2026 Student Kitchen & Bath Design Awards

Eastern Carolinas Chapter

**Student**

2026 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards

Award Categories:

This local chapter student design competition conveniently corresponds with the nation wide design competition held by the NKBA. Students may not receive professional guidance, and WILL NOT receive professional feedback about their design entries after this local competition has been completed. Rubric information and floor plans are provided under "Downloadable files". The competition is divided into the following categories. Please select the appropriate category for your entry:

Kitchen

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

Bathroom

Only residential bathrooms are permitted. 

 

Winner Recognition:

• First place $350

• Second place $225

• Third Place $100

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 Students:

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

• 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:

• Students: All project entries are free.

 

Students: Required Materials Checklist:

• Fill out the entry forms.

• 3D colorized renderings

• Floor Plan(s) & Elevations

• Electrical/mechanical plans

• Lighting plans

• Drawings DO NOT need to strictly adhere to NKBA Graphics & Presentation Standards, however, all submitted drawings must be neat and legible.

• Important design features should be labeled, identified, and dimensioned as needed to fully convey your design ideas.

• Identifying designer information must be removed/omitted. Any submission with identifying markers will be automatically disqualified.

 

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 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 due to disqualified entries.