June 25, 2010

Superior Woodcraft’s lead designer Gerard Ciccarello, CMKBD, and co-designer, Eric R. Koch, CKD, of Covenant Kitchens and Baths, Inc., Westbrook, Conn., were honored with awards for design excellence, in the “medium kitchen” category, by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) at its 2010 Design Competition. The competition recognizes designers who plan safe, functional, and beautiful spaces on the basis of visual appeal and creativity, as well as principles of design, presentation, safety and ergonomics.

Ciccarello designed a space that integrated old-world elegance with modern technology for the homeowners, a young couple with a passion for travel and collecting antiques. Distinctive touches include a pair of passageway doors with stained-glass panels from a 19th century church and 100-year-old German tiles installed along the backsplash.

With the design in place, Superior Woodcraft created custom cabinetry in a yellow rustic finish with rag-wiped glaze. A hearth-style hood surrounds the couple’s Aga cooker, embellished with Enkeboll carved corbels, dentil moldings, fluting and turned legs. Rows of antique china are displayed on open plate racks on either side of the farmhouse sink. The three-piece island is executed with marble and mahogany.

“Working with Gerard at Covenant is always inspiring, and we congratulate him on winning yet another prestigious NKBA design award,” said Michelle Geiger Kennedy, president at Superior Woodcraft. “It is an honor to be included in this project, and our thanks go to everyone involved in designing and creating the winning entry.”