Whakatane designer, Michelle McAnulty of Beaver Kitchens, has been awarded two awards at the 2019 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards held in Melbourne on Saturday July 20.

Michelle won the 2019 Kitchen Distinction - $40k - $60k Award and the Bay of Plenty Chapter Kitchen Recognition Award.

This year, 19 beautiful kitchens and bathrooms created by 15 of the most talented designers in the country were recognised. The incredible spaces are located across New Zealand. The National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) is the only professional body for kitchen and bathroom design professionals in New Zealand. The NKBA Excellence in Design Awards are a celebration of excellence, innovation, creativity, quality craftmanship and inspiring design in the sector.

Whakatane designer Michelle McAnulty

Michelle's award-winning kitchen was part of a major renovation and extension to a coastal property. The clients wanted the kitchen and the deck to be the focal point of their renovations. The brief was for a relaxed, social and casual space. In the summer, the home would be full to the brim with family and friends visiting and so the client's wanted a space that would accommodate their love of entertaining, but one that would also work when it was just the two of them.

A large superhero of an island provides a casual dining area and a food preparation zone. Acrylic Solid Surface was selected for the benchtop as it provides a warm to touch surface and it avoids the need for joins. Support was required for such a large span of acrylic and this was provided by way of 25 mm black matt power coated aluminium framing, layered with Oak detail. A half waterfall end on the island prevents guests from sitting at the end and restricting access to the deck.

The kitchen design includes a scullery for food preparation and storage of food items. Vibrant green tiles in the scullery reference the client's collection of Tony Sly pottery – in particular the potter's rustic green range.

Judges said the timeless black and white design was balanced and striking.

'The island is a really special element, with the waterfall edging unlike any finishing the judges have seen before. Many details in this kitchen are compelling, the fridge looks great, as does the open shelving.”

President of NKBA, Jared Dinneen, praised Michelle for bringing something to the table that the judges hadn't seen before.

'It is a difficult task to be innovative. You really have to think differently. To present a kitchen with an island element that the judges haven't seen before is very special. Well done to Michelle.”

In total, 40 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards were given to 15 NKBA designers in 2019. The winners are:

• Stefan Sonntag of Masterwood Joinery in Otago
• Michelle Quinn of Lume Design in Christchurch
• Davinia Sutton of Detail by Davinia Sutton in Christchurch
• Michelle Gillbanks of Kitchens by Design in Auckland
• Annika Rowson of Rowson Kitchens in New Plymouth
• Michelle McAnulty of Beaver Kitchens in Whakatane
• Trudi Rabbitte of Rabbitte Joinery in Havelock North
• Wai Mihinui of Kitchen Studio in Wellington
• Tracey Jones of Kitchen Mania in Milford
• Kira Gray of Fyfe Kitchens in Auckland
• Shane George of Kitchens by Design in Auckland
• Mark Bruce of Designmarked in Cambridge

• Morgan Cronin of Cronin Kitchens in Auckland

• Claire Stephens of Bays Joinery in Nelson
• Carla Molyneaux of Melanie Craig Design in Wanaka

In addition to the NKBA Excellence in Design Awards, four student designers received recognition at the awards ceremony. They were:

• Melanie John of Cube Dentro in Auckland – winner of the CDS Student Design Competition
• Michael Murray of Native Timber Joinery in Te Awamutu – Highly commended in the CDS Student Design Competition
• Meghan Nockels of Design Federation in Oamaru – winner of the CDS Education Scholarship
• Jaimi Brunton of Native Timber Joinery – winner of BCITO most promising student.

The judges of the 2019 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards included Alice Lines of homestyle magazine, Natalie Du Bois of Du Bois Design, Chris Tate of Chris Tate Architecture, Damian Hannah of German Kitchens and Leonie Metge of Cube Dentro.