The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Georgia Chapter recently hosted its annual Designs of Distinction Awards at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The celebration brought together designers, builders, manufacturers and trade partners to honor outstanding kitchen and bath design achievements across the state.
This year’s gala showcased exceptional creativity, technical excellence and innovation within Georgia’s design community. The NKBA Georgia Chapter extends sincere appreciation to its sponsors for their continued support and to the judges from the NKBA Alabama Chapter for lending their time and expertise in evaluating the submissions.
The 2025 competition made a splash at the Georgia Aquarium, showcasing designs that shimmered with creativity, depth and craftsmanship worthy of the NKBA’s highest standards.
2025 Award Winners
Showroom & Specialty Categories
- Showroom – Bath Vignette: Rebecca Neal, CKD – Capstone Design Solutions Inc.
- Showroom – Kitchen Vignette: Rasha Francis – MR Italia
- Manufacturer/Distributor Showroom: Devoree Axelrod – AJ Madison
Residential Design Categories
- Other Room: Steven Berman, AKBD – ProSource
- Powder Bath: Rosa Moreno – Rosa Moreno Kitchens
- Secondary Bath: Cailin Thelen, CMKBD – Thelen Designs
- Primary Bath: Stephanie Ives, CKBD – Custom Dwellings Inc.
- Small Kitchen: Benjamin Ouellette – Design Galleria
- Medium Kitchen: Cailin Thelen, CMKBD – Thelen Designs
- Large Kitchen: Norma Pollitt-Sloth – Stephenson Construction LLC
- Specialty Kitchen: April Haggard – Haggard Home Design
- Open Floor Plan Kitchen: Cailin Thelen, CMKBD – Thelen Designs
Special Recognition Awards
- First Time Entry Award: Alley Cahal – Creative Cabinets
- Hurt/Thelen Award: Norma Pollitt-Sloth – Stephenson Construction LLC
- NVP Award: Jeff Dauby – AJ Madison
- Diane Coker Award: Kenzie Rediger – Stone Showcase
Student Winners
- 1st Place: Kerui Lu – SCAD
- 2nd Place: Diana Diaz Caicedo – Gwinnett Tech College
Judges – NKBA Alabama Chapter
Mallory VanZile, CKBD • Mary Lauda Crenshaw, CKBD • Jennifer L. Thompson, CKD • Liz Kennedy, CKBD
Honored Guest
Kelly Buchsbaum, NKBA – Director, Chapters & Learning
The NKBA Georgia Chapter serves as a hub for kitchen and bath professionals across the state, offering education, certification, networking and events that promote excellence and collaboration in design and remodeling. Through programs like the Designs of Distinction Awards, the chapter celebrates innovation, craftsmanship and professional growth within Georgia’s thriving design community.
