Adrie Nash spent weeks looking for the perfect inspiration for her submission for the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) student design competition. She searched Pinterest, she flipped through design magazines and she waited for inspiration to strike.

In the end, it came from a pair of shoes — a pair of leopard print Adidas Sambas she’d been eyeing. When she came across a leopard-print mosaic tile, the ideas just started flowing. The resulting kitchen design would eventually earn this Lakeland College interior design technology (IDT) graduate first place in the 2026 NKBA competition.

“I really wanted my design to be fun, so it honestly ended up being the perfect inspiration,” Nash says. “All the colours from the shoe were incorporated into my design somewhere.

“And yes,” she adds. “I do own the shoes now.”

Though the design came together easily once inspiration struck, Nash’s confidence didn’t follow quite as easily. That made learning that she’d placed first in the international competition even more meaningful.

“I kept questioning my design throughout the process,” Nash confesses. “I couldn’t believe my design had won. But now I know not to doubt my abilities. I’m truly so proud of myself.”

Destined to design

The Class of 2026 IDT alumna from White City, Sask., has always been creative and developed a love of design when she was young. After deciding to pursue a career in it, she spoke with some Lakeland alumni who worked at the studio her aunt owns, and they all recommended she apply to Lakeland.

“After hearing about their experiences with the program, I knew immediately that it was where I wanted to go,” Nash says, adding that she was attracted to the smaller class sizes and hands-on learning opportunities promised in the program.

“I absolutely loved it. With the small class sizes, we all became so close. It really felt like a home away from home,” she says. “The instructors are amazing and really know what they’re doing. I couldn’t have asked for anywhere better to help me start my design journey.”

While Lakeland became a home away from home, the program took Nash around the region and country as well, with various field trips and site measures to work on several projects using real buildings in the area and then trips to Calgary and Toronto for design shows.

Now, as part of the prize package for placing in the NKBA competition, Nash is destined for Las Vegas for the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in 2027. There, she’ll meet up with her classmate Tianna Harms, who placed third in the competition, to receive their awards and take in the conference.

“It’s an experience I dreamed I’d be able to have one day,” Nash says. “I am so excited to be given the opportunity to go. I cannot wait to learn, explore and connect with people from all over the industry.”

This is the 21st year that a Lakeland student has placed in the NKBA design competition, with Lakeland students winning over $118,000 USD in scholarships. For placing first, in addition to her trip to Las Vegas for KBIS this February, Nash also won a $5,000 USD scholarship and her winning design will be featured in Kitchen and Bath Business magazine.

While she waits for her trip to KBIS, Nash is staying busy, working as a cabinet designer with Madera Kitchen and Bath.

 

Photos: Top - Adrie Nash. Middle - Her inspirational pair of shoes. Bottom - Her award-winning design.