Winners Named in Sub-Zero and Wolf’s Kitchen Design Contest

Judges Identify New Kitchen Design Trends Among Nationwide Entries

MADISON, Wis., April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — Sub-Zero, Inc. and Wolf Appliance, Inc., the industry leaders in refrigeration, wine storage and cooking equipment, today revealed the winners and design trends from its prestigious, bi-annual Kitchen Design Contest. Seven distinguished industry professionals evaluated more than 1,600 entries and identified kitchen design movements represented throughout the world.

“Since the inaugural competition in 1993, our Kitchen Design Contest has become one of the highest-regarded awards in the industry,” said Paul Leuthe, corporate marketing manager of Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance. “With each contest we gain insight into kitchen design trends and learn how designers incorporate our appliances into their projects.”

Sub-Zero and Wolf enlisted the following professionals to choose the winners based on superior and unique use of space, beautiful kitchen design and integration of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.

  Judges

       Jamie Drake, ASID, of Drake Design Associates, New York, NY

       Mick De Giulio of de Giulio kitchen design, inc., Chicago, IL

       Barbara Houston of Houston & Associates, Vancouver, BC, Canada

       Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria Ltd., Atlanta, GA

       John C. Senhauser, FAIA, of John Senhauser Architects, Cincinnati, OH

       Kristen Totah, ASID, of Studio K Kitchens and Design, Aptos, CA

       Patti Weaver, CKD, of Creative Design Solutions, Niwot, CO

Jamie Drake, Mick de Giulio, Matthew Quinn and Patti Weaver have all previously served on the KDC panel of judges. John Senhauser is a three-time regional winner as well as a 2000 and 2002 national winner. Kristen Totah was a regional winner in 2004 and Barbara Houston placed third nationally in 2002.

The Kitchen Design Contest regional and specialty winners received a cash prize and a trip for two to the awards event at Arizona’s Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch last weekend. At the awards event, the top three overall winners were selected. More than $110,000 in cash prizes was distributed to the winners during the final celebration. The top winners, specialty winners, the Designers’ Choice Award and international winners are as follows:

  Top Three Winners:

      Best Kitchen Utilizing a Full-Size Sub-Zero Built-In or Integrated

      Unit and Wolf Cooking Instrument

           First Place Winner Warner McConaughey, Hammersmith, Inc.,

           Atlanta, GA
           Second Place Winner Elaine Cecconi, Cecconi Simone, Inc.,

           Toronto, Ontario
           Third Place Winner Phyllis Taylor, The Taylor & Taylor

           Partnership, Miami, FL
  Specialty Winners:

      Best use of Wine Storage in a Unique Location

           Jost Lunstroth, Vineyard Wine Cellars, Addison, TX
      Student Category

           Katie Fotheringham, Utah State University
      Best Dealer Showroom Using Sub-Zero and Wolf

           Doug Durbin, nuHaus, Highland Park, IL
      Best use of Sub-Zero and/or Wolf in an Outdoor Kitchen

           Dee David, Dee David and Co, Falls Church, VA
      Best use of Integrated Refrigeration Outside the Kitchen

           Jean Stoffer, Jean Stoffer Design, River Forest, IL
      International Winners:

           Asia Pacific

                  Jose Eduardo Calma, Lor Calma & Partners, Philippines
           Europe

                  Bartholt Christiann Luikinga, Idfix-Bcl, Netherlands
           Brazil

                  Silvio Korman, Korman Arquitetos, San Paulo

Sub-Zero and Wolf introduced a new honor this year — the Designers’ Choice Award. This award invited 47,000 top trade professionals to vote for their preferred choice among the 48 regional winners. Coincidentally, the winner of the Designers’ Choice Award is the same as the third place national winner.

      The Designers’ Choice Award

           Phyllis Taylor, The Taylor & Taylor Partnership, Miami, FL

Among the entries, the following trends rose to the top as the latest movement in kitchen design according to the contest judges.

