House & Home

House & Home - November 2022 — Before & After: A Disjointed Kitchen Becomes A Sunny Yellow Hub
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Cambria Style - Feature — 3 Family-Focused Design Tips from Martin de Sousa
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Reno & Decor - 2025 — Ontario’s Finest in Kitchen + Bath Design
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View Digital Edition →

NKBA

Feature — Ontario Chapter: In the News
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Video — Celebrating Design Excellence: NKBA Ontario Chapter Awards Gala
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2019 — NKBA Design Awards: And the Winner Is…
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Awards & Recognition

Over the past decade, Designström has received more than 30 awards from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Sub-Zero Wolf & Cove, and other leading design organizations. Led by Martin de Sousa and Linnea Lions, our studio creates interiors known for their precision, balance, and refined detail.

2025

Gala: Liberty Grand, Exhibition Place, Toronto — March 29, 2025. kb.nkba.org+2kb.nkba.org+2

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Best Outdoor / Specialty Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Holly Cowieson & Maria Cabada — Concept Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Large Kitchen, 2nd Place

2024

Gala: Palais Royale, Toronto — February 3, 2024. kb.nkba.org+1

• Designstrom & Strom Cabinetry – designed by Martin de Sousa & Michaela Burns — Best Overall, Pinnacle Award

• Designstrom & Strom Cabinetry– designed by Martin de Sousa & Michaela Burns — Large Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom & Strom Cabinetry– designed by Martin de Sousa & Michaela Burns — Best Outdoor / Specialty Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Holly Cowieson — Small Kitchen, 1st Place

2023

Gala: Concord (Vaughan), Ontario — February 25, 2023. (Event listing shows Concord; widely hosted at Universal Eventspace in that area.) kb.nkba.org+2kb.nkba.org+2

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Medium Kitchen, 3rd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Small Kitchen, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Compact Kitchen, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Holly Cowieson & Ligia Deltrejo — Concept Kitchen, 1st Place

2022

Gala: Virtual ceremony (Ontario Chapter 2022 awards presented online). youtube.com+1

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions & Martin de Sousa — Medium Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Best Before & After Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Small Kitchen, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Linnea Lions — Best Traditional Kitchen, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa & Ligia Deltrejo — Concept Kitchen, 1st Place

2020

Gala: Paramount EventSpace, Woodbridge (Vaughan), Ontario — February 8, 2020. kb.nkba.org

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Large Bathroom, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions — Best Before & After Bathroom, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions — Large Bathroom, 2nd Place

2019

Gala: Paramount EventSpace, Woodbridge (Vaughan), Ontario — February 9, 2019. barrosocustomhomes.com

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions — Small Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions — Medium Kitchen, Honourable Mention

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Compact Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Concept Kitchen, 1st Place

2018

Gala: International Centre, Mississauga, Ontario — February 10, 2018. Reno and Decor

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Compact Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Linnea Lions — Powder Room, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Medium Kitchen, 1st Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Small Kitchen, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Large Bathroom, 2nd Place

• Designstrom – designed by Martin de Sousa — Medium Kitchen, 3rd Place

Sub-Zero Wolf Kitchen Design Contest

Gala: Global Awards, San Diego, California — September 2017
Winners’ Summit & Gala at Hotel del Coronado (Coronado Island, San Diego), Sept 24–27, 2017 . v2com Newswire+3Sub-Zero Wolf+3Sub-Zero Wolf+3

• Binns Kitchens – designed by Martin de Sousa — Global Finalist
  https://www.subzero-wolf.com/designers/martin-de-sousa

• Binns Kitchens – designed by Martin de Sousa — Toronto Regional Winner

Judging Appointments

Martin de Sousa, currently serving as a judge for the Sub-Zero Wolf Kitchen Design Contest, brings a wealth of expertise and discerning taste to the competition. With three prior judging stints, he continues to champion innovation and elevate excellence in kitchen design through his insightful evaluations.

• 2024–2025 – Phoenix (Arizona Biltmore) → Announcement: Facebook post Facebook+1

• 2022–2023 – Palm Beach, Florida (The Breakers) → “Summit & Gala took place at The Breakers…” Lifestyle article lifestyle.subzero-wolf.com+2Residential Design+2

• 2022–2023

  Gala: Nashville, Tennessee — October 10, 2022. Residential Design

• 2017–2018

  Gala: Charleston, South Carolina (Belmond Charleston Place) — September 23, 2019. Sub-Zero Wolf+1

View official judges’ page ›