In January, 2009, the Lehigh Valley Builders Association awarded two First Place prizes to Morris Black Designs.

The LVBA Awards of Excellence are given to builders and remodelers that have demonstrated excellence in execution, craftsmanship, service and quality of their projects. Although Morris Black is known for exquisite high-end projects, they also create many more budget-friendly rooms, as evident by this year's winners.

Suzanne Joseph, ASID, won first place in the "New Home Kitchen up to $50,000" category for a project she designed for Spectrum Home's Tivoli Garden Estates community in Center Valley, PA. Working with a deadline, a strict budget, and clients who wanted a custom cherry kitchen but needed to keep costs reined in, Suzanne created a kitchen with furniture-style cabinetry, open to both the informal dining area and the family room. Suzanne used a moderately priced semi-custom cabinet line and mid-priced stainless steel appliances. Cherry cabinets with a modest raised panel in a Nutmeg glaze and full overlay doors provided the warm, rich look of furniture-quality cabinetry. Details such as double and triple stacked molding, staggered height cabinets, increased depth base cabinets and the use of pilasters and furniture base mouldings added to the custom look.

Dan Lenner, CMKBD, was the designer for a kitchen that won first place in the category "Remodeled Kitchen up to $50,000". The space to be remodeled in this 1960's Cape Cod had outdated cabinetry, a small table for two, and doors to the foyer and to the dining room. The clients wanted to open up the space in some way, and have informal seating for two or three people. Budget concerns dictated that stock cabinetry be used for the project.

Dan visually expanded the space by removing most of the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and created a large opening to the living room. The new opening received a generous sized granite snack bar top, supported on back by matching wood brackets. A pantry cabinet and refrigerator anchor one end of the kitchen, with a wine refrigerator at the other end. The cabinetry on the inside half-wall has three levels, and the range is set diagonally with downdraft ventilation.

Morris Black Designs has also won LVBA awards in every year from 2002 to 2005. Awards from the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) were presented to Morris Black in 2003 and 2001. Morris Black Designs has also won numerous national awards from cabinetry and appliance manufacturers throughout the years. You can put the award-winning Morris Black designers to work for you! Visit our showrooms in Allentown and Bartonsville for ideas, then talk to a Morris Black designer about your project. We love a challenge, and we've proven that great design and beautiful rooms can be created on a budget!