Almost 200 guests gathered for a night of wining, dining and plenty of celebrations at the KBDi Designer Awards Gala in Brisbane on Saturday, 19 August.

The Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves was the venue, and the guest list included many of Australia’s finest kitchen and bathroom designers. The industry’s most trusted suppliers enjoyed the celebrations, too, and design educators from across the country joined their students on this ‘night of nights’.

Designer James Treble was tasked with emcee duties and kept the crowd entertained all night. His enthusiasm was infectious, and we thoroughly appreciated James’ professionalism, good humour and uncanny ability to pronounce even the most challenging names.

Of course, the highlight of the evening was the much-awaited presentation of the Kitchen & Bathroom Institute’s top three national awards, and we’re sharing the winners here.

KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the Year 2023
Rina Cohen CKD Au | RCI Designers

KBDi Designer Members must pass a comprehensive portfolio submission and intensive peer review to earn their accreditation and CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer) or CBD (Certified Bathroom Designer) post-nominals. Finalists in this particular category face similar scrutiny when submitting their awards, with the judges looking for the highest standard of documentation and design.

Melbourne designer, Rina Cohen CKD Au, passed this test with flying colours, earning herself the coveted title of KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the Year 2023.

The judges described this entry as a perfect example of the high standard expected of a KBDi-accredited designer. The designer demonstrated meticulous attention to detail from the brief to the specifications, and the stunning material selections were the icing on the cake. A striking Emerald Haze honed stone sets the scene, and matching mint mosaics, warm oak-toned cabinets and carefully placed bronze highlights combine to great effect. The panel commended the entrant on a perfectly executed project.

Wilson & Bradley were proud to sponsor the 2023 KBDi Designer Awards Certified category. Pictured here is Product Development Manager, Luke Spark, presenting Rina with her award.

KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2023
Ashley Maddison | AM Interior Studio

Queensland designer, Ashley Maddison, cleaned up her state awards, taking home a suite of category trophies and the titles of KBDi QLD Kitchen Designer of the Year and KBDi QLD Bathroom Designer of the Year. The pinnacle of her night, however, was the sought-after national accolade and title of KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year 2023.

The panel loved every part of this project: from the designer’s clever concept to the comprehensive plan set, the kitchen design was superbly executed. The material selections were both practical and pretty, meeting the client’s brief for a functional family kitchen with a warm and soft palette. With the homeowners being avid entertainers, the kitchen needed to accommodate all kinds of events, and the designer delivered, planning the space to a tee. Overall, it was a clear winner, and the panel were pleased to declare this entrant the KBDi Australian Kitchen Designer of the Year.

Hettich Australia proudly sponsored all kitchen category awards in the 2023 KBDi Designer Awards program. Managing Director, Martin Gane, was thrilled to present Ashely with her award.

KBDi Australian Bathroom Designer of the Year 2023
Birdblack Design

Wollongong team, Birdblack Design, blitzed the bathroom categories in their home state, taking out all three category awards and the subsequent state title. With a stunning portfolio of bathroom entries, it was no surprise to see Birdblack designers Sarah Nolen and Stu make their way to the stage to collect the national title of KBDi Australian Bathroom Designer of the Year 2023.

This project was a hands-down bathroom favourite for the panel. From the gently curving solid surface benchtops encircling the space to the softly textured Venetian plastered walls, the bathroom exudes a gentle ebb and flow feel. Brushed copper details add just the right amount of glimmer, and a thoughtful lighting plan offers an ocean moon glow and practical illumination, too. The concept was well presented, and the documentation was flawless – a fantastic submission all around.

The KBDi Designer Awards bathroom categories were proudly sponsored by E & S. Managing Director, Peter Manikaukas, was delighted to present the Birdblack Design team with their joint awards.

The plaques you see pictured above were very generously provided by our long-time supporters, Austaron Surfaces. Your ongoing partnership with KBDi is hugely appreciated, and we offer you our sincerest thanks.

On behalf of the KBDi community, we extend our congratulations to these very worthy winners. And to all of our Award sponsors, may we once again share our enormous appreciation for your support.

See all winning entries here.