darren james – The Interiors Addict

Darren James wins top kitchen design award second year running

Queensland-based designer Darren James took out the top prize at the recent Annual KBDi (Kitchen Bathroom Designers Institute) Designer Awards, for the second year running.

Darren’s Panorama project

Initially winning the ‘Designer – Medium Kitchens QLD’ award, Darren returned to the stage later in the evening to accept the esteemed title of KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the Year 2015. A celebration of Australia’s best kitchen and bathroom designers, Darren will be packing his bags for the celebrated design fair, Milan’s Salone del Mobile (including EuroCucina), as part of the win.

“We are really starting to see designers push the boundaries when it comes to kitchen and bathroom design here in Australia. More and more interior designers are recognising the very focused skill set kitchen and bathroom design requires and we are seeing more studios offering this as a specialised service,” says Darren.

Using only the best craftspeople, Darren has a refined eye for functional yet beautiful spaces. With a career that began in timber joinery for luxury boats, Darren quickly moved to kitchen and bathroom design – his intelligent and beautiful design solutions were easily transferrable. Initially self-taught, Darren has since completed formal design studies.

Presenting two projects, as part of the competition, the refined simplicity of the Panorama project saw the clients’ design brief satisfied with aplomb. Their pokey kitchen was transformed into an open-plan, light-filled room with oak timber cladding and white gloss detail – the 1.75 metre utility cupboard takes centre stage. “The utility cupboard is perfectly concealed via an automatic lift mechanism that was imported form the USA. It ensures a large span opening and allows the door to be pocketed away and completely seamless when closed,” says Darren.

Almost diametrically opposed in terms of design, the Hollywood Regency project saw a major renovation of a classic Queenslander, with the kitchen as the focal point of the home.

Darren’s Hollywood Regency project

“The home was in need of a major update. The interior layout of a traditional Queenslander typically lacks the easy, free flowing open spaces that our modern lifestyle craves,” says Darren who employed a contemporary, monochromatic colour scheme. “A rich palette of materials and finishes were carefully selected to ensure the kitchen exudes sophistication, confidence and luxury,” says Darren.

Interiors by Darren James

Brisbane designer Darren James has much to celebrate after winning a swag of awards at a gala event in Brisbane last week.

Darren's Draper project — Darren’s Draper project

The Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute (KBDi) celebrated the ‘inspiration, innovation and imagination’ of Australia’s finest kitchen and bathroom designers. Darren will be packing his bags for a trip to IMM Living Kitchens fair in Cologne and Maison & Objet in Paris in January, as part of his reward for securing the national title of KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the Year 2014.

Darren, of Darren James Interiors, accepted the award at the end of a very successful evening, having already collected trophies for Large Kitchens QLD and Kitchen Designer of the Year QLD.

Darren presented two projects. In the first, the clients wanted the kitchen to be the visual centrepiece for the living area, and a space where they could cook, eat and entertain. In the second, the clients dreamed of a gourmet kitchen that would accommodate their intense love for cooking and reflect the beautiful surroundings of their acreage property.

Darren's New Farm project — Darren’s New Farm project

The kitchen awards were sponsored by Designer Training, and the bathroom awards by Pytha 3D CAD Systems. Lincoln Sentry sponsored the award for KBDi Australian Certified Designer of the year.

Darren started his business in 2005 with wife Elissa, who has both a business marketing and interior design background.

On leaving school, he pursued a trade in cabinetmaking and spent a lot of time fitting out the interiors of luxury timber yachts. Moving into design was a natural progression. Starting with kitchens and bathrooms, he soon moved onto designing entire homes.

“I am unapologetic about being initially self-taught, however, over the years I have broadened my design vocabulary by studying various design courses and expanding on the theoretical side to complement my technical knowledge. There is no doubt that my strong technical understanding and personal commitment to my craft has been invaluable when it comes to designing interior architecture and in understanding an object’s functional appeal. I hope that this is demonstrated through the work that I do.”

Interiors by Darren James.