Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards 2025: Meet the Large Kitchen Finalists

By Donna Heiderstadt

Three talented designers have been named finalists in the Large Kitchen (over 300 square feet) category of the Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards 2025. Which project will receive $5,000 for a first-place finish, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third? The results won’t be revealed until the February 24 awards ceremony, the must-attend KBIS 2025 opening event in the Lafite Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas. To showcase their winning talent in advance, here’s a preview of all three innovative and problem-solving designs. Read on to find out what made these the top three Large Kitchen projects in NKBA’s 2025 Professional Design Awards.

Bianca Fathauer, Splendid Home Design, Stuart, FL: “Sea Glass Kitchen”

The clients, a busy family of four in Port St. Lucie, FL, wanted an open, functional kitchen that was also sophisticated and elegant. Bianca Fathauer, Founder and Designer at Stuart, FL-based Splendid Home Design, created a bright and airy design that incorporates a 100-year-old barn-wood beam and range hood treatment, beautiful inset cabinetry, and polished dolomite to create a timeless coastal kitchen. Key design demands were a large island for food prep, homework, and entertaining family and friends, and hidden storage solutions to keep the space clutter-free. The client also wanted to maximize natural light, place the sink under the window that looks out onto the yard, and keep the existing hardwood floors. To accomplish this, Fathauer embraced two structural columns by making them bookends to a grand island topped by bookmatched dolomite slabs. Storage-wise, a tall pantry cabinet holds deep roll-out shelves, the island features hidden cabinets, and panel-ready appliances keep the aesthetic bright and clean. In addition, a tongue-and-groove ceiling was added to create space for recessed lighting and new planks were seamlessly blended with existing flooring.

Laura McCroskey, McCroskey Interiors, Village of Loch Lloyd, MO: “Bailey”

French elegance paired with aesthetically-beautiful-yet-functional details are hallmarks of the full-scale kitchen remodel that Laura McCroskey, Owner and Interior Designer at McCroskey Interiors, based in Loch Lloyd, MO near Kansas City, completed in a home in Mission Hills, KS. The space, previously a disjointed and dysfunctional area of the home that was a modest 323 square feet, was expanded and transformed into a beautiful and cohesive kitchen space ideal for cooking and entertaining. Key to the design was removing walls and a fireplace and combining the existing space with a hearth room next door. The design elements that make this kitchen a stand-out are custom sliding panels and an eye-catching range hood, complimented by bleached wood and deeply veined Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble, brass shelving, and bespoke furniture. Cabinetry details, inspired by antique doors, and an apron sink add another dimension of refinement.

Leann Lynn, McCroskey Interiors, Village of Loch Lloyd, MO: “West”

When a local client building a new home on a lake requested a kitchen that radiates elegance and sophistication and would be the perfect space for both intimate gatherings and grand entertaining, Leann Lynn, Interior Designer at McCroskey Interiors, based in the Village of Loch Lloyd, MO, designed a stunning and carefully curated showcase. She blended modern design with gorgeous natural materials to mimic the surrounding lakeside setting and created a sanctuary that takes advantage of tranquil views while seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor living. The expansive open floor plan also heeds the eco-conscious homeowners’ commitment to sustainability with state-of-the-art technology while nodding to luxury by adorning the space in eye-catching Arabescato Corchia marble. There’s also a stylish bar area for entertaining and understated cabinets done in Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black or custom-stained white oak. In addition, white oak plank floors run throughout the kitchen, pantry, and prep area for a cohesive look.