A very clever kitchen designed to make the most of a very modest space by a very small South Australian, family-owned country business has knocked off some kitchen goliaths at this year’s Kitchen & Bathroom Designers Institute Awards (KBDi), announced on Saturday 17 September.

Nathan Wundersitz from SpaceCraft Joinery, Strathalbyn in the Adelaide Hills was on hand to accept the two awards for the kitchen designed and built for Carmel and Andrew McDermid. Proving this was no fluke, the same kitchen also won in the HIA Awards last year.

Having entered the kitchen in South Australia’s Small Kitchen Design category, Nathan was delighted to win this chapter. But moments later, he was ecstatic to find the small jewel had picked up an even bigger trophy, when he was named as South Australia’s overall Kitchen Designer of the Year for 2016, beating out the winners of both the Medium and Large Kitchen categories.

This is only the second time SpaceCraft has entered the KBDi Awards, having already produced a finalist at their very first attempt in 2014.

Ros Hemley, who was one of the three judges of the awards this year, an accredited interior designer with the Design Institute of Australia and a KBDi Certified Kitchen Designer, prefaced the announcement of the Designer of the Year award by telling the audience the criteria for the decision weren’t the size of the room, the project or the budget; rather, it was based on the creativity of design, the most effective use of space and how clearly it met the clients’ brief.

And that’s how our little kitchen won big. Afterwards, Ros was kind enough to send an Instagram comment about our kitchen and the award: “A very clever space. Congratulations.”

Here’s what the judging panel said in support of their decision: “Bright and cheerful pops of colour were inspired by the client’s ceramic collection, and are indicative of the colour trends heading our way. The analogous scheme was carefully balanced with a warm and subtle Silver Ash melamine, and the designer’s delightful detailing is a nod to the retro era of the home. Thoughtful space planning has ensured the kitchen is as practical as it is pretty, and the entrant’s open approach and great documentation was acknowledged by the judging panel.”

SpaceCraft would like to thank and acknowledge its award-winning clients, Carmel & Andrew.

To see all the KBDi Award winners, visit www.kbdiawards.org.au/news/kbdi-award-winners-2016

To view SpaceCraft’s winning kitchen, check out www.spacecraftjoinery.com.au/projects/carmel-andrew/

For further information, quotes or an interview, please call Ellen Wundersitz on 0404 766 964.