25 “Design Professionals to Watch” Advance to the Winners’ Summit and Gala in September

MADISON, Wis. (May 4, 2017) – Today, Sub-Zero and Wolf, the industry leaders in premium refrigeration, wine preservation and cooking equipment, announced the 25 Finalists of the 2015-2016 Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) via videocast, along with an exclusive first look at each of their winning kitchen designs.

The Finalists were selected by a panel of seven esteemed architects, kitchen designers and interior designers during a four-day review and deliberation of the entries at the Sub-Zero and Wolf headquarters in Madison.

“Sub-Zero and Wolf enjoy a strong relationship with the design community, and for more than 20 years, the Kitchen Design Contest has allowed us to honor the professionals who are constantly working to push the envelope,” said Jack Palazzolo, Vice President of Marketing for Sub-Zero and Wolf. “Having an open and direct line of communication with kitchen design professionals helps us continue to expand our product capabilities and meet the design and performance needs of our customers.”         

At the close of the entry period on Jan. 31, 2017, more than 1,500 completed entries had been received from 24 countries. Of all entries, nearly 60 percent were submitted by first-time entrants. All three design styles – traditional, transitional and contemporary – were well-represented. The 25 Finalists represent a diverse mix of design aesthetics from six states and six countries outside of the United States.

The panel is comprised of seven talented judges who all demonstrate a passion for good design and a dedication to the design community; each judge is a previous Kitchen Design Contest winner. The panel includes four returning Kitchen Design Contest judges – E.J. Meade of Arch11, Inc. (Boulder, Colo.); Vasi Ypsilantis of The Breakfast Room, Ltd. (Manhasset, N.Y.); Friedemann Weinhardt of Design First Interiors (Ottawa, Ontario) and Cristina Menezes of Arquitetura e Decoração LTDA (Brazil) – as well as three newcomers, Davy Swanenberg of Culimaat High End Kitchens (Netherlands); Sandra Agurto of Cabinetry Creations, Inc. (Orlando, Fla.) and Stacy Eisenmann of Eisenmann Architecture (Albany, Calif.).

“I honestly get a real charge out of the entire process, from evaluating the entries and seeing what is out there in the kitchen design community to deliberating with the other judges,” said veteran judge E.J. Meade. “The contest has been around for more than 20 years and offers a great opportunity for designers to have a ‘feather in their cap’ for their work. Receiving recognition from an iconic brand that enjoys a strong relationship with the design community is icing on the cake.”          

“As I reviewed the entries, I was looking for things like good quality of light, good circulation of space and a balance of materials and layout in terms of work stations,” said first-time contest judge Stacy Eisenmann. “My projects have been a part of the Kitchen Design Contest four times previously and I can say that the experience has helped me a great deal professionally in terms of narrowing down to the projects and core client base I excel at.” 

All Finalists will receive a trip for two to attend the Winners’ Summit and Gala, held from Sept. 24 through 27 at Hotel del Coronado located on Coronado Island just outside San Diego, California. The summit is a rare and invaluable opportunity for finalists and judges to network and share ideas. The contest’s 10 Global winners will be announced at the gala honoring their achievements in design on Monday, Sept. 25, in the following categories: first place contemporary, transitional and traditional; second place contemporary, transitional and traditional; first-time entry; small spaces kitchen; outdoor kitchen. The previously announced student winner will also be recognized.                                

Eligibility for the contest required that all design and construction be fully completed within the contest period of Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2016. Indoor kitchen designs had to include at least one full-size, built-in or integrated Sub-Zero refrigeration unit and at least one Wolf primary cooking appliance including ranges, rangetops, ovens and cooktops. Outdoor kitchen designs were required to include at least one Wolf grill in addition to one Sub-Zero refrigeration unit. Both indoor and outdoor designs required submission of a floor plan, elevation or perspective drawings and a minimum of three color photographs of the completed design.

Since its inception in 1993, the Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest has become a coveted win in the professional home design category. The Kitchen Design Contest recognizes kitchen designers, architects, interior designers, builders and remodelers for advancing outstanding kitchen design.

For additional information, and to view the videocast announcement, please visit www.subzero-wolf.com/contest.