It’s said that the devil is in the details. But, for the winners of this year’s Chrysalis Awards, it seems that the design is in the details. From modernizing a 1980s snoozer, to restoring the detailed charm to a San Francisco Edwardian kitchen, the winning designs stood out from the pack through the designers’ choice of details in architectural elements, color pairings and other areas, to realize each homeowner’s vision for the kitchen.

Whether it was making a cramped kitchen suitable for more than one person, creating savvy storage or using the existing elements to stunning effect, each kitchen displays a host of creative design solutions.

The Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence, which honor the best and brightest in remodeling since 1993, are co-sponsored by Qualified Remodeler, a sister publication of Kitchen & Bath Design News. Judges this year included editors and writers from a range of consumer publications including Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living. This month, KBDN highlights some of the national kitchen design winners of the Chrysalis Awards.

Best Kitchen $40,000-75,000

Since one is the loneliest number, a kitchen that can only accommodate a single person isn’t a well designed space. Nor is it conducive to entertaining, and that was a problem for one Oregon family.

Prior to its luxe remodel, this kitchen defined “small” and “dark.” The homeowners were looking for a layout that would better facilitate entertaining. The new space needed to create a place where the young family could spend time together. It was up to Bend, OR-based Case Handyman & Remodeling to free up some space.

The first task was rearranging the work areas into a better triangle. In the original layout, the appliances were lined up at the back of the kitchen, which meant the cook was separated from his guests while entertaining. According to the homeowner, when preparing a meal, he had to kick everyone else out – there simply wasn’t enough space.

The firm turned the major appliances and work areas 180 degrees and placed them into the island. Now anyone who prepares a meal will face the rest of the house instead of a wall – a set-up much more conducive to entertaining guests.

Old met new when a 100-year-old butcher block in the previous kitchen was included in the design alongside new cabinetry under a redesigned lighting scheme. The modern design incorporates a number of different textures: a bamboo floor, stainless steel countertop and cherry cabinets that contribute to the modern eclectic look.

What the firm referred to as a “cave” was opened up by removing pre-existing false soffits. The soffits, apparently meant to define the small space, actually ended up creating visual barriers and shrinking the perception of the room’s size.

The environmentally sensitive homeowners found new homes for all of the appliances they replaced, while Case donated the remaining cabinets and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore program. ReStores are retail outlets where used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices and the proceeds go to benefit the construction of local Habitat houses.