Influencing Innovation with our Design Council
Thoughtful design is one of our founding principles. In order to continue delivering on this promise, we have assembled some of the country's most trusted and talented designers to advise us on the innovative design ideas that keep us ahead of the trends.
Meet our Design Council
Announcing our first-ever Design Council of seasoned kitchen designers. The Signature Kitchen Suite Design Council will advise on future product designs and the features of our built-in kitchen appliances. This group of design professionals also provides a contemporary connection to the ever-changing American luxury home trends.
Nancy Dalton
Nancy founded Baywolf Dalton, Inc. in Seattle over 30 years ago with the belief that thoughtful and innovative design could provide solutions that transform her client’s lives. She has produced a wide range of kitchen and bath projects with sophisticated design and specifications. With a team of talented craftspeople and active project management, she brings the best to her projects. Listening and interacting with her clients to fully understand their needs and esthetic has brought about successful collaboration that reflect her client’s vision. Outside her work she has taught at Seattle College, was the guest host on KOMO radio call-in show “Homefront” and is a volunteer and leader in Rotary.
Linda Engler
Known for her candor, quick wit and signature joie de vivre, Linda is the founder and principal designer of Engler Studio. Using an engaging and highly rewarding process, Linda and her team of designers and project managers collaborate with clients, architects, builders and craftspeople to create singular interiors for new construction and remodeling projects in the Twin Cities and destinations throughout the country. Linda’s work has been published both regionally and nationally, and she has been honored with numerous awards including being named ASID MN Designer of Distinction.
Suzanne Felber
Suzanne has built the Lifestylist brands around three core areas that she is passionate about: great wines, great food, and above all, great design. For over 30 years she has been taking the roads less traveled to keep learning and sharing what it means to be a Lifestylist®. This includes bringing her talents to the Signature Kitchen Suite Experience & Design Center—the rolling pin art was her personal collection. She also is an accomplished writer and a contributor to publications such as Builder Magazine, MHInsider, and CandysDirt.com.
Trisha Gaffney
Trisha is the owner and principal designer of Avenue 52 Designs, a boutique design firm focusing on residential kitchen and bath design. She believes the design process should be a collaboration between the designer and homeowner that emphasizes the functional needs of the space, the aesthetics of the client and the architecture of the home. This philosophy has led her to design several award-winning spaces throughout the Seattle area.
Cheryl Kees Clendenon
Owner, lead designer and saucy critic of the status quo, Cheryl Kees Clendenon, DGD, has been an influential presence in the design industry for over 19 years. Her sharp wit, bold opinions, innovative designs and attention to detail has earned her national recognition in publications and more design awards than any firm on the Gulf Coast. She was recently named one of the top 50 Innovators in the kitchen and bath industry by Kitchen and Bath Design News.
Lynn Knight Jessee
With over 30 years of experience in both commercial and residential design, Lynn’s vision and creative solutions emphasizing both traditional and contemporary kitchens and baths have won her many awards and national publications. She has participated in the Designer's Showcase House in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for 18 years and was awarded the Design Journal's Platinum and Gold ADEX awards for design excellence in kitchen and bath furniture.
Scott Koehler
A lifelong passion for kitchens and tech led Scott to relaunch his kitchen design career, applying the latest technology to his new kitchen business, Dream Kitchen Builders, LLC. In 2014 Scott started doing presentations nationally for the NKBA, SEN Design Group and kitchen industry manufacturers. A frequent contributor to Kitchen & Bath Business magazine, Scott writes about the latest issues at the intersection of tech and kitchens including smart kitchen design, augmented reality, innovation, startups, and mobile apps for the kitchen industry. In 2020, he was also honored as one of the magazine’s “Person of the Year” nominees.
Ariana Lovato
Central Coast of California-based Interior Designer, Ariana Afshar Lovato, has a strong understanding of design and culture to create spaces based on her clients’ passions and inspirations. After earning her degree in Interior Design from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of LaVerne, Ariana gained experience by working for different builders and designers before venturing on her own with Honeycomb Home Design. Ariana serves on the board of Central Coast Interior Designers, is an Associate National Kitchen and Bath Member, and an Allied ASID Member.
Joan Ravasy, ASID, NKBA IFDA
As the former Director of Interior Design for Bloomingdales, Joan advanced to creating her own interiors firm, Joan Ravasy Design LLC, working in NYC, NJ and Florida incorporating affordable luxury for residential and commercial clients, new build, kitchen, bath, additions and repurposed spaces. Joan is a creative designer with a love of all the elements and materials to masterfully execute client-centric baths and kitchens. Exposure to extensive travel, observing new trends and materials are brought to each of her projects to educate and expose clients to the possibilities of going outside their comfort zone.
Sandra Steiner-Houck
As a CKD, NKBA and ASID Allied member, Sandra is recognized as one of the foremost kitchen and bath designers both nationally as well as internationally. Her professional achievements have led to her biographical inclusion in the Marquis Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in The East, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. Her projects have also been published in many national books and magazines such as “The Bathroom Idea Book,” “Women’s Day,” “American Homestyle,” and Kasmar Designer Books.
Nadia Subaran
With over twenty years of experience in custom kitchen design, Nadia is as passionate as ever about the challenges and merits of good design. Nadia enjoys and promotes a collaborative experience, working closely with each homeowner, builder and other design professionals. Nadia also finds teaching very rewarding. While at the Cooper Union, she taught ‘architectonics’ to inner-city high school students in ‘The Saturday Program’ for many years and served as an adjunct professor for a semester at George Washington University’s Interior Design program.
Martha Vega
For over twenty years Martha has been a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) certified by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Martha has been an active participant in NKBA both as a chapter member and as past board member, having held a variety of board positions for the Northern California chapter. She is also an NKBA Merit Award recipient as well as the assistant speaker chair and design judge for the Nor Cal NKBA Student Career Forum.
Alan W. Zielinski, CKD CLIPP
As President and CEO of Better Kitchens, Inc., a design firm serving the Chicago market for six-plus decades, Alan was selected as one of the industry’s top 50 Innovators by Kitchen & Bath Design News magazine. With over 35 years of kitchen and bath experience, he is a talented and creative designer with great technical knowledge. Very active within the NKBA, he has served as National President and member of their Board of Directors. Currently Alan is serving as the 2019 President of the Niles Design District.