Bay of Plenty designer, Michelle McAnulty of Beaver Kitchens has won a national award at one of the biggest and most recognised kitchen and bathrooms awards in the country.

Michelle won the ‘Bay of Plenty Chapter Recognition Kitchen Award' for her work on a project called ‘Fresh Start'.

This is a remarkable win for Michelle, considering the fierce design competition, due to the rise in renovations and new builds across New Zealand.

The project saw the renovation of a family kitchen that lacked functional storage and where all major appliances conflicted with each other in the space. The original space also had no line of sight to the children playing in the living areas of the home or the outdoor decks.

Michelle says said the client wanted a life changing design that included the relocation of the kitchen to the opposite side of the large open plan living area.

'The new location of the kitchen would provide a space for a family friendly kitchen that was proportionate to their large family home. Increase of storage, better flow of traffic through the kitchen and connection to the outdoor living area was achievable in this new space,” says Michelle.

The kitchen finish is a clean, fresh, feminine palette with white, timber and villa blue. A strong linear rhythm has been created with tongue and groove Dezignatek Kawhia doors and panels.

The 2021 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards were judged by a panel of six judges. The 2021 judges were Shelley Ferguson of Shelley Ferguson Studio, Chelsey Mathieson of Niche Design Co., Janice Kumar-Ward of JKW Interior Architecture & Design, Ingrid Geldof of Ingrid Geldof Design, Darren James of Darren James Interiors, and Nicola Manning of Nicola Manning Design.

The judges say that McAnulty utilised a delicate use of colour and beautiful lighting to elevate the compact kitchen.

'Budget constraints have meant a clever use of materials were needed to achieve the desired outcome. The drawings and planning of the space are excellent,” says the panel.

NKBA President, Nick Thompson of Fisher and Paykel, says that the kitchen and bathroom design and manufacturing industry is working under an immense pressure, as requirement for new spaces hits peak demand.

'It's an exciting time to be in the business of creating beautiful kitchens and bathrooms. Never before has the industry been so busy, and though this brings definite challenges, it also provides the opportunity for designers to work on unique projects, flex their design muscles and create a variety of magnificent spaces. Michelle's compact and clever kitchen design is an excellent example of this. Well done Michelle,” says Nick.

Bay of Plenty designer Michelle McAnulty of Beaver Kitchens. Photo: Supplied.

The annual National Kitchen and Bathroom Association of New Zealand (NKBA) Excellence in Design Awards are a celebration of the most innovative and beautifully designed kitchens and bathrooms New Zealand has to offer. One of the highest accolades in the kitchen and bathroom design industry, the Excellence in Design Awards are well respected and recognised by both the industry and the consumer.

The 2021 SUPREME Kitchen Design Award, the SUPREME Bathroom Design Award and the Designer of the Year Award went to renowned Christchurch kitchen designer, Davinia Sutton of Detail by Davinia Sutton, who has made history as the first designer to achieve a trifecta.