirek, CID, NCIDQ, ASID, Partners 4, Design
For these clients with a young grandson, the functionality and storage solutions within their powder bathroom also needed to be bright and fun. To transform the small space, the designer updated the vanity into an asymmetrical, floating display with purple panels wrapping the perimeter that integrated into the soffit. The subtle herringbone pattern of the textured limestone floor provides modern-day movement to the space, while crystal knobs—which also showcase the clients’ favorite hue of purple—add that extra touch of sparkle.
2nd Place
Swiss Escape
Jolynn Johnson, CMKBD, CAPS, CLIPP, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
A two-level car condo was a unique setting for this powder room, with vehicles downstairs and a mezzanine complete with a kitchen, living room, office, and bathroom upstairs. Upon entering the bathroom through a sliding barn door, guests will see a mural displaying a beautiful mountainside with a train emerging from a tunnel. The mural—and overall style—of the bathroom are a nod to the clients’ Swiss heritage. To create an optimal layout, electrical and plumbing were rearranged to make space for a dark-glossed wood vanity contrasted by a waterfall-edged countertop.
3rd Place
Nicole Sirek, CID, NCIDQ, ASID, Partners 4, Design
Other Rooms
1st Place
Old English Classic
Megan Dent, AKBD, Michels Homes
This couple built their forever home in 2010 as a space to enjoy their retirement, but 10 years later, they realized their original vision needed updates. The kitchen and back entryway felt congested, so a small addition was built. The refrigerator was moved into this new pantry space, and a new freezer drawer was worked into the design, providing ample counter space. The addition incorporated classic elements like inset cabinets and a beadboard backsplash, while the flooring, countertop material, and millwork style of the pantry were matched to the original kitchen to maintain its Old English aesthetic.
2nd Place – Tie
A New Place For a New Phase
Megan Dent, AKBD, Michels Homes
It’s out with the old and in with the new for this whole-home remodeling project. The owner was on the verge of retirement and hoping to sell her business, and in the spirit of this new phase of life, she moved to a quiet suburban home. While the lower level of the house wasn’t originally on the owner’s list of top priorities, it’s now one of her favorite places to entertain and host her adult children. The main focus of the lower level is the spacious stone-clad bar area, which now sports ceiling-high cabinets featuring glass doors for both storage and sightlines to stemware.
2nd Place – Tie
The Floor Plan Flip
Tammy Johnson, CKD, Lampert Lumber
This 1974 Cape Cod-style home had a small kitchen tucked into the middle of the main-level floor plan, but there wasn’t space for the large, open wet bar the client desired. The client most certainly wanted one, ideally in a convenient location that would provide easy access to both the interior and recently landscaped backyard and garden. The kitchen was moved to the family room, and the old kitchen space became a full wet bar. This entertaining spot features an undercounter beverage cooler, wine cooler, and single-drawer dishwasher. Pocket doors and corner drawers showcase glassware.
3rd Place
Evangeline Fitzpatrick, CKBD, Kate Roos Design LLC
Editor’s Choice Awards
Most Dramatic Transformation: Kitchen
Mary Maney, CKBD, ASID, CLIPP, Crystal Kitchen + Bath
The original layout of this cramped kitchen was causing problems. The aisle between the island and refrigerator was too narrow, and the walk-in pantry was eating up valuable space and making the hub of the home feel even smaller. In addition to an improved layout, the clients wanted a classic kitchen design with ceiling-high, glass-fronted cabinetry that coordinated with the existing wood flooring and nearby family room bookcases. The designer opted for a U-shaped layout, which made room for a new pantry cabinet and stunning 42-inch sloping range hood boasting two-tone coloration, batten strips, and defined molding details. A built-in counter-depth refrigerator with a paneled front blends seamlessly into the new cabinetry, which not only displays accessories but also provides additional storage.
Most Dramatic Transformation: Bathroom
Lisa Pope, AKBD, Partners 4, Design
This master bathroom needed new life, and the homeowner knew it. It didn’t have the desired spa-like feel, the floor plan was disjointed, storage was slim, and sightlines were less than ideal. Although the client wanted the look and feel consistent with that of their Craftsman-style home, updates were certainly in order. First, the floor plan was reworked to make room for a double vanity, toilet, and freestanding tub, and a heated floor and steam shower were installed for a touch of luxury. The space’s clean, airy feel is only elevated by its minimal hardware, sleek cabinetry, and stone tile selection.
