by Kara Kavensky | photos by Michael Green Photography and photo of The Propylaeum from their website
Students Walk Through History to Design for the Future with the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Student Design Competition
Earlier this year, the Indiana chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) hosted a special edition of their Student Design Competition. The challenge for design students from Indiana colleges and universities focused on the historic preservation of an apartment inside the Carriage House of The Indianapolis Propylaeum.
The Indianapolis Propylaeum at 1410 N. Delaware in Indianapolis’ Old North Side is a storied building with an iconic architectural structure. Both the main house and its Carriage House are on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact, the Carriage House is the original location of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The Propylaeum was founded by suffragist May Wright Sewall in 1888. Sewall’s other significant civic work included founding the Indianapolis Woman’s Club (est. 1875), the Art Association of Indianapolis (est. 1883 and known today as the Indianapolis Museum of Art / Newfields), and the John Herron Art Institute (est. 1895 and now named Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Indianapolis).
Susan Benedict served as chairperson of the Student Design Competition. Benedict is a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and principal of Design Alternatives Kitchen & Bath Design and Consulting company in Lafayette, Indiana. She selected The Carriage House apartment project to provide students with real-world experience, blending historical preservation with modern functionality.
“The Propylaeum wanted an attractive, livable space for future tenants,” says Benedict, a past president of NKBA Indiana. “The winning designs met the criteria, and our judges were very impressed with the array of submissions, which showcases talent, imagination, and inspiration.”
The awards event was all about making connections. Students, professors, judges, professionals, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the students and to network. Participating schools included Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, and Purdue University Indianapolis.
The Student Design Competition served as a full-circle moment for NKBA Indiana Chapter President Jessica Bostic: she won the competition herself when she was a student.
“Mentorship is vital to growing our industry,” says Bostic, Principal and Interior Designer with Luxe Designs. “We encourage students to attend our meetings and get to know our community so they can get internships and stay local. This educational opportunity, along with the networking with professionals, greatly inspired and influenced my budding career, and I hope it serves the same purpose for our students today.”
Many of the students toured The Propylaeum while working on their design project to seek inspiration.
“Specific architectural features, such as the different stained glass windows and all of the unique intricate details, caught my eye and inspired me to incorporate those into my design to connect it to the Propylaeum’s history,” says Kaatje Chesson, winner of Best Kitchen Design. “All of these were great inspirations for me while I was creating my design.”
“During the competition, I was inspired by vintage color palettes, which led me to design a pink bathroom that feels both nostalgic and fresh,” shares Ava Martin, BSU class of 2027, and winner of the Honorable Mention Award. “I embraced the existing elements of the space by keeping the original wall tile and shower placement, while thoughtfully incorporating historic touches throughout.”
