By Donna Heiderstadt

As the industry counts down to KBIS 2023 in Las Vegas, the National Kitchen & Bath Association is more excited than ever about The Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards. The award show kicks off NKBA’s year-long 60th Anniversary Celebration and will feature a BIG surprise celebrity guest that will start the Opening Party, which directly follows the Design Awards. 

An exciting new category has been created for the 2023 Design Awards called Primary Bath, and the top three finalists have been chosen! The winning projects — whose designers will receive $5,000 for a first-place finish, $2,500 for second and $1,000 for third — won’t be revealed until the awards ceremony on January 30 at the Encore hotel’s Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas. However, the finalists’ designs for Primary Bath can be previewed here. So, read on for details on the three Primary Bath projects for 2023.

The 2023 Kitchen & Bath Industry Awards: Primary Bath Finalists

Kendall Ansell, Kendall Ansell Interiors, Coquitlam, BC: “Treetop Oasis”

Kendall Ansell, principal of Coquitlam, BC-based Kendall Ansell Interiors, designs spaces that allow her clients to be creative, comfortable, and themselves. “We work with our clients to realize their inner style and then help them to design a home that reflects them,” she explains. For a primary bath remodel in a residence in North Vancouver, the goal was an “everlasting oasis” and the space was designed around an existing skylight, which Kendall accentuated with floor-to-ceiling wall tile and a large matte black soaker tub by Victoria + Albert.According to the designer, the challenge with “Treetop Oasis” was configuring the layout to fit the tub, along with a vanity, shower area, and water closet — and allow two people to use the space at the same time. 

Another priority was storage. The design solution was a floating custom oak vanity with Kohler sinks and faucets, full-height cabinets with custom shelving, and a fluted glass panel at the vanity enclosed with black steel framing and double mirrors, which created privacy for the shower area but still allowed bright light to shine through. The space’s aesthetics were also enhanced with the addition of Daltile flooring in a contemporary natural stone mosaic and a sleek two-sided fireplace with gray tinted glass to visually connect the primary bedroom and bath.

Mary Maney, Crystal Kitchen + Bath, Crystal, MN: “Serene Luxury”

With 38 years of experience in residential and commercial design, Mary Maney, a designer at Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, MN, has honed her attention to detail and her ability to listen to what a client needs and wants to create a truly unique space. So, when a couple in Edina, MN requested an “elegant and luxurious” primary bathroom that incorporated natural stone, special cabinet details, interesting shower tile, and beautiful plumbing fixtures, her vision of the space was one of “Serene Luxury.”

Marble from The Tile Shop is at the heart of this polished design. It is used throughout the bathroom, including in a rug pattern with a mosaic inlay that is centered in front of the free-standing Victoria + Albert tub and bay window; another rug pattern in mosaic tiles is featured on the head wall of the shower. The focal point of the new primary bath, however,  is the symmetry and organic curves created by the free-standing volcanic limestone tub, in addition to the matching vanities, wall panels, sconces, and decorative mirrors. Further adding the bathroom’s elegance is the minimalistic and fluid lines of the Kohler sink, bath, and shower fixtures, and an organic leaf chandelier centered within the tray ceiling that mimics the mosaic pattern of the heated floor below.

Sandra Diaz-Velasco, Eolo Architecture & Interior Design, Miami, FL: “Villa Condo”

Since launching Eolo Architecture & Interior Design in Miami in 2008, owner, principal architect, and interior designer Sandra Diaz-Velasco has won numerous accolades for her work in high-end residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the United States. For this primary bathroom in a luxury condo on Brickell Avenue, the challenge was to unify separate his-and-hers bathrooms into a single sophisticated space with both a sense of openness and an appropriate level of privacy. “The couple was moving from the West Coast to their new home in Florida,” Sandra explains,“ and they wanted to enjoy a new residence that would supply luxury and comfort through an improved floor-plan layout, home automation, and high-end construction finishes.” 

The “Villa Condo” design sought to meet those demands along with improved lighting, expanded storage, modern finishes, and a separate toilet room. Another priority was supporting accessibility as the clients grow older. The result is a space flooded with natural light and outfitted with integrated sound systems and a heated floor. An accent wall and water-resistant wood-paneled ceiling surround a custom Excellence in Italian Design bathtub, while dual Ornare vanities with Cosentino sinks create visual symmetry, and Robern medicine cabinets and full-height cabinets on each side of the tub offer ample storage. City views are provided by a window in the shower, which features built-in seating, an Excellence in Italian Design shower system in brushed gold, niche shelving, and a transparent glass enclosure that ensures natural light bathes the entire space. A custom millwork piece holds a revolving TV panel that serves both bedroom and bathroom, and a “powder room” with a Duravit smart toilet and pedestal sink is separated from the main area by translucent Soji glass panels for privacy.

Winning Announcements Coming Soon

The Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Award winners for each category will be announced on January 30th at KBIS 2023. Shaping up to be an event not to be missed, the first, second, and third place winners will be formally announced in each of the six categories, as well as awards for Best Overall Kitchen, Best Overall Bath, and the new People’s Pick award. Over $100,000 will be awarded in total. If you cannot attend, check our newsfeed to read all about it. The award show will be the start of NKBA’s year-long 60th Anniversary Celebration and will feature a BIG surprise celebrity guest that will kick off our Opening Party, which directly follows the Design Awards.

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