NEW YORK, NY, March 16 — BlueStar®, manufacturer of high-performance appliances for the home – and a trailblazer in color innovation – is pleased to recognize Grand Prize Winner Jill Calo of Payne & Payne Builders and the four top regional finalists in the company’s 2^nd annual Kitchen Design Competition.

The contest, which attracted entries from across the country, honors design professionals who incorporate BlueStar® products into innovative, beautiful kitchen designs. The Grand Prize winner receives BlueStar® appliances for his/her home kitchen, the title BlueStar® Kitchen Designer of the Year, plus a trip to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show.

Internationally acclaimed designer Eric Cohler led the judging panel which included Kim Lewis, best known as the Lead Designer behind ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and founder of Kim Lewis Designs in Austin, TX and last year’s grand prize winner, Heidi Piron, of Heidi Piron Design & Cabinetry in Summit, NJ.

For full information and a photo gallery featuring all BlueStar® Kitchen Design Competition Finalists, visit the BlueStarBlog.

Grand Prize Winner: Jill Calo, Payne & Payne Builders

The grand prize kitchen was inspired by the red color of the 48″ gas range with a 12″ charbroiler, showing how a simple “pop” of color can completely transform a space. The lines are simple yet elegant. The kitchen cabinets are painted in a high gloss white and accented with understated, modest hardware. One kitchen island features waterfall countertops with a walnut back. The red backsplash by the bar area compliments the red range. The remaining backsplash was created using a simple 3”x6” subway tile to create a place for your eye to rest.

Finalists

Elizabeth Lawson, Elizabeth Lawson Design, Roland Park Kitchen, Baltimore, MD

The designer was looking to create a transitional kitchen with both traditional and modern elements.  This kitchen renovation features dark gray lower cabinets and white upper cabinets with satin brass hardware and a continuous Carrara marble backsplash. The kitchen evokes a modern sensibility, yet  timeless feel.

Rebekah Zaveloff, KitchenLab Design, Sunnyside, Chicago, IL

Located in the historic Ravenswood Manor neighborhood of Chicago, the designer transformed the original kitchen into  a bright and open floor plan which complimented the home’s vintage style. The kitchen features a 30” cream BlueStar® gas range, with brass accents and a custom hood. Simple, white subway tiles are complimented by the creamy marble countertops. A triple quarter sawn oak French door leads to the back porch. The kitchen features a unlacquered brass bridge faucet and farmhouse sink and is tied together by Dorian Gray cabinetry with stained oak interiors.

Lauren Rubin, Lauren Rubin Architecture, Greenwich Village Apartment, New York, NY

The designer transformed an outdated, poorly lit two bedroom, two bathroom apartment into a cheerful, open and stylish home for an urban family with two small children. The original kitchen was dark and enclosed, plastered with antiquated tiling, dinghy veneer cabinetry, old appliances and fluorescent lighting. Lauren removed walls to create an open living plan, marble topped kitchen island, built-in bar and wine storage and a new spacious and functional entryway. The fun, deep red BlueStar® range provides a whimsical pop of color in this fresh white space.

Karen Nepacena, Destination Eichler, Walnut Creek, CA

A 1959 Midcentury Modern Home gets a modern kitchen renovation. A mix of natural materials, such as Flatsawn Walnut and Concrete, meld with European style modern cabinetry, stainless steel BlueStar® appliances and designer lighting, for a modern kitchen, in an iconic midcentury modern home.

The 2018 competition is open for entries from March 21, 2017 through January 20, 2018.  The kitchen design entry can be any style kitchen. A minimum of one BlueStar® cooking appliance as the primary cooking appliance is required. Ranges, rangetops, refrigerators, gas and electric ovens and cooktops meet this requirement.  Official rules and entry criteria can be found at  https://www.bluestarcooking.com/inspiration/kitchen-design-contest/.

For general information on BlueStar® appliances, please visit www.bluestarcooking.com.