2026 Professional Kitchen & Bath Design Awards

Eastern Carolinas Chapter

**Professional**

2026 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards

Award Categories:

The competition is divided into the following categories. Please select the appropriate category below: 

1. Professional Kitchens

• Small (Under 300 square feet)

• Large (300 square feet and over)

Only residential kitchens are permitted in the small and large kitchen categories. Any style is acceptable (traditional, contemporary, luxury, etc.)

2. Professional Bathrooms

• Powder Room

• Full Bath

Only residential bathrooms are permitted. Powder rooms do not contain a shower or tub. Full bathrooms may be connected to and entered through the primary bedroom or located in a hall serving the primary bedroom as well as other rooms.

Professional Category Awards:

• First place $800

• Second place $500

• Third place $250

Winners will be announced during the 2026 Eastern Carolinas Chapter Holiday Party. 

Winning projects displayed on the Eastern Carolinas Chapter social media pages.

In addition to cash prizes, category and specialty winners will receive:

• One personalized award

• One free ticket to Eastern Carolinas Holiday Party - Winners will be privately notified ahead of the event for planning purposes.

Judging:

The competition entries will be scored based on the following core areas:

• Creativity, presentation, design planning, elements and principles of design, safety, and ergonomics.

• Judges will include a panel of certified kitchen designers outside the Triangle area.

Competition Guidelines for Professionals:

• The individual entrant must be the Designer of Record on each project.

• Must be an active NKBA Member in good standing.

• NKBA Certification(s) are not required of entrants.

• Construction of design projects must have been completed within a 3 year timespan of the final date for project submission (September 4, 2026).

• The project(s) submitted must not have been entered in previous Eastern Carolinas Design Awards.

• Enter the project into the one category for which it is best suited. You may submit up to 2 projects per category.

• A new entry form is required for each project submitted and is to be completed in full. 

• Entries must be received by September 4, 2026, at 11:59pm EST.

• All identifying design and firm information must be omitted, removed, or blacked out from photographs, floor plans, elevations, and design statements.

• All required materials must be received digitally and labeled according to NKBA Eastern Carolinas.

Entry Fees:

• Professionals only: Your first project entry is $50, all subsequent entries are $25.

Professional Required Materials Checklist:

• Fill out the entry forms. 

• Upload Before and After photos (up to 10 total high resolution color photos).

• Photographs must be owned and taken by or on behalf of the Entrant, must not infringe upon any third party's intellectual property rights (e.g., the photos may not have been previously published in a magazine or other copyrighted work in which the Entrant did not retain copyright in the photos.

• If the Entrant did not take the photos, the Entrant must have the written consent of the photographer and the homeowner to submit the photos in the Contest.

• Client property release form

• Photography release form, if applicable

• Business owner form

• Bio & Optional Headshot (winners must provide a headshot suitable for publication)

• Floor Plan(s) & Elevation(s)

• Drawings DO NOT need to adhere to NKBA Graphics & Presentation Standards, including SCALE and dimension requirements, but must be neat and legible.

• Identifying designer and firm information must be removed/omitted.

Reasons for Disqualification:

• If any materials are omitted or if required criteria is not met, the entry will be disqualified. NKBA Eastern Carolinas reserves the right to disqualify a project before, during or after the contest judging.

• Your NKBA membership will be verified and false information will lead to disqualification.

• Your submission must be received by 11:59 pm EST on September 4, 2026. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

• To avoid disqualification, please adhere closely to all competition guidelines and deadlines. No refunds will be issued to disqualified entries.