Award winning New Zealand kitchens and bathrooms were celebrated over the weekend in Melbourne at the 2019 NKBA Excellence in Design Awards. The 2019 NKBA Supreme Kitchen Design Award went to Stefan Sonntag of Masterwood Joinery in Otago for an incredible oriental and commercial-styled kitchen located in an alpine retreat in Lake Hayes, Queenstown.

With clean, straight lines, natural materials and earthy tones, the kitchen is a paradise for the clients who are enthusiastic cooks. This passion is visible; from the cantilevered teppanyaki grill mounted in engineered stone, to the marble topped pastry island, self-contained coffee making area and commercial stainless-steel kitchen extractor. Other luxury custom details include the traditional Japanese sliding screens that separate the kitchen from an informal dining and lounge area, to the stunning 2.25m tall by 3.25m long, six door glass fronted display cabinet for storing dishes and glassware.

Winning not just the Supreme title, the breath-taking space won four other awards, including Creative Excellence Kitchen Design, Kitchen Distinction $80k – $100k and the Southern Chapter Kitchen Recognition Award. Masterwood Joinery received Supreme Kitchen Manufacturer for their work on the space.

Judges were unanimous in their decision, calling the kitchen an impressive design, worthy of the Supreme title.

“With commercial elements and a contemporary Asian influence, this kitchen is unique and certainly a dream kitchen for anyone who is passionate about cooking and entertaining. There are so many beautiful details including a teppanyaki table, an island purely for pastry and a stunning scullery. It is truly amazing and oh so very cool,” said the judges.

President of NKBA, Jared Dinneen, said that Lake Hayes made the perfect location for the Supreme award-winning kitchen.

“This kitchen by Stefan Sonntag won’t be forgotten by our judges in a long time. It is outstanding in every way, right from the design, through to the manufacturing and all the beautiful hidden details. Its location in a beautiful property with views of the Remarkables only adds to this dynamic and luxurious space,” said Dinneen.

Wanaka designer, Carla Molyneaux of Melanie Craig Design was also a winner on the night, receiving the Southern Chapter Bathroom Recognition Award.

This clever bathroom needed to become a retreat for the client, who did not want a bathroom that felt cold, white or clinical. Molyneaux grounded the space with the use of steel. The steel starts as a negative detail between the concrete benchtop and the cabinetry, it then flows downwards and floats under the cabinetry creating a space for towel storage. A rectangular basin makes a bold visual contrast against the black tiles, dark wallpaper and the concrete vanity top. The carefully selected dark wallpaper gives this space its visual explosion.