Kitchen & Bath Business September 2021 - 57

PATRICIA DAVIS BROWN, CMKBD
OWNER OF PATRICIA DAVIS BROWN DESIGNS LLC IN VERO BEACH, FLA.
Th is mover and shaker has had quite the banner year, having won industry
awards, served as a judge for other competitions, been named a member
of the Dacor Design Council and was featured in the Sub-Zero/Wolf
Designer Spotlight. Brown's fi rm was hired by a second luxury home
developer - increasing sales by 50% during the pandemic - and she saw
an increase of 90% in income on her Dig Th is Design blog by adding new
vendors and running multiple posts a day.
Th e designer has been mentoring a college student
while working for her design fi rm, which she will join
full time later this year after she graduates. She believes
the younger generations are the best independent
workers, and she said she learns as much from them as
they do from her.
A former NKBA Board member, Brown renovated
her fi rm's website last year with a portfolio of fresh, new
projects and also obtained her CMKBD certifi cation. At KBIS 2022, the
designer will present at the NKBA's VFTI Conference on diversifying
business off erings and creating multiple income streams.
SARAH ROBERTSON, AKBD
" Kitchen renovating is a wasteful process where we
OWNER OF STUDIO DEARBORN IN HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y.
Th e pandemic hasn't slowed down this designer, who has won multiple
awards and has been involved in a variety of speaking engagements, including
the NKBA's recent Luxury Design Summit. In 2020, Robertson
also designed the House Beautiful Whole-Home Concept's kitchen
and pantry.
Th e designer is currently a brand ambassador or consultant for Dacor,
Samsung, California Faucets, Bradco Stainless, Schrocks of Walnut
Creek and Docking Drawer, and she is also on the Renovation Angel
Board of Directors.
are often removing perfectly good cabinetry, fi xtures
and appliances that just don't fit with a homeowners'
tastes, " said Robertson. " Recycling kitchens is the
perfect opportunity to keep a lot of valuable material
out of landfi lls. "
Th e designer is a blogger and social media infl uencer
with huge followings on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest,
and she says her success is about consistency and delivering helpful
and inspiring information. Her Kitchen Confab website will launch later
this year and will serve as a forum for discussing all things kitchen design.
MARKIE TUCKETT
In March 2020, Tuckett created the Stay Golden
OWNER, TIMBER + PLUMB INC., WINDSOR, ONTARIO
When designer Markie Tuckett was named an NKBA Th irty Under 30
recipient in 2020, she knew it was going to change her life and her career.
She says the main thing she learned is that the age-old phrase " community
over competition " is really the truth. Just a short time later, Tuckett
and her design assistant Savannah Mason created their fi rm's blog with a
focus on topics that educate clients, spark creativity and help them prepare
and plan for their renovations.
Grant - an idea borne from the COVID-19 pandemic,
when she became concerned over all those businesses
unable to start because of all the changes it was sure to
bring. Th e $1,000 grant was awarded to the owner of
ZuleEats, a small business in Windsor & Essex County,
which also received a six-month mentorship from
Tuckett to provide resources and guidance for running
a small and/or new business. Th e fi rm will off er the grant again with plans
to service more than just one business. Details to come!
NICHOLAS VANDERHOVEL, CMKBD
OWNER, KITCHEN NV, PINCKNEY, MICH.
After having worked at his family's business for 10 years, this designer
started his own fi rm in the midst of the pandemic. Vanderhovel's mother
- and mentor - started her company at the end of the recession, so he
decided to take a page from her playbook. Now the owner of Kitchen NV,
he says his impetus was the desire to explore his own path.
" As my clientele and my platform grow, I am able to reach more people
and share what I have learned, " said the designer " I don't hesitate to reach
out to other designers who inspire me, and I recommend
others do the same. We all have diff erent skill
sets, knowledge bases and perspectives and add our own
value to the conversation. We can all learn from each
other, and when we do, it improves us as individuals, our
companies and the lives of our clients. "
Vanderhovel is one of the youngest people in the
country to receive his CMKBD and plans to open his
own showroom by the end of 2022.
57
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