Smaller, High-Quality Kitchens — Experts are designing a smaller kitchen footprint, but are including higher-quality appliances, finishes, flooring and other elements to make it a long-lasting space. Consumers are investing in kitchens they will be in for years, so they are demanding luxury solutions.

Mixture of Materials and Textures — This year, more than ever, there is combining of materials for countertops, floors, cabinets, backsplashes and appliance cabinetry. “We are seeing soapstone, concrete, wood, limestone and glass. This year we saw an increase of appliances in carbon stainless finishes, which is refreshing given it blends style and design and can be used in traditional or contemporary kitchens,” said Kitchen Design Contest judge Patti Weaver of Creative Design Solutions.

Sustainable, Second Life Integration — There is a budding trend towards integrating second-life pieces, whether antique, vintage or classic, to provide personal elements of designs. “Designers have an appreciation for timeless art pieces as a focal point. Repurposing historical furniture is a stylish form of recycling,” said judge Kristen Totah of Studio K Kitchens and Design. “Designers are rebelling against look-alikes and opting for original pieces to create eclectic spaces.”

Light and Dark Duality — Kitchens are seeking sophistication and balance by contrasting light and dark materials — bright cabinets and bold, black flooring, or deep, espresso cabinets and glowing, marble flooring. “It’s the idea that black and white go with everything and accessories should pop against the background,” said judge Jamie Drake of Drake Design Associates.

Simple, Clean Lines — There is considerable focus on clean lines, simple design and attention to detail, versus embellishments and heavy adornments. The “zen” kitchen is apparent. KDC judge John C. Senhauser notes “many of these kitchens are taking on the minimalist approach versus the old world, traditional styles. Homeowners want to simplify their lives, especially in the kitchen, which is often the center of the home.”

Eco-savvy Kitchens — From bamboo countertops to earth-friendly flooring, designers are integrating environmentally sustainable materials and energy-saving appliances into their kitchens. “Consumers increasingly want to embrace a green home and this trend translates easily into fresh kitchen design,” said KDC judge Barbara Houston of Houston & Associates.

In addition, contest judges noted timeless trends that continue to demonstrate exceptional design influence and consistency, such as traditional style and white materials. Appliance integration, which began in the 1990s, was also a prevalent component as designers focused on meticulous planning with each product.

Sub-Zero and Wolf will announce the next Kitchen Design Contest in June 2008.

  A regional winner list is attached.

  About Sub-Zero and Wolf

Sub-Zero, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of luxury refrigeration and freezer units and wine storage units for residential use. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is a privately held, family-owned company in its third generation of ownership. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., Sub-Zero, Inc. also operates a manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Ariz., and employs more than 1,300 employees. Wolf Appliance, Inc. is the premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills in the country. It offers ventilation products and microwaves to complement its line. Since its inception more than 75 years ago, the company was the first to introduce the snap-action griddle and the Therm-O-Ray infrared griddle. Wolf was also among the first to introduce the convection oven into the market, and its red knobs are now famous. Since March 2000, the company has been an affiliate of Sub-Zero, Inc., and it employs more than 450 people. It is based in a state-of-the-art production facility in Fitchburg, Wi s.

  North American Regional Finalists Are:

