KBB - November/December 2014 - 39

KBIS SPECIAL SECTION

Stephanie Brick, Assoc. AIA, LEED GA, Nicely
Done Kitchens and Baths, Springﬁeld, Va.

Benton's "Best Kitchen" in
the 2013 Lakeland Builders
Assoc. Parade of Homes

accommodating to anyone - whether they are in a wheelchair, using
a stroller or simply needing extra maneuvering space."
Benton was awarded "Best Kitchen" in the 2013 Lakeland Builders
Association Parade of Homes. She and her team were tasked to
custom design the kitchen for the clients' weekend lake house.
"With such a stunning natural backdrop, we knew everything had
to be centered on complementing the view," she said. "We installed
traditional white inset cabinetry with granite countertops, which
incorporated unique glass cabinetry designs allowing for an inﬂux of
natural light and peeks of the lake. The only part of the kitchen more
eye catching than the view is the beautiful iridescent backsplash on
the curved wall, which reﬂects the light from the lake."
As the lead cabinet designer for her company, Benton spearheads
the selection of the cabinetry, built-ins, closets, ﬁreplaces and any
other custom component of the home that may need her expertise.
She developed an interest in cabinetry during her ﬁrst interior design
class in college.
"While I am able to exude my creative energy into each design,
there is also the technical side where every fraction of an inch matters,"
she said. "I love working hand-in-hand with my clients to ensure each
cabinet design reﬂects the style and personalities of their lifestyle and
home. Turning their dreams into realities is the best part of my job."
As part of the 30 Under 30 program, Benton - as a new mom -
hopes to bring an understanding of what parents need out of design
to make their lives more manageable and functional, as well as a
unique perspective - both professionally and personally.
"Working for a high-end home builder, my professional experiences
are far different from those working in most kitchen and bath
showrooms," she added. "Our relationships with clients are equally as
important as our design and building work. We work hand-in-hand
with them from the beginning stages of cabinet design, through the
building of their home and until the day they move into their homes."

Stephanie Brick was the ﬁrst student at Penn
State to become LEED accredited. She said she
went out of her way to achieve this because she
strongly believes in and supports sustainable
building efforts in the industry.
"I think it's important that buildings - regardless of their scale -
respond to their context and the environment (both built and natural)
around them," she added. "We should do what we can to work with
nature to enhance designs and energy efﬁciency. It's a win-win!" In the
kitchen and bath industry, the easiest way to apply this knowledge is
often through green materials.
Earlier this year, she was granted a U.S. Patent for her innovative
and elegant modular shelving unit, which she designed for ease of
transport, self-sustaining construction and knock-down assembly. She
developed the design of the unit in college when she was in need of
additional storage for books and supplies.
"To meet my living needs and less wasteful philosophy, I decided
to develop my own shelving unit," said Brick. "It's really an ideal
furniture piece, especially for college students, the military and
young professionals - anyone who can use storage that looks sleek
and contemporary but is easy to transport from one place to another
as needed."
In terms of the 30 Under 30 program, she is excited to broaden her
perspective and engage with other driven professionals in the kitchen
and bath industry.
"Talking with and learning from other successful professionals in
the industry is always enlightening, especially when you have a huge,
national industry draw like KBIS (which I'm excited for in and of itself),"
she added. "30 Under 30 is a wonderful opportunity to grow and
develop as a professional and network with other industry movers and
shakers. It will be such an exciting experience, and I look forward to
taking everything I learn back to my colleagues and clients!"

Brick's patented shelving unit

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KBB - November/December 2014

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