Martin Holliday
Top flight kitchen designer Martin Holliday – who heads-up a flourishing Lincolnshire manufacturing company – has been asked to judge a prestigious bi-annual competition, in which he scooped a top award three years ago!
Martin, who founded Saxilby-based Chiselwood with wife Mel more than 31 years ago, is one of seven professionals given the challenging job of deciding the winners of the American KDC Awards – one of the biggest kitchen design names in the world.
Organiser Sub-Zero Wolf Cove has been running the awards for more than 25 years. Along the way, it has celebrated 14,000 designs and promoted the work of 800 design professionals.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to have been invited to join the judging team. It is something special to look forward to during the current Coronavirus lockdown,” said Martin.
“The contest rewards designers whose work highlights the best functional and aesthetic use of Sub-Zero Wolf Cove appliances and kitchen design. It is great because it supports the designers of the future. I got a real buzz when I won the only UK and European award in this competition in 2017. It is so prestigious,” said Martin.
With thousands of online entries to evaluate for the shortlist, Martin is already hard at work, before flying out to Wisconsin early next year to agree the finalists. The 2021 winners will be celebrated at a Summit and Gala in October 2022.
As one of the UK’s premier kitchen design companies, Chiselwood has carved itself a fine reputation. Martin is passionate about what he does and well-respected for the personal attention to detail he brings to every aspect of kitchen design. Everything is lovingly crafted by members of the 15-strong Chiselwood team.
Such is the popularity of this designer’s work, that Martin also turns his hand to creating room sets, bedrooms and bathroom furniture.
“I concentrate solely on making bespoke pieces, tailored to meet an individual client’s needs. I particularly love the opportunity to add colour and texture and mix materials in my drawings, but I am always thinking about my craftspeople and aim to design pieces I would be comfortable making myself,” said Martin.
“Whilst the protracted Coronvarius pandemic continues to cause worries, we are doing everything we can to stick to the rules and to keep everyone in our team safe. Luckily, we won quite a lot of work in the run-up to Christmas, so there is plenty to keep our team busy in our large workshop.”
Never one to rest on his laurels, Martin has recently taken his skills one step further by designing and building six eco-houses, which are due for completion later this year.”
