1st Place Small Kitchen - 2015 NKBA Design Competition

Updated Feb 24, 2024

Never was I a "first place" kind of a kid. I always had to work for everything, and I still do. Sometimes that little voice inside your head puts you down and sometimes it actually supports you. This year, I listened to the angel on the shoulder and did what I wanted. I am elated that I won 1st Place Small Kitchen in the 2015 NKBA Design Competition (International) and 1st Place Medium Kitchen in the 2014 NKBA British Columbia Chapter Design Competition (Provincial). I was complete mouth drop, weak knees, hand shaking shocked. SHOCKED! Just ask around, the reaction is very real still. But here's the thing.

This win comes at a big thank you to the entire team that collaborated to make this project what it is:

Thank you to my clients; you are notable and I am honoured to work with you through this whole process on your home renovation in Kitsilano, a coastal neighbourhood of Vancouver BC. From Skype meetings, to us screwing it up a bit on the tile selection, you have an amazing space that is unbelievably grown up and fits for a lifetime of family visits.

Scott from Fifth Element Construction & Renovation Ltd., you guys are the very best at what you do and I'm privileged and honoured to work with you so much. Everything you see, from my design plans to the millwork carpentry of that bench seat and so very much more, it is all because of your dedication and professional that we continue to do great work for great people.

So, all you Designer's might be asking right now what makes this one a National Kitchen and Bath Association winner? Let me tell you:

1. Drawings that are correct, follow graphic presentation principles, and are not scaled copies of a 1/2" = 1'-0" scale. Watch your printer outputs! This is a big one.

2. Photography that represents the space as it is; avoid overly done photo corrections

3. A design statement that justifies any questions, it's objective not subjective

That is it. It's not hard. My strongest recommendation for all the professionals reading this is to get your graphic presentation skills down to an art and have them vetted if you're unsure. This is our number one failure in the industry and communicating our design concepts are key.

Overall View of Kitchen & Dining Room

Kitchen view from entry

View from Dining Room

Dining Room, expandable table closed

Dining Room, expandable table open

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