October 23, 2020

Dacor has revealed the winners of the 2020 Dacor National Kitchen Design Contest. The jury evaluated 132 entries from students and professionals across the U.S. and Canada to determine 20 finalists, from which three grand-prize professional design winners and one design student winner were selected.

“Through the National Kitchen Design contest, it is evident these designers are paving the way for how inventive kitchen designs are executed, and their work is the reason our products are synonymous with beautiful, luxury design. It has been an exciting opportunity to see the submissions, and our team is beyond impressed by the talent featured across both professional and student entries,” said Randy Warner, vice president of sales for Dacor.

Cash prizes totaling more than $200,000 will be awarded to winners and finalists on a regional and national level for projects that were submitted in both the contemporary and traditional style of kitchens. Categories included: First Place Contemporary, First Place Traditional, Designer’s Choice, Runner-Up Contemporary, Runner-Up Traditional, First Place Student, and Runner-Up Student. Regionally, Dacor will recognize eight designers across all four U.S regions, including Canada, while 20 finalists will be nationally recognized (10 per style of appliance).

Top Winners:

Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) was a triple prize winner, taking home the Dacor Designer’s Choice award, as well as being recognized as the winner in the West Region and a top 20 National Finalist, winning a grand total of $42,500.

Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn 

Carla Kalwaitis of Carla Kalwaitis Design (Rancho Mirage, Calif.) took home First Place Contemporary kitchen along with first place in the Regional category and was selected as a National finalist, totaling a winning prize of $42,500.

Design by Carla Kalwaitis of Carla Kalwaitis Design 

Starr Miller of Starr Miller Interior Design (Cornelius, N.C.) won First Place Traditional, in addition to being recognized as a first-place Regional winner and National finalist, totaling a winning prize of $42,500.

Design by Starr Miller of Starr Miller Interior Design

Additional Dacor regional winners and finalists include:

Contemporary Regional Winners

• Sarah Robertson with Dearborn Cabinetry LLC d/b/a Studio Dearborn (Mamaroneck, N.Y. – East Coast Region)
• Arash Hoss with Two Hawks Design and Development (Phoenix, Ariz. – Central Region)
• Carla Kalwaitis with Carla Kalwaitis Design (Rancho Mirage, Calif. – West Coast Region)
• Breanna Lukacsy and Rehanna Hartung with Hella Design Studio Inc. (Calgary – Canada Region)

Design by Carla Kalwaitis of Carla Kalwaitis Design 

Contemporary National Finalists

• Grand Prize Runner-Up: Qiong Lin with Global Kitchen & Bath (Bayside, N.Y.)
• Sarah Robertson with Dearborn Cabinetry LLC d/b/a Studio Dearborn (Mamaroneck, N.Y.)
• Arash Hoss with Two Hawks Design and Development (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Jennifer Sartori and Sheilah Hughes with Lifestyle Home Builders (Melbourne, Fla.)
• Trey Farmer and Adrienne Farmer with Studio Ferme (Austin, Texas)
• Yael Margalit with Yael Margalit Design (Los Angeles)
• Jennifer Sartori and Sheilah Hughes with Lifestyle Home Builders (Melbourne, Fla.)
• Breanna Lukacsy and Rehanna Hartung with Hella Design Studio Inc. (Calgary, AB)
• Aimee Eversole with Monarch & Maker (Magnolia, Texas)

Design by Starr Miller of Starr Miller Interior Design

Traditional Regional Winners

• Starr Miller with Starr Miller Interior Design (Cornelius, N.C. – East Coast Region)
• Jennifer Reid with Travis Custom Homes (Scottsdale, Ariz. – Central Region)
• Susanna Ward and Elaina Myers with Design 4 Corners (Carlsbad, Calif. – West Coast Region)
• Nyla Free with Nyla Free Designs Inc. (Calgary – Canada Region)

Traditional National Finalists

• Grand Prize Runner-Up: Jennifer Reid with Travis Custom Homes (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• Susanna Ward and Elaina Myers with Design 4 Corners (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Skip Sroka with Sroka Design Inc. (Washington, D.C.)
• Alexandra Montelongo with Monarch & Maker (Magnolia, Texas)
• Jennifer Sartori and Sheilah Hughes with Lifestyle Home Builders (Melbourne, Fla.)
• Jacquelyn Cummins with Kitchens Unlimited (Memphis, Tenn.)
• Jason Jones with NoCO Custom Home (Timnath, Colo.)
• Vic Remmers with Everett Custom Homes (Portland)
• Tynet Calhoun with Mag Builders (Denver)
• Nyla Free with Nyla Free Designs Inc. (Calgary, AB)

Student Finalist
• Grand Prize Runner-Up: Zhoulan Zhang of Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

All Dacor contest winners and finalists will have their work recognized and promoted within Dacor’s showrooms in New York City, L.A. and Chicago and on the company website as well as social media channels. All entries were accepted from qualified legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec).