Caroline Smith of Memphis, Tenn.-based Caroline V. Smith Interiors is the grand-prize winner in BlueStar’s fourth-annual Kitchen Design Competition. The winning sophisticated design was selected for its classic elegance, blending dramatic navy tones with bright whites and brass finishes.
“This is a well-designed, bright and cheerful kitchen,” said designer and lead judge Eric Cohler of New York City-based Eric Cohler Design. “This kitchen looks equally at home whether in town or country.”
Smith selected white cabinets with a dark blue island to create a balance, which allowed the appliances to be the stars of the kitchen. The kitchen echoes the client’s color preferences in the brass veins of the appliance trims and is carried through to the blue gray color of the double electric wall oven and the knobs of both the wall oven and BlueStar Platinum range top.
The finalists were also applauded for their thoughtful designs and use of BlueStar appliances. The three finalists are:
The Making of a Masterpiece
Brett Broussard, Pelican Builders Group, LLC, Thibodaux, La.
This kitchen space is a canvas of stainless steel, with a pop of color in the bright yellow knobs on the 48-in. platinum range. The layout is efficient for both food preparation and entertaining.
“I love the yellow against the stainless-steel BlueStar appliances in this stunning chef’s kitchen,” said Cohler.
The refrigerator’s fully extending bottom shelf is designed to fit a full-size commercial sheet pan – as is the freezer shelf – so extra-large pans prepped with pastry or hors d’oeuvres can go straight from the refrigerator or freezer into an oversized oven. Since the interior is fully customizable, shelves and bins can be easily changed.
Small Kitchen, Big Style
Elena Eskandari and Elle Hunter, Case Design/Remodeling, Bethesda, Md.
The client wanted the kitchen to reflect the style of the row house, which is located in a historic neighborhood of Washington D.C. The designers selected classic black and white cabinetry with tall crown moldings. These were paired with a natural marble countertop that was applied to the backsplash all the way to the ceiling. The blue green BlueStar range and hood create a dramatic pop of color in an otherwise neutral space. Even though the whole house is only 13 feet wide, this small kitchen is packed with storage and personality.
“I’m enamored with the teal/turquoise BlueStar range and custom hood against the marble and dark cabinets,” said Cohler. “It’s a happy marriage between the practical and the dramatic.”
Age before Beauty
Leslie Murchie Cascino, Bonnie Wu Design, LLC, Ann Arbor, Mich.
The client wanted to respect the age and architecture of the home, which was built in 1924 in a European-inspired style popular at that time. The design team aimed for a vintage, luxe bistro look in dark navy and white, with high-contrast colors and materials, which all centered on the custom BlueStar range in classic black with brass trim.
“The elegant black, stainless and brass range is the heart of this timeless kitchen,” said Cohler. “Dark blue lower cabinetry with lighter uppers melds seamlessly with the custom brass-trimmed hood.”
The 2019 competition is open for entries from now through February 2020. The kitchen design entry can be any style of kitchen. A minimum of one BlueStar appliance is required. Ranges, range tops, refrigerators, gas and electric wall ovens and gas and induction cooktops meet this requirement. Official rules and entry criteria can be found at http://www.bluestarcooking.com/inspiration/kitchen-design-contest/.
