he National Kitchen & Bath Association has announced the winners of the 2009 NKBA Design Competition. This
month,
Lifestyles & Homes takes a look at the top bath and powder room design winners. Kitchen design
winners were featured in the July magazine, which can be found on the Web at
www.fortbendlifestylesandhomes.com/.
All KBIS winners were recognized at an awards ceremony held in conjunction with
the annual Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference. Rheem sponsored the
“Best Sustainable Bath” award, recognizing the best use of green practices in a bathroom design; and
the
“Best Overall Bathroom/Powder Room” award, presented for best bathroom design, was sponsored by Dal-Tile.
Open only to NKBA members, the NKBA Design Competition showcases the talent of
kitchen and bath designers to plan safe, functional and beautiful spaces. A
panel of NKBA-certified designers from all of the organization
’s eight geographic regions judge the projects based on visual appeal and
creativity, as well as principles of design, presentation and safety and
ergonomics.
Best Overall Bath/Powder Room
Industrial Appeal by Lori Carroll
Co-Designer: Mary Roles
Lori Carroll & Associates
This ultra-modern home needed a powder room that would create distinctive impact
without being overly indulgent. The design has an urban industrial feel that is
of great appeal to the client.
Concrete floors are tinted a soothing eggplant color. Featured walls of scarlet
red generate instant contrast to the coolness of cement and metal. Fired steel
panels riveted to the remaining walls provide a bold effect, enhanced by
bare-bulb light fixtures. A framed specialty glass is the perfect choice for
the door, allowing a less confined feeling while maintaining privacy. This
pleasing mix of bravado and simplicity results in a striking but inviting
powder room.
Best Sustainable Bathroom
Wild Plum by Brian M. Johnson, AIA
Collaborative Design Architects
Bringing the panoramic landscape and terrain of Montana into the homeowner’s personal spa was the vision for this master retreat. The primary components
were: simple lines, privacy and sustainable principles. A space that is true to
the integrity of the structure and provides a place of solitude for a busy
doctor became this restful sleek design, entitled Wild Plum, named after the
vegetation native to the property.
Well-placed walls and doors separate the space while allowing for an open
environment, in sync with the open-air feeling of the homesite. With nature so
key in the home, sustainability is the logical and compatible ingredient in
this comfortable bath.
As a cohesive green project, this bathroom design beautifully blends the values
of utility, appearance, cost, durability and sustainability.
POWDER ROOMS
1st Place Powder Rooms
Desert Solace by Lori Carroll
Co-Designer: Mary Roles
Lori Carroll & Associates
Embracing meditative desert solitude and the straightforward principles of
transitional design, this powder room conveys both style and solace. Buff brick
pavers in a classic running bond pattern offer a neutral flooring, while a
stepped-wood wall brings a creative focal point to the space. The use of black
walnut and light Grigio limestone in a custom-crafted vanity provides balance
between conventional and contemporary elements in the design.
A specialty paint technique creates an artistic result for the walls and
ceiling. A trowel-on plaster coating was applied and then painstakingly
textured for a multi-dimensional finish. Just a hint of deeper paint tones and
a smattering of texture keep the focus on simplicity but bring to light the
complexity of the entire design.
Best Overall Bathroom winner, Industrial Appeal, was the 2nd Place winner in the Powder Room category.
