Celebrating Diane Magee’s KBSA 2025 Shortlist
The excitement is building at John Willox Kitchen Design as the KBSA Designer Awards 2025 draw near. Among the year’s most inspiring design talents, Diane Magee has earned a coveted spot on the shortlist for Kitchen Designer of the Year (£25k–£50k), an honour that reflects both creativity and dedication. While the KBSA judging panel will ultimately choose the winner, Diane’s work already feels like a triumph worth celebrating. Her shortlisted project shows what happens when bold vision meets meticulous craftsmanship.
A Design with Drama and Warmth
Diane’s clients envisioned a luxurious black kitchen that would be both dramatic and family-friendly. The brief called for something striking yet welcoming, integrating existing flooring and managing the challenge of an expansive eight-metre-wide room.
Rather than seeing the flooring as a limitation, Diane treated it as an opportunity. She introduced a large L-shaped island that cleverly concealed a floor joint and instantly became the heart of the home. A place equally suited to cooking and conversation. Between two seamless worktop pieces, she incorporated a built-in herb garden, ensuring fresh ingredients are always within reach and infusing the space with natural vitality.
Layers of Texture and Light
The kitchen’s black cabinetry provides a dramatic base, but Diane avoided any sense of heaviness. A bronze mirror-clad back wall and oak shelving bring warmth and depth, while a copper sink and tap echo subtle copper veining that runs through the polished worktops. Carefully placed warm under-shelf lighting completes the picture, creating intimate pockets of glow and highlighting carefully chosen décor.
This balance of texture, light and thoughtful details shows Diane’s instinct for making a statement without sacrificing comfort or function. Every feature feels intentional, from the material palette to the way the space invites family life.
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Being shortlisted for a national design award is no small feat. It recognises months of dialogue with clients, precise planning and creative problem-solving. Diane’s project proves that great design is about more than aesthetics; it’s about understanding how people live and turning those needs into something extraordinary.
As we await the KBSA team’s decision, one thing is already certain: Diane’s achievement stands as a win in itself. Her work captures the spirit of innovation and attention to detail that defines John Willox Kitchen Design and continues to inspire our whole team.
Congratulations, Diane. Your talent and passion shine through every element of this project.
Whether or not the final award is hers, this kitchen is already a masterpiece that sets a new benchmark for modern family living.
Visit Us to Start Designing Your Dream Kitchen!
Inspired by Diane’s design? Come see these features (and so much more) in action at our showroom in Ellon. From clever storage solutions to the latest kitchen technology, we’ll help you create a space you’ll never want to leave. Pop in for a chat, explore our displays and let’s make your dream kitchen a reality.
