Annual competition recognizes excellence in kitchen and bath design and execution
Bethlehem, PA – (February 17, 2026) – The National Kitchen & Bath Association, owners of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), kicked offKBIS on Monday, February 16, 2026, with the highly anticipated NKBA Design + Industry Awards gala at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The annual celebratory event brought together trailblazing designers, media and brand executives to recognize top kitchen and bath industry talent.
Returning hosts, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Founder and Principal of Raith Design Studio, and Alena Capra, Principal of Alena Capra Designs, awarded more than $100,000 in prize money to 26 designers over the course of the evening, including winners from the NKBA Student Design Competition and the NKBA Innovative Showroom Awards Competition. Event sponsors included JennAir (Diamond Sponsor), Brizo (Diamond Sponsor, Educator of the Year Sponsor) Kichler (Gold Sponsor), Fisher & Paykel (Student Design Competition Sponsor), and Ferguson Home (Photobooth Sponsor).
“Each year we are increasingly impressed with the beautiful and innovative projects submitted by designers,“ said Bill Darcy, NKBA | KBIS Global President & CEO. “This competition serves as an inspiration to the design community and presents a momentous opportunity to recognize the work leading our industry. Thank you to all who entered, and congratulations to this year’s finalists.”
Winners were determined after measured deliberation by expert designer judging panels, who considered creativity, presentation, design planning, safety and ergonomics as well as usage of elements and principles of design. The judges for the 2026 Kitchen Awards were Polly Nunes, CMKBD, Polly Nunes Designs; Elma Gardner, CMKBD, By Design Studio, Inc; and Candace Rudd, CMKBD, Two30Nine by Decor. The judges for the 2026 Bath Awards were Rachel Hutchens, CMKBD, Maven Home Interiors; Megan Siason Elliott, CMKBD, M Studio Interior Design; and Andrew Risinger, CMKBD, Kitchen, Bath & Home. The judges for the 2026 Innovative Showroom Awards were Jamie Keel, Residential A&D Market Representative at Cambria; Jared Barry, Branch Manager for UMI; Tom Knotts, President of NKBA Central Florida Chapter, Owner of Adalay Interiors; and Brianna Weiler, Vice-President and Designer – Kitchens by Charles Weiler.
Best Overall Kitchen
The honor of Best Overall Kitchen was awarded to Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design and Co-Designers Leah Dunne of Kate Roos Design, and Nicole Sirek and Nancy Baker of Partners 4 Design, both Minneapolis, Minnesota-based firms, for their “Castle Scullery.” Built in 1903, the kitchen of this historic mansion did not include a scullery, and the layout didn’t function well for hosting. The home’s new owners had a vision of bringing the kitchen back to its former glory, including a well-equipped scullery and or caterer’s kitchen. Luxe finishes, state-of-the-art
appliances, and custom cabinetry give this utilitarian space the grandeur of a turn-of-the-century home. Images and additional details available here.
Best Overall Bath
The Best Overall Bath went to Shea Pumarejo of San Antonio, Texas-based Younique Designs, for her “Paris After Dark” bathroom. A dated 1990s bathroom lacking storage and style was transformed into a luxurious Parisian Art Deco-inspired retreat. Drawing inspiration from the French architecture of the home and the homeowners’ love for bold, dramatic design, the new space merges elegance with indulgence. The result is a bathroom that transcends utility, embodying the glamour of Parisian Art Deco while offering the homeowners a deeply personal, restorative retreat. Images and additional details available here.
