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By Donna Heiderstadt

Three designers have earned finalist spots in the Powder Room category of NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards 2024. We won’t reveal which project will receive $5,000 for a first-place finish, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third until the February 26 gala awards event in Las Vegas at KBIS 2024, but we’re previewing all three innovative and problem-solving designs here. 

Read on for a look at the top three Powder Room projects for NKBA’s 2024 Professional Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards.

Gina Bauerle, D’Amore Interiors, Denver, CO: “Pretty Plum-ing”

A client’s desire to convert a storage area into a bath during a full basement redesign required Gina Bauerle, Partner and Interior Designer at Denver-based D’Amore Interiors, to be both resourceful and creative. Since the space lacked rough-ins for plumbing and had a set of electrical panels within its footprint that needed to be worked around, this Powder Room project was heavy on labor costs — and thus required a moderate design budget. That didn’t mean the resulting design, “Pretty Plum-ing,” couldn’t be bold and splashy. Bauerle’s goal was to create a fun space that matched the youthful vibe of the new basement design. “Purple was our main accent color in the space, so we decided to go for it by using Jaclo’s Plum finish on the plumbing fixtures!” she says. The baseboard, crown molding and interior door were also painted the same shade of plum, and the freestanding steel vanity with a white concrete top and integrated sink saved money without compromising the design. Random mosaic marble floor tile emboldened with black grout and metallic wallpaper in a reverse pattern give the space some razzle-dazzle. And that electrical panel? It’s discreetly covered by an easily removable panel wrapped in the same wallpaper.

For more details and to attend NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards, go here.

Trish Knight, Knight Varga Interiors, Vancouver, BC: “Forever Home”

Personalized high-end design is at the heart of everything award-winning Vancouver-based Knight Varga Interiors does. Partners Trish Knight and Nicole Varga endeavor to always “reflect the values and sensibilities” of the people inhabiting the home, and for this year’s Powder Room finalist project, “Forever Home,” Knight needed to keep several things in mind. First, this was part of a new home build designed over a three-year period and featuring an architectural style that “leans contemporary with rich, warm elements.” Secondly, this was to be the only bath on the main floor, so not only did it need to incorporate “wow factor” features to impress guests, but it also needed to be durable enough to withstand daily use by the family. A key challenge: The space was long and narrow, and the clients requested a discreet toilet area that could not be seen from the hallway. Knight’s solution was to create a wall between the vanity and the toilet and clad it in the hardwood floorboards used throughout the rest of the house to create a visual break for the eye. The dramatic sink and counter were custom-made from the same slab of quartz, fabricated in Spain, and are accented by a vertical slat wall, glossy ceramic tile with a subtle plaid pattern, and grasscloth wallpaper — all of which play off each other to create “an elevated boutique feel.” 

Jennifer Hale, Interiors for Modern Living, Palo Alto, CA: “Green With Envy”

Can a powder room have global intrigue? It can if left in the hands of Jennifer Hale, Founder and Director of Interior Design at Palo Alto, CA-based Interiors for Modern Living, whose design philosophy is guided by “the principles of balanced, soothing and harmonious environments.” Her “Green With Envy” project blends traditional and exotic elements to create an atmosphere of elegance and sophistication. This compact powder room was part of a whole-house remodel within the existing footprint. The client’s main request was that it offer convenient access for guests while also ensuring privacy — and that the design be impressive without being too formal. The resulting powder room, carved from surrounding space, exudes a past-meets-present ambience via the use of faceted brass pendants with a touch of sparkle, emerald-green Zellige wall tile, a custom concrete-and-wood washstand, and a bold botanical print wallpaper. The layout is also as practical as it is stunning, with the toilet positioned in a secluded orientation for added privacy. Hale calls it a “sanctuary of enchantment and curiosity.”

For more details and to attend NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards, go here.