Download the application and rules here.

Submission Deadline: 17-10-2008

This year, Electrolux challenges members of the architecture & design community to present innovative, thoughtful concepts of a kitchen that meets the changing needs of today’s modern family for a chance to win up to $75,000 in cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will also receive national exposure in Interior Design magazine.

To enter, submit a rendering of a kitchen design for a modern family, using Electrolux ICON™ appliances as your inspiration.

Requirements
- Kitchen design must be 20’ x 30’ in dimension
- Rendering must include a minimum of five Electrolux ICONTM appliances
- Budget is limited to $100,000, including all materials required for installation
- Entry is exclusive to this competition and may not be submitted to other contests

Prizes
- 1st Place
$50,000 cash + Electrolux ICONTM appliances worth
$25,000 and a featured spread in the July 2009 issue of
Interior Design®
- 2nd Place
Electrolux ICONTM appliances worth $25,000
- 3rd Place
Electrolux ICONTM appliances worth $10,000

Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged by our esteemed panel on the following criteria:
- How thoughtfully and boldly the kitchen meets the needs of the modern family
- Visual appeal
- Creativity
- Elements and principles of kitchen design
- Innovative integration of appliances

• The most stupid piece of eco-friendly furniture
•  Contemporary Kitchen in Bamboo
• Modern Wooden Sink Made in Stone Rain : Ebony

and plenty more.

If you’re interested send us a note at sammy at supernaturalagency dot com. Tell us a little bit about your project, where it stands, your design approach, budget range, etc. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

*There’s a movement afoot to turn the word ‘dyson’ into a replacement for the word ‘cool’, as in Dyson (vacuum cleaner) sucks- opposite of which is doesn’t suck= cool. Whatever.

Feng Shui is taken very seriously in China, so seriously that buildings designed by Westerners that don’t follow its rules will not get any tenants. The principles of Feng Shui ensure that your kitchen will be a healthy place. The use of light, flowing water, reflections, eliminating obstructions and other principles make good design sense whether you believe in the process or not.

Locating the kitchen in the house floor plan:

“In any case, it’s better if you don’t see the kitchen immediately upon entering the house, as this can portend digestive, nutritional and eating problems. Having the kitchen at the entry point can also mean that guests will come over and eat and then leave immediately, and such a placement can also encourage the inhabitants to eat all the time.”

On the layout:

“Looking at the kitchen itself, it’s very important for the cook to be in a “commanding position” when at the stove — that is, facing the door and not with her back to the door when cooking. Renovating a kitchen so this is achieved can be particularly challenging as many modern kitchens have the range facing the wall. “ 

The article goes into much more detail and is full of common sense ideas. Sometimes, when designing kitchens, we fall into ‘design habits’ and repeat ourselves. Thinking about the process from a Feng Shui point of view can ensure your design is unique and functional.

Be sure to bookmark it as we are just beginning to add Photo Galleries, expanded Resource Sections and more.

Visit: www.KitchenDesignInsights.com