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Feed2007 National Kitchen & Bath Association Awards
By Suzy Frisch
NKBA Design Competition Committee
Lisa Loushin-Crocker, CKDHaute Kitchens
Design Competition Judges
Arlynne Wolf, CKECentury College
Curtis Ostrom, CMKBD
New Spaces
John Sylvestre, CR, CKD,
CLL, CKBR, CAPS
John C. Sylvestre Construction
Serena Rebechini, CKD
Genz-Ryan
Photo by John Abernathy
Sleek Outlook
Photo by John Abernathy
First Place: Large and Open Kitchens
(Greater than 50 square feet of countertops and/or including additional spaces such as great rooms, breakfast nooks, and dining rooms)Designer:
Lynn Monson, CKD, CBDMonson Interior Design
Minneapolis
Co-Designers:
Sandy MonsonMonson Interior Design
Minneapolis
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
St. Louis Park
In its original configuration, the kitchen of this downtown St. Paul condo was closed off from the sweeping views through the living area’s windows. A new owner wanted to take advantage of vistas, and create an open yet separate chef’s kitchen that would allow him to socialize with guests. Lynn and Sandy Monson teamed with DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen to design a sleek space that accommodated the owner’s wishes. They removed the walls from the existing kitchen, constructed a raised platform for the new one a step above the living and dining areas, and added an island with a sink. The changes orient the kitchen to the windows and give the owner an elevated vantage point. The condo now has a fresh look with its flat-door, wineberry-stained cherry cabinets, stainless fixtures, and stainless steel cabinets with frosted-glass panels. More contrast comes from a partial glass island and a glass tile backsplash, while merbau wood floors replace dated tile and carpet. A line of cabinetry flows from the kitchen into the adjacent bar area and adds extra storage.
Island Entertainment
Second Place: Large and Open Kitchens
(Greater than 50 square feet of countertops and/or including additional spaces)
Designer:
Peter Harms North Star Kitchens
Minneapolis
Co-Designer:
Tom RauscherRauscher & Robichaud
Minneapolis
The homeowners of this Eden Prairie abode have a growing family, love to cook and bake, and entertain often. But their kitchen was far from adequate. An addition presented an opportunity to reconfigure the space and give it the features the family wanted for sitting down for family meals, eating on the go, or entertaining large groups. Peter Harms and Tom Rauscher created a cozy kitchen in a big room by designing an extensive, wrap-around island that mirrors the main cooking area with a small prep island in between. They eliminated a long row of cabinetry and added two angled walls to make the space more intimate. Bringing the refrigerator and freezer closer to the cooking center also makes food preparation more efficient. Focal points are an antique copper hood and the merbau wood island, which contrast with custom, walnut-stained cabinetry and taupe granite countertops. The kitchen’s casual, eight-seat island, easily functions as an everyday gathering spot for the family. A beverage center, built-in wine chiller, and extensive counter space for serving food also make it a highly functional place for entertaining.
Vintage Restored
First Place: Medium kitchen
(Between 35 and 50 square feet of countertops)Designer:
Lynne Stryker, CKDSpaces Into Places
St. Paul
Once Lynne Stryker was done with this formerly clunky and awkward kitchen in St. Paul, it had twice the counter space, a new eating peninsula, a pantry and message center, and a generous amount of storage. The 1920s Mission-style home was the victim of a bad remodeling job by previous owners in the 1980s. The earlier remodel placed a refrigerator so that it blocked the woodwork, obscured natural light, and hid views of the scenic backyard. Stryker turned the basement steps 90 degrees—they now exit to the back door instead of into the kitchen—to create a much more functional space. She also gave the room a loftier feel by installing double-stacked cabinets with cubby openings, which enhance the kitchen’s high ceilings. Base cabinets in spruce green and wheat-stained maple match the style of the original home and provide visual interest, as do the 17 handmade tiles in the backsplash that the homeowners brought back from a trip to Spain. Accents of red and green in the window treatments and a new stove make this a lively and inviting kitchen.
Lakeside Feast
Second Place: Medium kitchen
(Between 35 and 50 square feet of countertops)
Designer:
Mary Ann FalkenbergNorth Star Kitchens
Minneapolis
The owners of this year-round lakeshore home in Prior Lake wanted to transform an outdated kitchen into a room that makes cooking and entertaining enjoyable. Mary Ann Falkenberg achieved a warm, functional space with stellar lake views by using cherry cabinetry with clean lines and cabinet-style appliances. She removed a closet and pushed back the wall of an adjacent bathroom to make room for a butler’s pantry, which now connects the kitchen with the dining room. The butler’s pantry makes entertaining in the kitchen more seamless—with its ice maker, wine cooler, glass shelves, and extra counter space. A mirrored backsplash in the area also helps to expand the space visually. To provide additional working zones in the kitchen, Falkenberg moved the cooking area into a diagonal spot in the corner and angled the eat-in peninsula. A honed granite countertop and a slate backsplash, accented by decorative metal trim in a herringbone design, provide a feast for the eyes, while angled, fluted-glass cabinets ease the transition into the butler’s pantry.
