Are you reading this story while standing in your cramped, grimy kitchen or scuzzy bathroom? Best move somewhere else, because looking at the best kitchens and bathrooms in New Zealand might depress you.
The "smart and elegant" Supreme Kitchen winner of the 2023 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards. Photo: Supplied
A luxurious Remuera kitchen fit-out complete with a floating natural stone island, oak panelling and secret scullery door has been named Supreme Kitchen at the 2023 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards.
There are worse places to do the dishes than this luxurious Remuera kitchen, winner of the Supreme Kitchen award. Photo: Supplied
The awards, open to members of the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association of New Zealand (NKBA), celebrates projects of all scales and budgets.
NKBA operations manager Rachael Kwok said there was a common thread connecting all the winning kitchens and bathrooms, despite the differences in size and cost.
"Each space has been created for the homeowners, to give them happiness and that wonderful feeling that comes with loving the space you live in," she said.
The Supreme Award-winning Auckland kitchen, which cost more than $120,000 to complete, was crafted by Auckland designer Morgan Cronin after the home's owners said they wanted it to be smart and elegant. Judges said it was "very striking" and complemented "perfect, smart, well executed spatial design" and the successful use of natural stone and timber.
Natural stone is used to good effect in the Supreme Kitchen winner. Photo: Supplied
"The minimal colours, textures, and the lightness of the design within such a big, heavy space is so well thought out," judges said.
"The magnificent scullery is equally as good as the kitchen, which is a joy to see."
The kitchen also won the DNKBA Kitchen Design - Platinum and Kitchen Distinction Award ($120k+).
At the other end of the scale, Trudi Rabbitte of Hastings won the Kitchen Distinction Award for her under $30,000 renovation of an original 1970s kitchen with copper rangehood and Formica counter tops.
The super white quartzite splashback was the one extravagance in this kitchen renovation, which won the Kitchen Distinction Award (up to $30k). Photo: Hazel Redmond
"There are some nice, refined details in this kitchen that has been built on a budget," judges said.
"The blades down the back of the island, the lovely colour scheme and the customised handles all combine to create a fantastic small kitchen with special details."
'Coastal Luxury' by Davinia Sutton - winner of the Supreme Bathroom Design Award. Photo: Stephen Goodenough
The Supreme Bathroom Design Award went to a Redcliffs master bedroom ensuite by Christchurch designer Davinia Sutton. Judges praised the bathroom, which has dual vanity sinks and showers, plus bespoke heated towel rails, for being "warm and inviting" and "a stunning confident play on architectural lines".
Bespoke heated towel rails and twin sinks feature in the Supreme Award-winning bathroom. Photo: Stephen Goodenough
"The highest quality fittings, attention to detail with the custom-made heated towel rails, careful use of lighting details and organic palette, further enhance the architectural modern context and sense of luxury," judges said.
Interior designer Davinia Sutton. Photo: Centuri Chan
Sutton was the big winner on the night - as well as scoring the Supreme Bathroom Design Award she was named 2023 Designer of the Year and won seven other awards, including the Bathroom Distinction Award ($50k+) for a sophisticated family bathroom refit in a 1910 Christchurch villa and the Spatial Innovation Design - Commercial award for her work with Craig Bettridge on Cloudy Bay's VIP retreat, 'The Shack'.
"This designer truly understands architecture and how to work with it to create beautiful spaces," judges said.
"They are confident with their design, they know materials, what works and what doesn't."
The kitchen at 'The Shack' at Cloudy Bay, designed by Craig Bettridge and Davinia Sutton. Photo: Supplied