Diane Fleming Wins Best Kitchen Design at Cornerstone Awards
Diane Fleming, a kitchen designer at our Manchester showroom, won top honors in the “Kitchen Design – New Construction” category at the Cornerstone Awards on January 24, 2023. Diane previously won the award in 2019 & 2020.
About Diane
Diane is a longtime Norfolk Kitchen & Bath designer, currently working in our Manchester, NH showroom. She has a 20+ year background in design & staging, and sees kitchen design as a natural extension of that experience. When asked to give advice for homeowners planning a remodel, she says:
“Be upfront about your budget, don’t be afraid to share your ideas or ask questions – it’s your space, and I’m your resource. It will make for a better experience for you and ultimately create your perfect space.”
The Kitchen Design
This modern farmhouse kitchen design was part of a custom home build in Litchfield, NH, and a great collaborative effort between Diane and the homeowner. The client, having looked around the web for inspiration, had a specific kitchen design in mind for her forever home, but was having trouble achieving the look within her desired budget. Many of the colors and materials she was looking for could only be found in custom cabinet catalogs with high-price tags.
Diane had a few creative ideas to get the client her dream kitchen without breaking the bank. First, she used her expertise to blend two cabinetry lines from different manufacturers, keeping cabinetry costs low without sacrificing appearance or quality. Then, instead of using a copper metal molding to separate the stacked wall cabinets, a unique detail that the client had seen on Pinterest, Diane ordered some matching wood molding that offered a similar look for far less money. Substituting black granite countertops around the perimeter, instead of butcher block, not only saved money but functioned as a lower maintenance choice for the homeowner.
Not your typical farmhouse kitchen, this design offers many upscale features, with an eye-catching, decorative wood hood on a backdrop of luxurious marble tiles, and a contemporary blue island with a black walnut countertop. Diane also included many convenient storage upgrades, including: a two-tier cutlery storage drawer, a spice cabinet drawer near the stove, an island bookshelf, a peg organizer drawer for plates, a pull-out trash cabinet, and a butler’s pantry/beverage area hidden behind a sliding barn door. A tall pantry cabinet offers a smooth transition between the cooking and dining area of the kitchen space. Finished off with decorative crown molding and matching cabinet end-panels, the designer brought the client’s dream kitchen to life.
The New Hampshire Cornerstone Awards
The New Hampshire Cornerstone Awards are an annual presentation by the New Hampshire Home Builders Association, celebrating the best design & remodeling that New Hampshire has to offer. Other award categories include Interior Design, Landscape Design, Bath Remodel, Historic Renovation, Green Design, and People’s Choice. Winners are blindly chosen by a panel of experienced Judges in the remodeling industry.
Work With an Award-Winning Design Team
Diane is just one of several award-winning members of Norfolk Kitchen & Bath’s design team. Skip the big box, design your kitchen or bath with the experts. Schedule a free design consultation today to get started!
Norfolk Kitchen & Bath is New England’s largest family-owned kitchen remodeling company, with 6 showrooms across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. They offer quality home cabinetry, countertops, and hardware, along with free design, home delivery, and remodeling services. Norfolk also offers easy project financing. Schedule a free design consultation today or visit their website to learn more.