Re-Flowed Tudor
First Place: Small kitchens
(Less than 35 square feet of countertops)Designer:
Kari Hiltner, CKDThe Woodshop of Avon
Edina
An inefficient kitchen and no main-floor bathroom kept the owners of this south Minneapolis Tudor from loving what was otherwise a great family home. The kitchen’s several doorways, a step to the side entrance, and multiple ceiling heights made the space inefficient and gave it a lack of focus. Kari Hiltner transformed the room into a functional galley-style space by reclaiming a few square feet from the ample dining room and closing off a kitchen window. This created space for a new pantry and drop-down desk. A new 3-foot window above the relocated kitchen sink transformed the backyard and deck into the focal point of the room, while new arched openings between the kitchen and dining room and into the pantry area mirror the home’s 1920s style. Hiltner also reconfigured the bench-style, eat-in area into the family’s desired half bathroom. The new kitchen features hardwood in place of linoleum floors, natural inset maple cabinetry, and black granite countertops. The end result is a highly functional space with more usable countertops, better storage, and an improved flow.
Arty and Airy
Second Place: Small kitchens
(Less than 35 square feet of countertops)Designer:
JoLynn Johnson, CMKBDCrystal Kitchen Center
Crystal
JoLynn Johnson faced the challenge of integrating the kitchen of this 1970s Maple Grove split level with the rest of the home and finding a way for two cooks to work together more comfortably. By punching out a 10-foot pass-through space between the kitchen and dining room, she opened up both rooms and flooded the dining and living rooms with the kitchen’s plentiful natural light. The pass-through further unites the two rooms by providing additional seating at a dining room snack bar and a place to display art. Best of all, Johnson centered the new range on the counter overlooking the dining room, giving the chefs an opportunity to interact with others in the home, and making it comfortable for the two to cook together. The new kitchen has an airy, contemporary feel with its maple cabinets and brightly colored tile backsplash in five shades and sizes. A tall wall of cabinets offers more functional space for the oven, microwave, pantry, and a stand-up desk. Other accessories, such as roll-out shelves, a tip-out front sink, and tray dividers make this kitchen distinctive.
Empty-Nester Oasis
First Place: Large Bathrooms and Master Suites
(Greater than 55 square feet)Designer:
Kari Hiltner, CKDThe Woodshop of Avon
Edina
When their last child left for college, it was the perfect opportunity for these homeowners to reclaim a bit of personal space. They wanted an open bathroom with modern amenities and a clean look for their traditional two-story home in Edina. The bathroom formerly contained two adjoining rooms, one with the tub/shower, single vanity, and toilet, and the other with a small vanity and closet. By incorporating one of the five bedrooms into the bathroom and a large walk-in closet, Kari Hiltner created an airy and light space that now serves as a luxurious oasis. Tearing down walls and expanding into the bedroom provided ample room for a whirlpool bath, a large square shower, a double vanity, and a separate space for the toilet. The new master bath meshes well with the traditional feel of the home by incorporating white-painted face-frame cabinetry with clean, straight lines. Rectangular sinks and granite on the countertops and tub deck give the room a fresh, uncluttered look, while an element of indulgence comes from multiple showerheads, including a rain shower and body sprays.
Sparkling Makeover
Large Bathrooms and Master Suites
(Greater than 55 square feet)Designer:
Christy PlantDreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
St. Louis Park
Winning Cabinetry
(not pictured)Utilization of cabinetry in commercial or institutional application
First Place
Tricia Hauer-TidemanNorth Star Kitchens
Minneapolis
Sporting cotton-candy pink tile, dim lighting, and a lack of storage, this Minneapolis bathroom was in dire need of a makeover. Christy Plant made the small space fresh and charming by incorporating white cabinetry, butter yellow walls, and decorative iridescent glass mosaics throughout the bathroom. To gain storage, she replaced a pedestal sink with a vanity and swapped out a medicine cabinet for a unit with a mirror and shallow wall cabinets. The owners wanted to stay true to the original style of their 1930s home, so Plant added 3-inch cove molding to the ceiling, and used old Victorian glass knobs and pulls that match the hardware in other rooms of the home. A flyover shelf with high-wattage puck lights complement new, recessed ceiling lights to better illuminate the space; clean lines from white raised-panel cabinetry and white tiles give the room a light and open feeling. The bathroom gets its sparkle from a wide chair rail–height band of iridescent tiles in blue, green, and white, as well as colored tile accents on the floor and in the shower.
Suzy Frisch is an Apple Valley freelance writer.
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Photo by John Abernathy
Best Overall Makeovers
Photo by John Abernathy
The editors of Midwest Home magazine awarded the best kitchen and bath makeovers.
Made to Order
Kitchen
Designer:Lynn Monson, CKD, CBD
Monson Interior Design
Minneapolis
Co-Designers:
Sandy Monson
Monson Interior Design
Minneapolis
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
St. Louis Park
The designers gave this bachelor exactly what he wanted: A show-stopping view from his kitchen, which was raised a step to accommodate island plumbing and to create a separate “room.” Wonderful!
Vintage Spa
Bath
Designer:Kari Hiltner, CKD
The Woodshop of Avon
Edina
These homeowners lost a bedroom to gain a bath of spacious luxury, infused with vintage touches that make it truly special.
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
