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The Chapter’s Annual Gala & Design Competition Awards was a spectacular success.

By Elisa Fernández-Arias

Held in the glamorous City Club in San Francisco last month, the Northern California Chapter’s Annual Gala & Design Competition Awards was a festive event with nearly 200 attendees. The Gala and Awards event, sponsored by Purcell Murray, was followed by the after-party celebration of NKBA’s 60th Anniversary, sponsored by Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS).    

The event kicked off with a cocktail reception on the 10th floor of the City Club, followed by a sit down dinner on the 11th floor. Nureed Saeed, Owner and Creative Director, Nu Interiors, and President of the NKBA Northern California Chapter, welcomed guests to the dinner. She also shared on behalf of the Chapter council: “The Annual Gala & Design Competition Awards is a culmination and celebration of everything that we as a chapter have accomplished over the year. It’s a collective effort, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of this vibrant, dedicated, professional, talented, creative and inclusive community.” 

The Design Competition Awards were hosted by Alexandria Abramian, founder of the PR Collaborative, an online community for interior designers and photographers who want their work featured in top design publications. The following winners were announced: 

First Place Awards for Kitchens (Small, Medium, Large) went to Nureed Saeed, Nu Interiors (Small); Jennifer Hale, Interiors for Modern Living (Medium); Jennifer Hale and Marianne Bauer, Interiors for Modern Living (Large, Judge’s Choice).

First Place Awards for Bathrooms (Small, Medium, Large) went to Aimee Toy Inouye, CKBD, Home Base Designs (Small); Lisa Mellberg, Harrell Design + Build (Medium, Judge’s Choice); Aimee Toy Inouye, CKBD (Large).

Additional First Place Awards included Best Before & After Kitchen, awarded to Jennifer Hale; Best Laundry Room to Aimee Toy Inouye, CKBD; Best Before & After Bathroom to Jennifer Hale; and Best Powder Room to Julie Mifsud, Julie Mifsud Interior Design, and Cynthia Campanile, Artistic Tile & Stone.

Also, Student Award Winners included Camryn Burgess (Mood Board Winner); Rose Tanjoco (Mood Board Honorable Mention); Nidhi Shrivastava (Charette Winner); Kimberley Bentley (Charette Honorable Mention).

At the event to support and congratulate the award winners was Basil Larkin, Sr VP/Sales for Hestan and former NKBA Chair of the Board. 

Event sponsors also included Milestone Distributors, All Natural Stone, Amerleaf Home, Miele, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, DeWils Fine Cabinetry, Vadara, True Residential, Riggs Distributing, Danmar Cabinets and SKS.

After the awards ceremony concluded, attendees returned to the 10th floor for the NKBA 60th Anniversary after-party, sponsored by SKS. Alan Dove, NKBA’s Sr. Director, Member Relations, welcomed guests and introduced Helen Cho, Sr. Director of Marketing, SKS and LG Pro Builders, who announced a surprise drawing with a grand prize – an overnight trip to Napa and exclusive tour of SKS Experience & Design Center for 50 guests, including the design competition winners and other members. Afterwards, Kelly Buchsbaum, NKBA’s Sr. Manager, Chapter Relations, presented a look back at the 60 years of NKBA history, including quizzes and giveaways. Attendees then enjoyed champagne toasts, cocktails, truffle popcorn, delectable desserts and dancing.

Photos by Gooch.