The kitchen remains the centre point of the home, a space where utility meets aesthetic innovation. The Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) recognises and honours the feat of designing a kitchen that balances precision, prestige and purpose. One of the longest-running global competitions, the KDC is now open for entries until 31 January 2026. The 2024–2025 edition invites architects, interior designers and industry professionals to share their most compelling kitchen work for a chance to see it recognised on an international stage.
With entries now open, what better time to showcase some of the past Australian winners. Over the past few years, Australian design has done incredibly well, with accolades going to a slew of the best design talent, including Adrian Amore Architects, Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors, FGR Architects, Mim Design, Adam Kane Architects, Workroom and Spicer Architecture. The collective calibre speaks to Australia’s growing influence in the global design conversation.
Melbourne-based Adrian Amore, who took out first place in the Contemporary Kitchen category in the last contest, reflects on the significance of the award: “To win the Kitchen Design Contest is a huge honour. It was wonderful to receive the validation and recognition from the judges. I am grateful to Sub-Zero and Wolf for their support, and the support they have given our global architecture and interior design community through this competition.”
The KDC has celebrated kitchen design at its highest level for over 30 years. With nearly USD $300,000 in prizes on offer, the contest offers unparalleled visibility and a connection to a community of design leaders. “It has been our great joy and honour to champion the creativity of the global design community through the Kitchen Design Contest,” says Jim Bakke, president and CEO of Sub-Zero Group, Inc., adding, “Contest after contest, we have been continuously inspired by the impressive kitchen designs submitted and the exceptional creators behind them.”
Open to professionals working across architecture, interior and kitchen design, residential construction, and landscaping, the contest requires that submissions feature Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, with projects completed between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. All entries are judged anonymously by a panel of seven globally respected design experts, many of whom are past KDC winners themselves. The judging criteria focuses on both aesthetic and functional excellence. Designs are critiqued not just on how appliances are integrated, but on how the kitchen operates as a holistic space – one that enables, elevates and endures.
The journey culminates in a Winners’ Summit and Gala held in the United States in late 2026, where thirteen Global Winners will be announced. Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to attend the celebration.
For design professionals working in the residential space, the KDC is a rare opportunity. It champions thoughtful detailing, material resolution and spatial choreography – qualities that continue to define exceptional kitchen design in the home.
To enter or find out more, visit www.subzero-wolf.com/contest.
