People’s choice winners of 2021

People’s choice winners of 2021

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Bathroom Design, KBDi Awards, Kitchen Design

KBDi and Kitchens & Bathrooms Quarterly by Universal Media Co were delighted to collaborate once again to present the People’s Choice Award of 2021.

All finalists for the KBDi Designer Awards kitchen and bathroom categories were showcased on the Complete Homes website. Over 18,000 votes were received, and we’re delighted to announce the winners below.

WINNER: KBDi and KBQ People’s Choice Award – Kitchen Design

Kate Anderson | Kate Anderson Design

WINNER: KBDi and KBQ People’s Choice Award – Bathroom Design

Ioanna Lennox | Ioanna Lennox Interiors

Huge congratulations to both Kate and Ioanna. They’ve each earned themselves an incredible marketing package (a whopping $8,000 in value) with Universal Magazines, and we look forward to seeing their fabulous projects on the glossy pages of our favourite magazines.

Big thanks, too, to Kitchens and Bathrooms Quarterly by Universal Media Co. Your ongoing support is enormously appreciated.

Judges wowed by beautiful bathrooms

Judges wowed by beautiful bathrooms

by | Oct 8, 2021 | Bathroom Design, KBDi Awards

The KBDi Designer Awards 2021 judging panel was blown away by the beautiful bathrooms in this year’s competition. These relatively small spaces need exceptional space planning in order to meet the inevitably long list of client wants and needs. The following designers delivered, creating highly functional and aesthetically on-point retreats.

Sydney designer, Darren Genner CKD Au (Minosa) is certainly no stranger to the Australian design community. He has a long list of accolades from KBDi and other industry groups, and this year added another national award to his resume. This beautiful bathroom earned Darren the State and National Titles of KBDi Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021.

The judges loved the pared-back, sophisticated elegance of this beautiful bathroom. Very clever space planning allowed multiple zones in a moderately-sized space, while high-end fixtures, fittings and finishes added a new level of luxury.

Melbourne’s Kia Howat (GIA Bathrooms and Kitchens) earned a state title with this serene space.

This light-filled master suite is a stand-out example of timeless design. Exceptional space planning, delightful detailing and smart and stylish specifications have come together to create a truly blissful bathroom sure to be loved for many years.

The Tasmanian KBDi Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021 was awarded to the very talented Lydia Maskiell of Lydia Maskiell Interiors.

Layered lighting, exquisite detailing and a warm and earthy palette make a strong statement in this beautiful bathroom. The judges commended the designer on her vision, style and professional presentation.

And Perth’s Michelle Ashley-Emile (Element Design Studio) secured the title of KBDi Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021 – WA with this relaxing retreat.

A beautiful bush setting is the backdrop to this tranquil space and a great inspiration to the designer. The warm, inviting finishes complement the vista, and thoughtful space planning accommodates the hustle and bustle of three young boys.

Congratulations to all of the winners above, and huge thanks to our KBDi Designer Awards bathroom category sponsors, E and S Trading, for their ongoing support.

Tough competition in Traditional Category

Tough competition in Traditional Category

by | Sep 17, 2021 | Industry News, Inspiration, KBDi Awards

The competition was strong in the 2021 KBDi Designer Awards Traditional category, and the battle for first place was tight. Accordingly, the judges nominated a winner and a high commendation. In this feature, we’re celebrating both.

On behalf of KBDi and the category award sponsor, Cav’Art Designer Stone, we extend our huge congratulations to the category winner, Sydney’s Jacquelyn Carroll from Degabriele Kitchens.

About Jacquelyn’s entry

This spectacular space has all the bells and whistles from a cooking point of view, and decorative delights from every angle. From the profiled panels to the custom corbels, from the blues to golds and timber tones, the designer has had a hand in every square foot of this traditional space.

And kudos and congrats to Adelaide’s Tania Kloester CKD Au (TK Design). Tania was awarded a High Commendation with this high-class kitchen.

About Tania’s entry

A Georgian-themed display home required a suitably styled kitchen, and this designer delivered! With a stunning selection of fixtures, fittings and finishes and a well-planned layout, the kitchen captures the feel of a bygone era while cleverly showcasing the builder’s exacting standards and high-end inclusions.

Congratulations once again to Jacquelyn and Tania, and huge thanks to Cav’Art Designer Stone for their much-valued support.

