Announcing the finalists
After half a day of hotly debating 78 kitchen design entries, our esteemed judging panel was able to select the top three finalists for the Comfort and Luxury categories. Bringing a wealth of expertise to the panel were Nico van der Meulen of Nico van der Meulen Architects, Liz Morris of House & Garden magazine and Bradley van den Berg of Top Billing and Expresso.
“It was quite an easy process to identify the finalists,” says Liz Morris, editor of one of South Africa’s leading décor magazines. “The top designs really jumped out at us,” she continues.
Brad van den Berg enjoyed seeing designers incorporating international design trends, “I liked seeing designs that were offering their clients design solutions that incorporated a few of the latest trends we’re seeing at international design fairs, but there was definitely room for more nuanced design across both categories’ entries.”
Caesarstone is always careful to ensure that the judges have no information regarding the designer of each kitchen or where they are from in order to ensure a completely unbiased result. “The judging process is always blind, which ensures complete impartiality when it comes to selecting the finalists and ultimately, the winners,” says Caesarstone communications manager, Lisa Aspeling.
With R50,000 prize money up for grabs in each category, Caesarstone is gearing up for an exclusive and unforgettable awards ceremony. Luke Dale-Roberts’s The Test Kitchen will play host to the star-studded event in October where guests will include top representatives of Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Yuppiechef and Lindt, to name but a few foodie brands.
“The Caesarstone Kitchen Designers 2014 competition awards ceremony is going to be a total celebration in every way,” says Lisa Aspeling. “What better way to celebrate great kitchen design than in South Africa’s very own top kitchen!” Guests will be treated to a five-course lunch and wine pairing at the restaurant rated number 48 in the world by San Pellegrino.
Caesarstone is proud to announce the six finalists, who will attend the Cape Town awards.
Luxury Category:
• Jon Case, AA Interiors, Cape Town
• Beth Gillitt, Kitchen Classics, Durban
• Murray Loder, Country Kitchens, Ballito
Comfort Category:
• Vince Muir, Holly Wood Kitchens, Cape Town
• Nicola Mansfield, The Design Department, Cape Town
• Kim Hansen, Kitchen Classics, Durban
Nico van der Meulen recognises the value in designers getting involved in competitions such as this one, “This competition is an amazing opportunity for designers to get visibility in their industry, which is why I would encourage both new and established designers to get involved,” he says.
The two category winners will be announced live at the awards ceremony in October.