The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the world’s leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry, representing nearly 55,000 North American kitchen and bath industry professionals, is accepting submissions for the 2027 NKBA Design Competition through October 4. Designers are encouraged to submit their top residential kitchen and bath projects for a chance to be recognized in one of the most prestigious competitions in the industry.
Above: The “Stoney Wylde” kitchen was recognized in the 2026 NKBA Design Competition. Kitchen & Cabinetry Design: Bluebell Fine Cabinetry & Design x Far Studio, Interior Design: Far Studio, Builder: Winfield Developers, Photographer: Brian Wetzel, Photo Stylist: Kristi Hunter
This year, the competition will be held in partnership with Business of Home, the leading business media brand for the home industry, to expand the reach and prestige of the program. Business of Home Editor in Chief Kaitlin Petersen will present the awards on stage in a revamped Design + Industry Awards Ceremony at KBIS 2027 in Las Vegas on Monday, February 1, 2027. In addition to cash prizes and NKBA recognition, winners will be featured in a digital article, Trade Tales podcast episode and promoted across Business of Home’s digital platforms.
“The Design Competition has honored exceptional work in the kitchen and bath industry for more than 60 years,” said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA. “As our industry evolves with new technology and consumer demands, we’ve refined our categories for 2027 and are excited to receive submissions that reflect the best of today’s design thinking. We’re proud to have brought Business of Home on as a partner, leveraging the publication’s expertise in design and celebrating winners in an even bigger way.”
To reflect the evolving industry of kitchen and bath design, NKBA has introduced new categories for the 2027 competition, including new specialty awards for laundry, wellness, product integration and smart home integrations. These new categories commend designers pushing the boundaries of residential design, enhancing everyday living for clients.
2027 NKBA Design Competition Categories
Kitchen Categories
● Large Kitchen (over 300 sq ft)
● Small Kitchen (under 300 sq ft)
Bath Categories
● Powder Room
● Small Bath (under 100 sq ft)
● Primary Bath (over 100 sq ft)
Specialty Categories
● Laundry Room: Recognizes laundry spaces that elevate everyday living through thoughtful planning, integrated smart storage, durable materials, and practical functionality with beautiful design.
● Product Integration for Kitchen or Bath: Celebrates the integration of products and technologies that enhance functionality, accessibility, organization, and everyday living. Entries include aging-in-place solutions, concealed storage, family and pet-friendly features, children’s spaces or work-from-home features.
● Kitchen Wellness Integration: Recognizes kitchen design solutions to promote health, comfort, accessibility, and overall well-being through thoughtful planning, innovative products, and user-centered designs.
● Bath Wellness Integration: Recognizes bath design solutions to promote health, comfort, accessibility, and overall well-being through thoughtful planning, innovative products, and user-centered designs.
● Smart Home Integration: Celebrates seamless design that incorporates smart home solutions to create intuitive, efficient, and connected living environments.
Competition entries will be scored by a committee of certified kitchen and bath designers, industry leaders, and Business of Home’s Kaitlin Petersen based on creativity, presentation, design planning, elements of Principles of Design, safety and ergonomics and the NKBA Planning Guidelines. Projects must have been completed between January 1, 2025 and August 27, 2026.
More than $125,000 in cash prizes will be awarded through the competition. Each category awards first, second, and third place winners, with prizes of $5,000, $3,000, and $1,000, respectively. Additionally, first-place winners in the Best Overall Kitchen and Best Overall Bath categories can earn $25,000 each, and an additional $25,000 if they are NKBA certified, for a potential total of $50,000.
To apply, visit nkba.org/design-competition and fill out the online submission by October 4, 2026.
