'Heart of the home': Hawke's Bay designer's own kitchen wins major design award

Trudi Rabbitte, of Rabbitte Joinery, won this year's NKBA Excellence in Design Hawke's Bay Chapter Recognition Kitchen Award for her Kinloch bach kitchen. Photo / Supplied

Home really is where the heart is for this Hawke's Bay designer at this year's National Kitchen and Bathroom Awards.

Representing one half of Rabbitte Joinery, Trudi Rabbitte took home this year's NKBA Excellence in Design Hawke's Bay Chapter Recognition Kitchen Award for the kitchen in her family of six's Kinloch bach.

It was a slightly challenging project, with Rabbitte wearing two hats as both the client and designer.

She attributed her repeated success to "attention to detail".

The open-kitchen space was designed to reflect industrial elements of the black corrugated-clad bach exterior.

Hawke's Bay designer Trudi Rabbitte, of Rabbitte Joinery, wore two hats on the Kinloch kitchen project as both the client and designer. Photo / Supplied

"The inspiration for it all is the industrial look and tying it all in particularly the metals."

A woven light fitting and granite backsplash - described as a bit of extravagance - was used to soften the space.

When it comes to good design, function is just as important as form and the quality of materials used.

"You can use a lot of materials but it's about function - it's got to work for the family or couple using it."

With four kids, she wanted the materials used to be more hard-wearing.

The galley-style kitchen was also deemed a "perfect fit" and "easy-care, low maintenance kitchen" for the open-plan space. Photo / Supplied

"We've got a big family. We spend a lot of time in there with family and friends.

"It's definitely the heart of the home."

Rabbitte was praised by the panel of six judges for her selection of "an interesting choice of materials, particularly with the use of steel".

"The framing around the island is unique and makes the rangehood pop.

"The stone was an attractive choice. A striking kitchen," they said.

Judges praised the "striking kitchen" for its interesting use of materials, including steel and granite. Photo / Supplied

The galley-style kitchen was also deemed a "perfect fit" and "easy-care, low maintenance kitchen" for the open-plan space.

Judges highlighted the accented style of steel on the island, oven surround, rangehood and other details within the house which they said pulled the overall style together.

Last year Rabbitte won the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Hawke's Bay Chapter Kitchen & Bathroom Recognition Award and the 2020 NKBA Excellence in Design Kitchen Distinction $25,000-$40,000 Award.

"We love doing what we do and designing spaces for other people," she said.

"We've got a good team and good technical knowledge."