This year’s gala event celebrates Ontario’s best and adds a new creative category to the mix
Designing an award-winning kitchen or bathroom is much more challenging than making the space look pretty. It’s about creating an attractive and stylish room while continuing to balance the practical demands of everyday life.
Each year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) Ontario Chapter hosts a gala evening to celebrate the entries and reveal the winners of its annual design competition, and the calibre of this year’s winning projects proved to be exceptional!
There was excitement in the air as kitchen and bath designers, along with industry suppliers and leaders, gathered at the much-anticipated annual event, which took place February 9th at the Paramount Event Space in Woodbridge.
Entries to the competition are judged by a panel of certified designers (CKD, CBD, CKBD, CMKBD) and industry experts. Qualifying projects are then scored on various criteria, including: NKBA guidelines, safety and ergonomics, elements and principles of design, design planning, creativity and presentation. With 11 categories, six specialty awards including People’s Choice, plus the revered Pinnacle
Award, a total of 36 awards were presented for design excellence and creativity. A new category of Concept Kitchen was added this year where entrants could push the boundaries and create a space for an imaginary family without a budget to limit them.
This year’s Pinnacle Award Winner was Rose Barroso of Barroso Homes. This prestigious award represents the best of all entries and is selected from all the firstplace place winners.
The People’s Choice Award is given to the winner of a contest run by Homes Publishing Group. Select kitchens from the competition entries are nominated and voted upon by industry peers as well as the general public. This year’s winner was Svetlana Tryaskina , Estee Design & Ilona Peever , Irpinia Kitchens (Co-designer). The NKBA Ontario Chapter and HOMES Publishing are thrilled to feature this year’s award-winning designers and their respective designs.
Pinnacle Award
Rose Barroso, Barroso Homes
Compact Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Martin deSousa, Designström
Small Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Linnea Lions, Designström
SECOND PLACE Martin deSousa, Designström
THIRD PLACE Benjamin John Ouellette, Bjoid
HONOURABLE MENTION Beverley Binns, Binns Kitchen + Bath
Medium Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Beverley Binns, Binns Kitchen + Bath
SECOND PLACE Leanne Tammaro & Adolphina Karachok (Co-designer), Designtheory Inc.
THIRD PLACE Joleen M Constantis, Volumes of Space, Inc. & Hira Homes (Co-designer)
HONOURABLE MENTION Linnea Lions, Designström
Large Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Glen Peloso & Elizabeth Smith (Co-designer), Grafus Design Build
SECOND PLACE Frankie Castro, Square Footage Inc.
THIRD PLACE Andrea Pannaci, Olympic Kitchens Inc.
HONOURABLE MENTION Svetlana Tryaskina, Estee Design & Ilona Peever, Irpinia Kitchens (Co-designer),
Concept Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Martin deSousa, Designström
SECOND PLACE Cassandra Nordell, William Standen Co.
Powder Room
FIRST PLACE Andrea Pannaci, Olympic Kitchens Inc.
SECOND PLACE Emma Doucet, Grassroots Design + Build
Small Bathroom
FIRST PLACE Brittany Oakley, Toronto Custom Concepts Inc.
SECOND PLACE Mark Ashton, Ashton Renovations
Medium Bathroom
FIRST PLACE Dvira Ovadia, Dvira Interiors
SECOND PLACE Celeste Pilon, Total Living Concepts
Large Bathroom
FIRST PLACE Rose Barroso, Barroso Homes
SECOND PLACE Emma Doucet, Grassroots Design + Build
THIRD PLACE Natalie Venalainen & Keith O’Brien (Co-designer), Men at Work Design Build Ltd.
HONOURABLE MENTION Dvira Ovadia, Dvira Interiors
Other Room / Outdoor Kitchen
FIRST PLACE Laura Goard, Square Footage Inc.
SECOND PLACE Rose Barroso, Barroso Homes
Promotional Display
FIRST PLACE Yasmine Goodwin, My Design Studio
SECOND PLACE Erica Sibley & Beverley Binns (Co-designer), Binns Kitchen + Bath Design
Best Traditional Kitchen
Glen Peloso & Elizabeth Smith, Grafus Design Build
Best Before & After Kitchen
Frankie Castro, Square Footage Inc.
Best Before & After Bathroom
Alannah Bent, William Standen Co.
Best Budget Kitchen
Emma Doucet, Grassroots Design + Build
Best New Designer
Alex Deelen, Binns Kitchen + Bath Design
People’s Choice HPG
Svetlana Tryaskina, Estee Design & Ilona Peever, Irpinia Kitchens (Co-designer)
The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide.