Judging Panel for Inaugural Kitchen Design Competition Announced

 

Led by Eric Cohler, the elite panel of judges bring their design chops to help crown the best BlueStar® kitchen.

Reading, PA – BlueStar®, a leading manufacturer of high-performance, customizable appliances for the home, announces the judging panel for its first Kitchen Design Competition. Celebrated Interior Designer Eric Cohler leads the panel of six industry professionals – Sheila Bridges, Amanda Nisbet, Brett Beldock, Liz Tiesi, Ken Kelly and Grace Kelly – to select the BlueStar® Kitchen Designer of the Year. The first-annual competition is open for entries through January 31, 2016.

The contest encourages professional kitchen designers, architects, interior designers, builders and remodelers to submit outstanding kitchen designs for the chance to win the title of BlueStar Kitchen Designer of the Year. One Grand Prize winner will receive BlueStar® appliances for their home kitchen, the title “BlueStar® Kitchen Designer of the Year” as well as a trip to New York City for the 2016 Architectural Digest Home Design Show.

Six regional winners will be given a BlueStar® cookware set, which retails between $400 and $500; promotion of the winning kitchen design on the BlueStar® website and promotion of the winning kitchen on the brand’s social media properties.

2016 BlueStar Kitchen Design Contest Judges

Lead Judge:

Eric Cohler, Eric Cohler Designs, New York, NY

Acclaimed for his distinguishing ability to fuse classical and contemporary elements, Eric Cohler is known for designing spaces that look lived in, yet are carefully composed. Cohler’s extensive experience in residential interiors is seen in projects throughout the US, Europe and the Caribbean. A well-respected keynote speaker on interior design, art, and collecting, Cohler holds an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and a Certificate from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

Panel:

Sheila Bridges, Sheila Bridges Design Inc., New York, NY

Named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time Magazine, Sheila Bridges founded her own interior design firm in 1994. Sheila has been a regular contributor on NBC’s Today Show, has appeared on Oprah and most recently became a contributing editor at MORE Magazine. She designed the 8,300 square foot Harlem offices for former President Bill Clinton and his staff.

Amanda Nisbet, Amanda Nisbet Design, New York, NY

Despite her formal art history training and years at Christie’s auction house, Amanda Nisbet prefers to upend the usual design rules, in favor of a fresh, energetic approach that draws as much upon intuition as tradition. Mixing function and style, classical motifs and contemporary idioms, in rich and unexpected ways, Nisbet never loses her sense of wit and whimsy, or her conviction that the designer’s job is first and foremost to answer a client’s needs, wishes and dreams.

Brett Beldock, Brett Design, New York, NY

Brett Beldock, a former fashion designer and founder of Brett Design, has a crisp, creative but off-beat approach to design. Brett uses fabric, texture, material and color to define each product and project, producing a sophisticated, innovative and luxurious image in each room.

Liz Tiesi, Threshold Interiors, New York, NY

Liz Tiesi, owner and lead designer at Threshold, trained at the Inchbald School of Design in London. After moving back from Europe in 2010, she opened her design firm to provide a fresh approach to the creation of residential spaces. Her design philosophy envisions interiors that are in keeping with the local vernacular.

Ken Kelly, Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Williston Park, NY

Owner of Long Island, NY-based Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Kelly is an award-winning kitchen designer. A 30-year veteran of the remodeling industry, Ken excels at total room design, seamlessly integrating all the essential details of the entire project for his clients.

Grace Kelly, Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Williston Park, NY

With 23 years in the kitchen, bath and remodeling business, Grace Kelly spent many years as a business professor before moving on to manage strategic operations and business development at Kitchen Designs. Her goal is to educate the consumer, improve and simplify the home improvement process, and provide an unparalleled experience for Kitchen Designs’ clients. With her impeccable taste and keen eye for details, she is the buyer for the unique product lines in the showroom.

The winner will be announced no later the March 1st, 2016. Entering is free and easy. The kitchen design entry can be any style kitchen. A minimum of one BlueStar® cooking appliance as the primary cooking appliance is required. Ranges, rangetops, ovens, and cooktops meet this requirement. Official rules and entry criteria can be found at bluestar2016.wpengine.com/designcontest.