Meet a Member – KBDi Victorian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2021

Meet a Member – KBDi Victorian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2021

by | Sep 17, 2021 | KBDi Awards, Kitchen Design, Meet our Members, Video Conferences

Tuesday | 21 September 2021 | 4 pm AEST

In this week’s Touch-base Tuesday session, KBDi’s Royston Wilson will be chatting with the newly crowned KBDi Victorian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2021, Matthew James (MJ Harris Group). Matthew’s Small Kitchen entry greatly impressed the judges – they loved his sleek and smart solution for a very small space. In this session, you’ll see the entry up close and learn more about this project and the designer.

 

Watch the recording

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Introducing the KBDi Australian Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021

Introducing the KBDi Australian Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021

by | Sep 10, 2021 | Bathroom Design, Inspiration, KBDi Awards

We’ve seen some truly beautiful bathrooms in our Awards program over the years, but the 2021 entries were above and beyond. The bathroom categories, proudly sponsored by E & S, were jam-packed with exquisitely detailed spaces. One, in particular, stood out from the rest, earning its designer one of the three top national awards.

At our virtual gala on Friday, 20 August, we were thrilled to announce the KBDi Australian Bathroom Designer of the Year 2021 – Darren Genner CKD Au.

Darren Genner CKD Au needs little introduction to the KBDi community. He has stood on the podium (real and virtual) many times over the last few years, holding a firm position as one of Australia’s Finest. With his equally talented partner, Simona Castagna, Darren leads the hugely successful Sydney design firm, Minosa.

Darren started in the industry as a fresh-faced teenager in the late eighties, after leaving school and receiving a stern warning to find a job within six months or join the army. With little desire to ‘don the khaki greens, Darren took the first apprenticeship that came his way. He turned out many kitchens in his wood machining trade before moving to bespoke joinery and beginning his love affair with making extraordinary things. Darren soon progressed through the ranks to programming, project management, contract management and administering projects. And through seeing the work of other designers, he developed a great curiosity for design.

Darren and Simona are huge advocates of ongoing learning, and they continue to seek and share design inspiration each and every day. This highly coveted title – paired with the enormous success of their business – is sweet reward for their efforts.

On behalf of KBDi and our generous award sponsors, E & S, we congratulate Darren on his continued success. Your passion and commitment to the industry are enormously inspirational, Darren, and we’re delighted to see this accolade added to your impressive collection of awards.

About Darren’s project

Darren’s Large Bathroom project blew away the KBDi Judges. They loved the pared-back, sophisticated elegance of Darren’s beautiful bathroom design. Exceptional space planning allowed multiple zones in a moderately-sized space – from the his-and-hers vanity to the luxuriously positioned tub, the floor plan was superbly executed. A comprehensive specification detailed the high-end fixtures, fittings and finishes, and the judges deemed the end design to be both balanced and luxurious.

Introducing the KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2021

Introducing the KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2021

by | Sep 3, 2021 | KBDi Awards, Kitchen Design

A stunning line-up of kitchens vied for State and National titles in the KBDi Designer Awards this year, with the category proudly sponsored by KBDi Premier Partner, Multitap by Insinkerator. In this feature, we’re introducing the Member who took out the coveted title of KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year, along with a few other well-deserved awards.

Maddalena Fiorasi studied architecture in Venice before working in Europe for several years. When she moved to Australia, Maddalena pursued her passion for residential design, studying at Sydney’s Enmore Design Centre. Her dedication to her studies was acknowledged with a student award in 2018, and earned her a complimentary membership (and fortuitous introduction) to the Kitchen & Bathroom Designers Institute.

Both KBDi and our Education Partners, TAFE NSW, were delighted to see this connection come full circle, with Maddalena earning herself the titles of First Time Entrant Award Winner, KBDi Kitchen Designer of the Year – NSW and KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year with this stunning project.

On behalf of our organisation and our generous sponsors, Multitap by Insinkerator, we extend our sincerest congratulations to Maddalena, and look forward to seeing more of her work in the years to come.

About Maddalena’s project

This small kitchen packs a mighty big punch! The judges loved the designer’s thoughtful consideration of the client brief and the measured response to the practical and aesthetic needs of her artistic clients. The panel commended her on an integrative and functional solution and a highly professional presentation. The overall design is as stylish as it is practical and a perfect example of design done well.