Small Kitchen (under 300 square feet)
First Place: “The Veined Vision” by Lindsay Wolfe-Assaf, Founder & Lead Designer, The Home Stylist, and The Cabinet Connection, Manotick, ON
Second Place: “Kendrick” by Jerel Lake, Kitchen & Bath Designer and Founder, LakeHaus Designs, Atlanta, GA
Third Place: “Going for the Gold” by Ann Gaeta, Co-Owner & Designer, RJ Builders, Inc., Shorewood, WI
Large Kitchen (over 300 square feet)
First Place: “Castle Kitchen” by Kate Roos, Principal & Lead Designer, Kate Roos Design, with Co-Designers Leah Dunne of Kate Roos Design, and Nicole Sirek and Nancy Baker of Partners 4 Design, Minneapolis, MN
Second Place: “Stoney Wylde” by Peter Cardamone, Creative Director & Partner, Bluebell Fine Cabinetry & Design, Brittany Hakimfar, Wayne, PA
Third Place: “Weathered Ridge” by Megan Tennant, Lead Designer, Forte Design Studios, Olympic Valley, CA
Specialty Kitchen
First Place: “Castle Scullery” by Kate Roos, Principal & Lead Designer, Kate Roos Design, with Co-Designers Leah Dunne of Kate Roos Design, and Nicole Sirek and Nancy Baker of Partners 4 Design, Minneapolis, MN
Second Place: “Gilded Monkey Bar” by Bianca Fathauer, Owner & Designer, Splendid Home Design, and Co-Designer Sandra O’Neill, Stuart, FL
Third Place: “Specialty Entry Fireplace & Bar” by Cathy Tonks, Founder & Interior Designer, Designs with You in Mind, Inc., Granite Bay, CA
Powder Room
First Place: “Full Moon” by Gina D’Amore Bauerle, Owner & Interior Designer, D’Amore Interiors, Denver, CO
Second Place: “Island Jewel” by David Heide, Principal, David Heide Design Studio, Co-Designer Tam Ngo, Saint Paul, MN
Third Place: “Where the Wild Things Are” by Gina D’Amore Bauerle, Owner & Interior Designer, D’Amore Interiors, Denver, CO
Secondary Bath
First Place: “Sprice Basement Retreat” by Lindsay Winterbottom, Interior Designer, NOVERO Homes and Renovations Ltd., Port Coquitlam, BC
Second Place: “The Gilded Glade” by Betsy Johnson, Kitchen & Bath Designer, Crystal Kitchen and Bath, Crystal, MN
Third Place: “The Quartz Chamber” by Jaque Bethke, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, JAQUE, Scottsdale, AZ
Primary Bath
First Place: “Paris After Dark” by Shea Pumarejo, Interior Designer and CEO, Younique Designs, San Antonio, TX
Second Place: “Fifty Shades of Green” by Gina D’Amore Bauerle, Owner & Interior Designer, D’Amore Interiors, Denver, CO
Third Place: “DESERT DREAM” by Lori Carroll, Interior Designer & Owner, Lori Carroll & Associates, and Co-Designer Debra Gelety, Tucson, AZ
CEDIA Smart Home Tech Award
First Place: “Nordhaus” by Jen Stockwell, Owner & Principal Designer, Stockwell Homes, and Tech Integrator Alex Lelchuk, Founder & Systems Designer, Lelch, Edina, MN
Student Design Competition
Kitchen
First Place: “A Walk Through the Redwoods” by Allison Hedrick, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Second Place: “Colorado Heart” by Rachel Mendoza, Georgian College, Santo Domingo, DR
Third Place: “Cranberry Bloom” by Kateryna Ponomarova, Montgomery College, Gaithersburg, MD
Bath
First Place: “Bringing it Back” by Emma Bunz, Lakeland College, Wawota, SK
Second Place: “Private Retreat in Style & Function” by Catherine Wright, Century College, Minneapolis, MN
Third Place: “Crossing Time” by Kateryna Ponomarova, Montgomery College, Gaithersburg, MD
Innovative Showroom Awards Competition
Kitchen & Bath Design Center
Small (under 2,500 square feet): Two30Nine, Winnipeg, MB Showroom Designer: Candace Rudd
Medium (2,500 to 5,000 square feet): USA Cabinet Store, Houston, TX Showroom Designer: Tony Kaplan
Large (5,000+ square feet): Laurysen Kitchens, Ottawa, ON Showroom Designer: Rene Chyba
Brand-Specific Non-Selling Experience Center
Signature Kitchen Suite at The MART, Chicago, IL Showroom Designer: Lissoni & Partners SKS Global Design Team
Traditional Independent Multi-brand/Product Showroom
Small (under 2,500 square feet): Northeast Architectural, Montclair, NJ Showroom Designer: Jason Cohen
Medium (2,500 to 5,000 square feet): 4A Collection Design, Cresskill, NJ Showroom Designer: Julia Dagistanli
Large (5,000+ square feet): Central Surfaces, Roeland Park, KS Showroom Designer: Meg Hilburn
Multi-Location, Multi-Product Showroom
Medium (2,500 to 5,000 square feet): Herb+Oak Design Studio, Westfield, NJ Showroom Designer: Angelika Matusiewicz
Large (5,000+ square feet): BASCO Appliances, Bend, OR Showroom Designer: Hannah Hacker, CMKBD
Unique Showroom Application
Gramophone Design Build, Hunt Valley, MD
Showroom Designer: Stephanie Twarowski
To download a PDF version of this release, click here.
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About the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)
NKBA is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With 55,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has informed, educated and supported the industry since the association was founded in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire,
lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through community, professional certification and learning, and events. For more information, go to NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
