Davinia Sutton of Detail by Davinia Sutton, has made history at the NKBA Excellence in Design Awards, with her business taking home 13 awards for seven unique kitchen and bathroom designs. Amongst her 13 awards, she has won the prestigious SUPREME Kitchen Design, the SUPREME Bathroom Design and Designer of the Year.
NKBA President, Nick Thompson of Fisher and Paykel, said that Davinia Sutton’s dominance at the awards was a record-breaking event.
“Never before have we had a designer win the three biggest awards of the night, Supreme Kitchen, Supreme Bathroom and Designer of the Year. This display of talent and power demonstrates that Davinia really is at the top of her game and an absolute force to be reckoned with. Congratulations to Davinia and her team at Detail by Davinia Sutton,” said Nick.
Davinia Sutton’s SUPREME award-winning kitchen is a bold design with modern wow factor. It achieves this punch with an extraordinary, beautiful Patagonia granite that has been enhanced with back lighting detail.
A monochromatic palette was chosen for the main body of the joinery to accentuate the strong architectural form. Two-toned dark stained, textured veneer adjacent box ‘walls’ are blended within the warmth of a contrasting whitewashed veneer to enhance the sense of hierarchy for the front and rear zones of the space. To break the solidness of the back wall area, a liquid metal framed negative element was introduced, providing a sense of layer and interest.
Davinia said the concept of the kitchen design was formed around the idea of a front and rear kitchen.
“The front zone serves the day-to-day needs of the family, while the rear kitchen provides overflow with a working pantry zone, additional storage, prepping station and integrated appliances. On the back side of the pantry space is a hidden bar, with custom sink, wine fridge and glassware storage. By providing three standalone, yet integrated working zones, several people can utilise the space at one time,” says Davinia.
The NKBA judging panel were enamoured with the space saying the kitchen gave them butterflies.
“It has astounding beauty and detailing that grabs you and holds you close. The stunning slab selection is backlit which adds to the drama and understated glamour. The mixing of timbers is a great success, and the detailing and materiality is a showstopper. The scullery is just as interesting, with beautiful lighting and a tiered almost chandelier like quality. The designer has incorporated a slight Japanese influence that creates luxury and evokes deep emotion. Masculine materials have been used, but carefully layered, to create an elegant and sleek design. This kitchen has wow factor and is of international quality,” said the judges.
The kitchen also won the 2021 NKBA Lighting Design and the 2021 NKBA Canterbury Chapter Recognition Kitchen Award.
The 2021 SUPREME Bathroom Design was given to Davinia Sutton in recognition of her work on a dark and moody master ensuite which features a show stopping dual entry, dual vanities and dual WCs with a large double shower zone at the heart of the room.
Radiating a modern elegance, the overall space is restrained with clean lines and has a sense of boldness and seductiveness.
The 2021 NKBA judges described the ensuite as amazing, clever and different.
“It is an outstanding and attractive bathroom that exudes luxury, drama and beauty. The attention to detail is extraordinary, from the lighting to the stone shadows, to the gorgeous vanities and symmetry of the spaces. This is a completely unique offering, with the shared shower space in the middle. It allows the users to have completely separate and individual experiences, while also sharing mutual ground. A refined, elegant and emotive space,” said the judging panel.
The bathroom also won CDS Bathroom of the Year and the 2021 Canterbury Chapter Recognition Bathroom Award.
Davinia Sutton won 2021 NKBA Designer of the Year for her work on the Supreme Kitchen and Supreme Bathroom. The judges said she knows how to evoke emotions through unwavering attention to detail and an understanding of how to achieve understated luxury.
“The designer selects beautiful choices of finishes and integrates a sense of opulence into their work. A masterclass in balance and material choices,” they said.
In addition to her SUPREME Awards, Sutton also won Supreme Bathroom Design Runner Up for a modern Hampton’s style bathroom that showcased bespoke elements, luxurious finishes and refined bathroom fittings and fixtures. She won the Supreme Kitchen Design Highly Commended and Manufacturing Craftmanship Award for a large open kitchen influenced by the style of architect Sir Miles Warren. Detail by Davinia Sutton also won another two NKBA Excellence in Design Awards for two other spaces.