The Winners’ Circle: 2025 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards

Today’s freshest designs are all about the power of the individual according the entries for the 2025 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards, sponsored by Kitchen & Bath Design News. Honored in this year’s awards were diverse designs that delivered truly custom luxury via personal flair and specialized practical solutions.

Over 340 projects were judged in 11 categories: Best Kitchen Over $250,000; Best Kitchen $175,000-$250,000; Best Kitchen $100,000-$175,000; Best Kitchen Under $100,000; Best Specialty Kitchen; Best Master Bath Over $125,000; Best Master Bath $75,000-$125,000; Best Master Bath Under $75,000; Best Powder Room; Best Showroom, and Best Specialty Project.

The prestigious judging panel for the awards included: Rob Klein, Conceptual Kitchens in Carmel, IN; Dan McFadden, PB Kitchen Design in Geneva, IL; Jeannine Price, Redbarn Designworks in Center Moriches, NY; Gabe Sepulveda-Villarini, Jackson Design and Remodeling in San Diego, CA; Sharon Sherman, Thyme and Place Design in Wyckoff, NJ; Karen Swanson, New England Design Works in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA; Molly Switzer, Molly Switzer Interior Designs in Portland, OR, and Jessica Webber, Webber Coleman Woodworks in Watkinsville, GA.

Each project was evaluated on multiple points, including: aesthetic appeal, functionality of the space, attention to detail, handling of unusual situations, originality, selection of colors and finishes and overall impression. The judges also provided design feedback to all entrants.

To Each Their Own

If there was one overarching trend the judges could agree on, it was the absence of trendiness – in other words, homeowners are truly embracing ownership of their homes in all ways.

“I think freedom to express a design vision was really a big theme for me,” says Sherman. “I saw things that were really different and really thinking outside the box. And I think that’s so important if you’re going to keep moving design forward, especially in the home.”

Webber agrees: “For the award-winning projects, the priority seemed to be highly personalized spaces – whether it be a really impactful wallpaper or antique pieces. Stepping away from the standard commodity style kitchens and baths won the day.”

“The submissions reveal a clear shift: people are prioritizing comfort, functionality and seamless integration with the rest of their home,” adds Price. “Kitchens and bathrooms are no longer just task-oriented spaces – they’re personal, intentional and often luxurious.”

She also says: “In kitchens, there’s a strong focus on multifunctionality – spaces that support cooking, entertaining, working and gathering. We’re seeing thoughtful storage solutions, dedicated beverage areas, hidden appliances, layered lighting and natural materials that add warmth and character.”

“There was a lot of patterned wallpaper, a lot of bold choices, mixing of materials and not being afraid of just being different, you know?” remarks Sepulveda-Villarini. “There were a lot of very edgy designs, especially in the small bathroom categories.”

“There were several projects that had more daring use of color and texture combinations within the same space,” McFadden notes. 

Some trends – or perhaps more accurately, celebrated materials and flourishes – did make themselves evident during the judging process. “The key designs that I saw have more curvature to casework,” Switzer indicates. “We’re seeing a lot more moldings, a lot more thoughtful details – it was simple, but it just brought so much more depth to the space to have this curvature adding that softness to design that we’ve been missing for a while.”

Sepulveda-Villarini adds, “A lot of natural materials are coming back. I see a lot of [designers] using less man-made materials and going back to using woods, natural stone, quartzite and marble.”

Klein points to the use of metals as an inspiring element. “Metal finishes, metal hardware…. There were a lot of metal freestanding shelves, and integration of metal into cabinetry was really on point this year – I think it was for kitchens and for bathrooms, too. The use of the mixed metals is definitely a trend that I think is here to stay.”

Anatomy of a Winner

So, what elements of a design award submission really catch a judge’s eyes? KBDN asked the 2025 KBDA judging panel to weigh in on what makes a winning submission. 

Photography and photo styling, many agreed, might just be the secret sauce that sets a great submission apart from an amazing submission. “As a small business owner, I am careful about how I spend money on marketing,” Swanson explains. “I rarely if ever spend money on advertising, I prioritize professional photography over all else in terms of promoting my design and business.” 

When asked what makes good photography, Swanson immediately points to lighting. “We saw so many submissions with the overhead recessed can lighting on – it really detracts. A good photographer is opening their aperture to allow light in; they are using blankets and other devices to block light from coming into the room. I have my best photo shoot days in overcast weather.”

“Photography, lighting and staging play a critical role, especially in spaces that may lack bold colors or dramatic elements,” adds Price. “A strong visual presentation can elevate even the most understated design and make all the difference in how the space is perceived.”

Sherman looks for “a true mastery of the aesthetic and the functional. I believe you cannot have one without the other,” which translates into “an understanding of good design as it relates to human-centered design. Things can be beautiful, but how will people function within the spaces? Human scale is very important to the metal aspect of living in a space. You don’t want to feel overwhelmed or underwhelmed.”

On a final administrative note, Swanson adds, “Follow the rules!” When filling out the applications, she says, “Curate your narrative to be as on point and descriptive as possible. Having a short but really meaningful description is better than a multi-paragraph brief.”