Three Projects from the City Design Family Earn National Recognition
Thoughtful design begins with listening. Every project starts by understanding how our clients live and what they hope to achieve in their homes. It’s an approach that we’re proud to see recognized in the 2026 Kitchen & Bath Design Awards presented by Kitchen & Bath Design News (KBDN). This year’s competition honored three projects from the City Design family, including a Silver Award for City Design Lead Designer Emily Kreber. Two additional projects from our sister company, Drury Design, also received national recognition, reflecting the shared design philosophy and collaborative culture between our two firms.
Silver Award — Best Primary Bathroom Under $75,000 A Mid-Century Primary for Two
City Design Lead Designer Emily Kreber earned the Silver Award in the Best Primary Bathroom Under $75,000 category for A Mid-Century Primary for Two. Working within the existing footprint, Emily transformed an aging bathroom into a bright, highly functional retreat inspired by authentic mid-century modern design. Thoughtful planning, carefully integrated storage and timeless material selections created a space that serves two homeowners beautifully while remaining true to the home’s architectural character.
Emily’s recognition reflects years of design experience and mentorship. Before leading design efforts at City Design, she studied under both Drury Design founder Gail Drury and current owner and Creative Director Gladys Schanstra. Today, she serves on the leadership teams of both companies while helping Iowa homeowners create spaces uniquely tailored to their lives.
Bronze Award — Best Kitchen Over $250,000 The Art of Two Kitchens
A project from City Design’s sister company, Drury Design, also earned national recognition in this year’s competition.
Designed by Owner and Creative Director Gladys Schanstra, The Art of Two Kitchens received the Bronze Award in the Best Kitchen Over $250,000 category. The project combines a dramatic front kitchen with a fully equipped secondary prep kitchen, balancing elegant entertaining with the practical needs of everyday family life.
Finalist — Best Kitchen Over $250,000 Revolutionary Revival
Another Drury Design project, Revolutionary Revival, was named a Finalist in the Best Kitchen Over $250,000 category.
Designed by Senior Designer Samantha Schoell, the kitchen carefully balances the historic character of a Colonial home with the functionality expected of a modern family, creating a space that feels both timeless and entirely livable.
A Shared Commitment to Thoughtful Design
The Kitchen & Bath Design Awards are judged by respected industry professionals from across the country and recognize excellence in design, creativity, functionality, problem-solving and attention to detail. Although City Design and Drury Design serve homeowners in different regions, the two sister companies share the same commitment to client-centered design, careful planning and exceptional craftsmanship. Seeing three projects recognized in this year’s competition is an honor that reflects the talented designers across both organizations—and, most importantly, the wonderful clients who entrusted us with their homes.
We congratulate Emily, Gladys and Samantha on this well-deserved recognition and thank our clients for allowing us to be part of their stories.