  Arizona        Mark Ryan, Mark Ryan Studio, Phoenix

  California     Debbie Nassetta & Tawnya Coleman, Roomscapes, Inc., Laguna

                 Niguel

                 Roberta Wahl/Stacy Eisenmann, PLUM Architects/Virtue +

                 Eisenmann Collaborative Architecture, San Francisco

  Canada         Robert M. Ledingham & Frank Ranieri, Ledingham Design

                 Consultants, Vancouver, BC

                 Friedemann Weinhardt, Design First Interiors, Ottawa,

                 Ontario

  Colorado       Debra Toney, Debra Toney Residential Design and

                 Development, Denver

  Connecticut    Vincent Cappello, Putnam Kitchens, Cos Cob

                 Lindy Weaver, Lindy Weaver Design Associates LLC, Cos Cob

  Florida        Joan DesCombes, Architectural Artworks, Inc., Winter Park

                 Richard F. Geary, Geary Design, Inc., Naples

  Georgia        Todd Pritchett & Craig Dixon, Todd Pritchett Design Studio,

                 Inc., Atlanta

  Hawaii         Michael L. Smith, Kitchen Concepts Plus, Inc., Honolulu

  Illinois       Doug Durbin, nuHaus, Highland Park

                 Robert J. Neylan, Robert J. Neylan Architects, Ltd.,

                 Chicago

  Louisiana      R. Stephen Chauvin, Arkhitekton, Inc., Metairie

  Maryland       Jennifer Gilmer, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath Ltd., Chevy

                 Chase

                 Jonas Carnemark, Carnemark Systems & Design, Inc., Bethesda

  Massachusetts  Jennifer Flores, Kitchen Living, Boston

  Mexico         Mauricio Rodriguez, Cocinas Irlo, Leon, Guanajuato

  Michigan       Jodi Caden, Caden Design Group, Birmingham

  Minnesota      David Heide, David Heide Design Studio, Minneapolis

  Missouri       Chris Novak Berry, brooksBerry Kitchens and Baths, St.

                 Louis

                 Cherie Brown, Kitchens by Kleweno, Kansas City

  New Jersey     Jim Dove, Canterbury Design, Morristown

                 Anthony Albert Passanante, Peter Salerno, Inc., Wyckoff

  New Mexico     Jeanne’ Sei, Kitchens by Jeanne’, Santa Fe

  New York       Katherine Chia, Desai Chia Architecture PC, New York

                 Doug Holt, Professional Kitchen Design Group, Buffalo

                 J. Douglas Peix & Steven J. Marchetti, Peix & Marchetti,

                 New York

                 Peter Tow, Tow Studios, Architecture, New York

  North Carolina Kent Lineberger, Kent Lineberger Architecture with Donlon

                 Merrell Designs, Charlotte

  Ohio           Kimball Derrick, The Kitchen Design Studio, Cincinnati

                 Jennifer Diehl,  Design Classics, Toledo

  Oregon         Kirsti Wolfe, Kirsti Wolfe Designs, Bend

  Pennsylvania   Ellyn Barr, Francine Besselaar and Canan Akyuz, Architects,

                 Doylestown

                 Ian G. Cairl, Platinum Designs, Blakeslee

                 Bill Kolano and Brigette Pavlik, Kolano Design/Brigette

                 Pavlik Interior Design, Pittsburgh

  South Carolina Linda H. McLain & Gina Villano, Signature Kitchens and

                 Baths of Charleston, Inc., Charleston

  Tennessee      David Law, Law & Hicks Millwork, Maryville

  Texas          Sherry Hayslip, Hayslip Design Associates, Dallas

                 Abby and Ron Smith, & Helene Terry, Quorum Design &

                 Construction/Capital Distributors, Dallas

                 Marlys Tokerud, Tokerud & Co., Houston

  Utah           David Berkowitz, Chefs Ingredients, Inc., Park City

  Wisconsin      Lesley Hayman Sager, Architectural Building Arts, Madison

  Virginia       W. Brian Pilgrim & Marvin Daniel, KDW Home, Richmond
   Contact:      Carolyn Sutton

                 Richards Partners

                 Office: 214-891-4104

                 Cell: 214-454-9214

                 carolyn_sutton@richards.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Sub-Zero, Inc.; Wolf Appliance, Inc.

CONTACT: Carolyn Sutton of Richards Partners, +1-214-891-4104, cell,
+1-214-454-9214, carolyn_sutton@richards.com, for Sub-Zero, Inc.|Wolf
Appliance, Inc.; or Paul Leuthe of Sub-Zero, Inc.|Wolf Appliance, Inc.,
+1-608-270-3273, paul.leuthe@subzero.com