By Donna Heiderstadt
Three creative and sought-after interior designers have been named finalists in the Specialty Kitchen category of the Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards 2025. To find out which project will receive $5,000 for a first-place finish, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third you’ll need to wait until the February 24 awards ceremony, the must-attend KBIS 2025 opening event in the Lafite Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas. But here’s a preview of all three eye-catching and solution-oriented designs. Read on to find out what made these the top three Specialty Kitchen projects in NKBA’s 2025 Professional Design Awards.
Kate Roos, Kate Roos Design, Minneapolis: “Parkway”
Kate Roos, Principal and Lead Designer of Minneapolis-based Kate Roos Design, was asked by a local client to reinvigorate a dated butler’s pantry that was mainly used for storing barware and fine china as well as serving as a coffee bar. While the layout worked well, the dark-finished cabinets felt tired and many of the doors were difficult to open and close. With a design objective that included replacing all cabinetry, appliances, and plumbing — as well as updating materials and finishes to blend in with a new kitchen palette — Roos set out to create a space that felt “bright, cheerful, and comfortable.” Improving storage efficiency and access was a top priority, achieved by installing interior supports in the wall cabinetry to allow for wider doors, as well as custom base cabinetry with storage inserts and full-extension drawer guides. New additions included an ice-maker and a beverage fridge, both 15-inches in width, which flank a small sink. The cabinetry was painted and soapstone countertops and wooden corbels were chosen to be consistent with the kitchen, while a soft blue wallpaper featuring birds and botanicals soften the look of the adjoining banquette area and a large mirror reflects light from the window to visually open the space.
Kristen Giacomini and Ali Johnson, Flow Designs, Reno, NV: “A Happy Home”
Kristen Giacomini, Owner and Principal Designer of Reno-NV-based Flow Designs, was joined by Ali Johnson, her studio’s Junior Interior Design, to remodel a local kitchen to meet the needs of a family of five that had been diagnosed with clinical ADHD. The primary objective was to create a well-organized space where “every area fosters focus, creativity, and joy” and to add a pantry without using the existing kitchen space. The pantry also needed to feature open shelving to ensure that items were seen — and used — and be accessible but mostly secluded from the main kitchen area to minimize distraction. The solution? Revitalize an underutilized dining room by transforming it into a butler’s pantry with a convenient pass-through from the kitchen and windows for natural light. Tall built-in shelves keep everything organized and visible, making it easy for family members to find what they need. There’s also a coffee and tea bar near the sink along with specialized storage (a bread drawer and a candy drawer) and plenty of counterspace for small appliances.
Wendy Glaister, Wendy Glaister Interiors, Modesto, CA: “Outdoor Oasis”
With California living centered around beautiful outdoor spaces, Wendy Glaister, Founder and Principal of Modesto, CA-based Wendy Glaister Interiors, was asked to redesign a backyard space as a four-season “Outdoor Oasis” with an emphasis on entertaining — including a chef’s kitchen and multiple areas for dining and relaxing. The design called for the existing space to be enlarged by 1,000 square feet and for exterior finishes to be simplified for “a more serene visual experience” with smooth finish stucco used to cover rock veneer and brick. This allowed for the installation of a fireplace and TV, which serve as a focal point. While the entire design features multiple living areas and lounging spaces, plus a fire pit, pool, spa, and sports courts (putting green, pickleball court, and bocce court) connected by lighted pathways, the showstopper is the kitchen. It has two dramatic 12-foot waterfall-edge islands with a gas grill and griddle, Italian pizza oven, refrigerator, ice machine, sink, and beverage chiller. It adjoins the living area, which is nestled under a massive pergola and features a linear gas fireplace, upholstered Lee outdoor sofa and swivel chairs, and biophilic-inspired coffee tables. The AV system was upgraded to a new surround-sound Sonos system that can be controlled from a smartphone, while several large TVs allow the homeowners and their guests to watch sporting events and movies while enjoying food prepared and served from the kitchen.
