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By Donna Heiderstadt

Three designers have earned finalist spots in the Specialty Kitchen category of the 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 designs here.

Read on for a look at the top three Specialty Kitchen projects for NKBA’s 2024 Professional Design Awards. 

Kimberly Kerl, Kustom Home Design, Greer, SC: “Wrap Around Working Pantry/Dirty Kitchen”

While the main kitchen in this home was designed to be an uncluttered space ideal for hosting, serving, cooking and entertaining, the working pantry was intended as the place to get one’s hands dirty. “The main kitchen area would take center stage, but the wrap-around pantry would become the wizard behind the proverbial curtain,” says Kimberly Kerl, Owner of Kustom Home Design in Greer, SC. Set beyond a distinctive bank of cabinetry designed to serve as a partition, this working pantry appears from the main kitchen to be a beautiful bar with deep teal blue lower cabinetry, warm white oak accents and fluted glass doors. However, an innovative backsplash raises to reveal a pass-through to a working pantry complete with a set of wall ovens tucked discreetly into the end of the partition and a workstation sink set into a marble countertop with an integrated drainboard, marble backsplash and book-matched marble shelf. The cleanup station is lit by a drum fixture and adorned with a framed print whose muted tones blend seamlessly with the gray, blue, green and gold pigments that swirl inside the creamy white marble. The pantry area features open shelving with corbeled partitions, coordinating gray quartz with cream veins and a striking ombre glass globe. This dirty kitchen’s functionality is undeniable, freeing up the main kitchen by providing extra prep, cleaning and staging space for the client’s lively parties and milestone family gatherings.

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

Cindy Steele, Fleur de Lis Designs, Los Gatos, CA: “Cabana Kitchen”

With a large backyard that wasn’t being used to its full potential, homeowners turned to Cindy Steele, Founder and Lead Designer of Los Gatos-based Fleur de Lis Designs, to create an outdoor hub that meets a variety of needs — from a shaded hang-out and remote-work space to an inviting poolside oasis for dining and entertaining. Before the transformation, there were no outdoor kitchen amenities and absolutely no shade. “The large backyard was simply not being used or enjoyed to its full potential,” says Steele. “The clients wanted more motivation to cook, dine and relax outside.” The solution was “Cabana Kitchen,” an ambitious reimagining of the area to create an attractive and functional covered space that was a logical extension of the house and pool. Steele designed a kitchen fully furnished with luxury appliances and pop-up outlets for blenders and coffee-makers, along with spacious yet cozy dining and conversation areas with ample shade and adaptable seating. Varicolored ledgestone matches the surrounding landscape’s earthy tones and the pool’s vibrant blue, while quartzite countertops define the kitchen space, and a media wall and fire table anchor the inviting lounge area.

Jeffrey Florentine, JSF Design Inc., Scottsdale, AZ: “Guest House Kitchen”

As part of the renovation of a client’s 6,963-square-foot home, Jeffrey Florentine, Founder & CEO of Scottsdale, AZ-based JSF Design Inc., was also tasked with reimagining a small kitchen in a guest casita into a space that was appropriate for guests but could also do double duty as a high-end catering space and seamlessly blend with the grandeur of the main house. “The guesthouse kitchen exemplifies the fusion of these unique objectives,” he says. “The aim was clear: Design a kitchen within a compact footprint that radiates individuality and luxury.” With a combination of meticulous planning and premium finishes, Florentine set out to prove that style knows no bounds when size is a constraint, even if the initial layout — a small galley kitchen next to a laundry room and guest bathroom — proved a challenge. The solution was to tear down walls, saw-cut the floor to add two sinks and relocate the range oven, and modify the island’s cabinets and waterfall-edge counters to ensure proper airflow for the floor return, all while maintaining the desired sleekness. With walls torn down, the floor plan transitioned into a spacious open concept. Abundant natural light now floods the space, and an inoperable window was transformed into a pass-through with bar seating that’s an ideal spot for serving hors d’oeuvres. Cabinets in a fingerprint-resistant finish now line the perimeter, a central island topped by Fantasy Macubus quartzite from Brazil provides ample storage and an array of Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove appliances makes entertaining a breeze. As an added touch, a bespoke light fixture commands attention, drawing the eye from one side of the casita to the other.