Modern Art: 2008 Design Competition

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In an increasingly busy world, it can sometimes be a challenge to stay connected. However, the finalists for the 44th annual National Kitchen & Bath Association Design Competition have made it easier with designs that are family-friendly, tech-savvy and highly accessible – not to mention just plain beautiful.

In fact, the 40 finalists of this year’s competition, dubbed the “2008 NKBA Design Competition: Art of the Industry,” have created kitchen and bath masterpieces that engage the senses through stunning visual elements and seamless transitions to adjacent interior and exterior layouts.

Additionally, the finalists’ designs showcase sensible space planning that caters to clients’ myriad needs. Flexibility, creativity and personalization are design elements that are highly evident in this year’s top designs.

However, each design offers its own unique sensibilities. As a result, the finalists serve up an eclectic palette of design creativity, including a kitchen meant to mimic a traditional French country setting; a large bathroom featuring an indoor waterfall; a powder room inspired by Art Deco jewelry, and an almost-dizzying vacation office based on the circular shape of its windows, among others.

Of course, it’s also the little things that can transform a design from good to great, and while the aesthetic results are stunningly evident in the finalists’ kitchen, bath and other-room designs, functionality ranked equally high, with every detail attended to.

In the end, it is this eye toward detail – combined with astute material selections, effective lighting and inventive finishing touches – that enabled these designers to create true works of art.

Judging

This year, a panel of 14 experts served as judges for the 2008 NKBA Design Competition, each of whom is a practicing kitchen and bath design professional who has achieved the Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and Certified Bath Designer (CBD) designation and/or the Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD) designation.

According to NKBA officials, the judging criteria is stringent, with designs judged on visual appeal, creative elements, principles of design, overall presentation (including quality of the floor plan, perspective and photos) and basic safety and ergonomics.

Categories

This year’s competition was separated into 10 distinct categories, each representing the latest trends in kitchen, bath and other-room design. The categories were established to capture the latest in design ingenuity, as entrants were given clear design parameters with which to flex their creative muscle. Many also need to overcome some unusual design challenges in a variety of settings.

Design categories for this year’s competition included: Category One: Small Kitchens (defined as having less than 35 sq. ft. of countertops); Category Two: Medium Kitchens (defined as having more than 35 sq. ft. of countertops but less than 50 sq. ft. of countertops); Category Three: Large Kitchens (defined as having more than 50 sq. ft. of countertops); Category Four: Open Plan Kitchens (including Great Rooms, breakfast nooks and dining rooms); Category Five: Powder Rooms; Category Six: Small Bathrooms (defined as having less than 55 sq. ft. total); Category Seven: Large Bathrooms (defined as having more than 55 sq. ft. total); Category Eight: Master Suites (which includes closets, dressing rooms, etc.); Category Nine: Showrooms, and Category 10: Other Rooms (home offices, dining areas, living rooms, etc.)

For full coverage, click here. Also be sure to visit Live Events, Top Headlines, Project Spotlight, the Kitchen & Bath Confidential blog and Product Gallery, and sign up for K/BIS-related eNewsletters.

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