Practical Magic - Ku'u Home Magazine

Kitchen and bath designers bring out the best in your home’s most-used spaces

By: Ku‘u Home Magazine

Sep 1, 2026

Cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, sinks, appliances, floors — such common kitchen and bath elements are often taken for granted during our daily routines. The right industry pros, however, can create the perfect combination of these details to take the feel and functionality of your spaces to the next level.

In honor of National Kitchen & Bath Month in October, board members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Aloha Chapter share insights on the specialized kitchen and bath design field.

Responses below from NKBA Aloha Board President Cris Johnson of cabinet fabricator Hawai‘i Kitchen & Bath, Secretary-Treasurer Pamela O’Donnell of Coastal Creative Designs and Membership Chair LJ Cornel of Plus Interiors and 808Designs are edited for clarity and length.

A bathroom designed by Pamela O’Donnell incorporates natural elements for health and wellness. Photo by Brycen Mamiya Courtesy Coastal Creative Designs

Ku‘u Home: What qualifications and certifications should you look for in a good kitchen and bath designer?

Pamela O’Donnell: Years of experience in kitchen and bath design. A certification such as CKBD (Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer) from the NKBA is highly recommended, along with a strong portfolio and references, knowledge of design guidelines, space planning and materials, as well [as] understanding plumbing, electrical and construction.

Cris Johnson: In addition to what Pam mentioned, safety plays a big role in space planning. Designers with a knowledge of current building codes and living-in-place guidelines can create aesthetically pleasing kitchens and baths while maintaining proper clearances for appliances, walkways, [and] heights of finished cabinetry and countertops for accessibility.

Custom storage is the focus of this kitchen design by LJ Cornel for Plus Interiors. Photo courtesy Plus Interiors

Another Plus Interiors kitchen design by LJ Cornel features clean cabinetry and complementary lighting. Photos courtesy Plus Interiors

KH: When should you reach out to a kitchen and bath designer versus an interior designer, contractor or architect?

LJ Cornel: The best time to reach out to a kitchen and bath designer is at the very beginning of a remodeling project, before selecting materials or starting construction. A kitchen and bath designer specializes in the layout, functionality, storage solutions, lighting and product selections that make these spaces work efficiently every day. Interior designers often focus on the overall look and furnishings of a home, contractors handle the construction, and architects are essential when structural changes or additions are involved.

Cabinetry by Hawai‘i Kitchen & Bath shines in this Mililani renovation by Open Concept Designs. Photos by Mason Golden, Courtesy Open Concept Designs

KH: What do you find most gratifying in the design process for each project?

PO: For me [it’s] achieving [the homeowner’s] dreams with designing their new kitchen or bath and doing my job successfully, allowing my clients to rely on me and take the weight off them from beginning to end.

CJ: When a homeowner comes to me for their cabinetry needs, we really talk about the function of the kitchen, the reality of their wish lists and the overall aesthetics. But then I learn more about how it’s being planned as the gathering space for family, homework and craft space for the kids, or generational living. It turns into more than just cabinetry. … I’ve become an actual part of the process and not just a stranger providing a service or product.

LC: What I enjoy most about kitchen and bath design is helping clients transform spaces they use every single day into rooms that truly improve their quality of life. Every family has different needs, habits and priorities, so no two projects are ever the same. … Knowing that a thoughtful design can make everyday routines easier, more comfortable and more enjoyable is what has kept me passionate about this work for over two decades.

A vintage Mānoa home gets a modern kitchen makeover by LJ Cornel. Photo courtesy LJ Cornel

How does NKBA support Hawai‘i’s kitchen and bath designers, and what resources does it provide for local remodels?

PO: Knowledge is key and we are constantly being introduced to what is new on the market as well as being educated in this industry. We have webinars offered nationwide to all our members and we provide CEUs [Continuing Education Units] with our local chapter to keep our members informed.

CJ: The NKBA Aloha Chapter was first established as a way for the design community to gather and exchange ideas, collaborate on projects and benefit from each other’s experiences while promoting excellent design. … The NKBA as a whole provides designers and other members with continuing education and trade shows like the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show to showcase and unveil new products, materials and knowledge that we bring back to our customers. We are able to bring fresh ideas and products to the homeowners and share these ideas with their contractors as well. In the end, it’s a collaborative effort between all parties — designer, contractor, architect — to create a functional and beautiful space for the homeowners.

This story appears in the September/October 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.