The aura of uncertainty that has hung over the housing industry the last couple years was reflected in the 2025 NKBA awards, which saw fewer entries and many projects taking a cautious approach to design.
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Following a record number of entries last year that came in just shy of 100, this year saw a mere 57 projects vying for trophies in the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Ottawa Chapter’s Design Excellence Awards earlier this month.
And where last year we saw the re-emergence of colour, this year was more muted, with a return to white kitchens, although they were often paired with wood for an infusion of nature and warmth.
“It was crazy during COVID, so it has to reset at some point,” says Natalia Pierce, who is in her final year as chapter president and gala chair. “You can’t continue the crazy pace and there are always ebbs and flows in the construction industry in general. So, I think this is just the typical standard reset that we see every few years.”
Adds designer and awards judge Glen Peloso of Glen Peloso Design: “I always find that as the economy gets weird, things get safe.… (Homeowners are) a little bit more reticent to be brave.”
The awards were presented May 3 at a National Arts Centre gala that had a bedazzled theme, shown in jewel colour tones and centrepieces draped with crystal gems, and emceed for the second year by former CBC anchor Lucy van Oldenbarneveld.
Trophies were given out in 13 categories ranging from classic and contemporary kitchens and bathrooms to best transformations and bonus rooms. In most categories, trophies were awarded for first and second place.
“There were mainly really good entries; I’d say at least eight or 10 of these would stack up well in the upcoming national (NKBA) competition,” says judge and Denver-based architect Doug Walter. “Designers have to be pretty confident to consider submitting to any contest.”
Trophies were also given out for the people’s choice bathroom and kitchen. All kitchen and bathroom entries were eligible and were voted on by the public over three weeks in March and April, with more than 600 people voting.
For the third year in a row, Vida Kiani of Kari Design & Build captured the public vote, one of her three awards on the night. This year she won people’s choice kitchen for a project that also captured second place in its kitchen category. The previous two years she won the people’s choice bathroom category. This year the bathroom award went to Tim Rutherford of Design Truth Whole Home Design Solutions.
Mirian Ferguson of Fe + Luz Design Studio tied with Kiani for the most individual wins at three. Laurysen Kitchens, meanwhile, scooped up the most hardware, with five of its designers claiming seven trophies between them. That was followed by Distinctive Bathrooms & Kitchens scooping up five awards.
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What’s trending?
Recurring themes in the entries included:
Wood: “Wood is definitely coming back,” says Pierce. This is one that has emerged over the last few years and shows no signs of abating. As biophilic design becomes more mainstream, “wood is a natural way to bring in those organic elements.”
Slim shaker doors: While white Shaker cabinets remain popular, we’re also starting to see some slimmer Shaker styles. “It’s a really nice alternative and more current,” says Pierce.
Eating in: Local judge and designer Anne-Marie Brunet of Sheridan Interiors noticed larger kitchens incorporating an eat-in area somewhere. “I don’t know if it’s because the homes are being built without a dining room (and) they’re making the kitchens larger for that whole entertaining family space gathering. But I noticed a lot of that and some of them were done really, really nicely.”
And here’s what the judges say is trending in general in kitchens and baths:
Adding appliances: We’ve gone from two appliances in the 1970s (a fridge and stove) to upwards of six today, says Peloso, including not only the dishwasher and microwave, but steam ovens, speed ovens, wine coolers, built-in coffee makers and more. “How people work those elements into a kitchen is sort of a neat thing.”
Porcelain stone: This versatile product creates more flexibility than ever in kitchen and bathroom applications, from oversized slabs to thin sheets that are easier to wrap around hood vents, says Peloso. Plus, the digital printing ability today creates greater individuality in tiles so that there’s much less repetition of a pattern throughout a room.
Automation: From faucets that can measure a specific amount of water and heat it to a certain temperature to the increasingly common fridges that can track your food use to help with grocery planning, automation is everywhere, says Peloso.
Mega showers: Tubs are either eliminated or turned into freestanding ones, says Walter. “In homes from the ’80s and ’90s with built-in tubs surrounded by tile decks, this can yield significant ‘found’ space for the shower. Often there are his and her controls and showerheads. Benches are a popular amenity, and more and more clients are realizing the benefits of a curb-less, zero-step shower.”
White oak: It’s the wood of choice for most designers today, whether stained lightly or natural, says Walter. “It makes a great counterpoint combined with painted cabinetry and helps ‘punctuate’ the kitchen so it’s not all the same.”
2025 NKBA awards in pictures
Here are the winning projects from this year’s awards:
Check out all entries:
