The 2014 HC&G Innovation in Design Awards Winners: Kitchen & Bath
KITCHEN DESIGN WINNER: SMITH RIVER KITCHENS
Some families need two kitchens—one for the adults to cook and socialize in, the other for the kids to play, do homework, and eat in. For a new East Hampton residence, Smith River Kitchens designed what principal Scott Smith calls “a double kitchen.” The “adult” portion incorporates a spacious seating island—reminiscent of a Parsons table, but wrapped in walnut—plus a black granite counter, mirrored backsplash, inset walnut-clad bar, and a 60-inch stove backed with vibrant cobalt tiles. The “kids” kitchen features a refrigerator, microwave, pantry, and another island. Judge Jennifer Mabley remarks, “What a great space! I like the funky lighting and mix of finishes. No formulas here—all very original.”
KITCHEN DESIGN RUNNER-UP: DECOR BY GUILLAUME GENTET, INC.
It was difficult to cook up the recipe for this kitchen transformation in Southampton (opposite bottom left). The client asked Guillaume Gentet to turn an outdated space into something modern and even whimsical, while adding state-of-the-art technology and expanding the square footage. To accomplish this, Gentet fitted a curved lavender island with dishwashers, an oven, microwave, warmer drawer, cooktop, and grill, with the interiors of adjacent cabinets painted the same hue. He created extra space by removing a hallway and installed new oval windows to bring in more light. “Quirky, modern, taking chances—it all paid off,” says Jennifer Mabley.
BATH DESIGN WINNER: SUSANNE KELLEY DESIGN
Master bathrooms often assume roles beyond their practical ones. When Susanne Kelley was entrusted with the redesign of this bath in Bridgehampton, she endeavored to increase its size while infusing it with personality. She carved out more space by removing the adjacent master closet and used a wood-grain marble tile on the floor and countertop to foster a calming mood. “If you’re looking for Hamptons Zen, you’ve come to the right bathroom,” says judge Austin Handler, while judge Matthew Patrick Smyth praises the space’s “straightforward use of clean lines, textures, and materials.”
BATH FINALIST: HAMPTON DESIGN INTERIORS, INC.
Although the existing master bath in this Wainscott home was spacious, it seemed small, with a cramped shower and a toilet that appeared to take center stage. Hampton Design Interiors straightened a wall separating the bath from the master bedroom, creating a more efficient flow in each room, and installed a rectangular fixed window above the tub, expanding the space visually. The client asked for a “spa-like feel,” which the firm accomplished via bamboo-motif tile and a two-sink vanity that appears to float.
Browse the rest of the 2014 HC&G Innovation in Design Awards Winners in the following categories:
Kitchen & Bath
Architecture
Garden Design
Innovative Product
