In a small community like Strathalbyn, it’s not unusual for neighbours to become customers. Do a great job and they soon become friends. But news of SpaceCraft Joinery’s latest national award really does read like an episode of Neighbours.

On Friday 20 September, the small family business bested some of the biggest names in Australian kitchen design and craftsmanship with a first-up win at the Australian Cabinet & Furniture Association (ACFA) awards in Sydney.

Fresh from taking out every award on offer for South Australian kitchens at the national 2019 KBDi Designer Awards, the bespoke joinery of Nathan & Ellen Wundersitz once again wowed a different panel of peers to fly the flag for our state as South Australia’s only ACFA award winners.

Perhaps even more satisfying, however, the big award they won for Best Kitchen Project (New Build) up to $35,000 was for a kitchen they built for friends, Gerry & Terry, who live right next-door.

Having become good mates through the process, Gerry & Terry were minding Nathan & Ellen’s pets while they were in Sydney receiving the award for their kitchen. The ecstatic couple responded to the good news with a delightful text saying: “Ooooohhhhh… that is sensational! We landed on our feet the day we moved in next to you! Can’t wait to celebrate when you get home!”

Extraordinarily, of the six kitchens SpaceCraft entered as their first foray into the ACFA awards, four were selected as finalists in five categories: a mighty effort that reinforces the growing reputation of these masters of the one-of-a-kind, the different and the unusual.

Given the tremendously high level of competition and quality of work on show, Nathan & Ellen Wundersitz were over the moon. But SpaceCraft’s chief designer, Nathan, was quick to pay tribute to their small, highly skilled team of craftspeople, apprentices and support staff, saying, “Every hectic day is a joy when you work with customers who are friends and workmates who are like family. With the craftspeople we have, we can build just about any design I can dream up. I feel blessed.”

The four finalist kitchens.

Best Kitchen Design & Winner of Best Kitchen Project (New Build) up to $35K: Gerry & Terry’s Shaker Industrial kitchen.
Best Kitchen Project (New Build) $35,001 to $60K: Emma & Russell’s Contemporary Herringbone Twist kitchen.
Best Kitchen Project (Renovation) up to $35K: Fleur & James’ Retro Cool kitchen.
Best Kitchen Project (New Build) $35,001 to $60K: Heidi & Nathan’s monochromatic masterpiece.