KEARNEY — An award-winning interior designer in Kearney loves a challenge.

Cindy Fahrenbruch, a certified kitchen designer, won an award for her design of a kitchen and family room in the home of Jim and Marsha Fairbanks of Shelton.

Fahrenbruch won the “Best Ever” Contest of the Nebraska/Kansas National Kitchen and Bath Association Chapter for her entry in the Best Before & After Category.

Fahrenbruch, who owns Artistic Cabinetry of Kearney and Loomis, has 19 years of experience in kitchen and bath design.

She said a favorite part of her job is turning a client’s dream and vision into a reality. 

“I love to be given a challenge and succeed in accomplishing a solution, and to work with great clients and contractors,” she said.

She also enjoys building friendships with her clients and collaborators.

Fahrenbruch enjoys the process of getting a feel for her client’s style.

“It takes frequent meetings with a client, getting to know their personal tastes, lifestyle,” she said. “Especially earning their trust before settling on a design.  You need to train yourself to be a great listener to have a success story at the end of any project.”

She said the Fairbanks’ design was a challenge.

“Almost every remodeling project has challenges that you are faced with before settling on a final design,” she said. “With the Fairbanks’ remodel, there were many challenges that we were faced with.”

Those challenges included how to use the existing fireplace without changing the brick face, yet blend the dated structure into its surrounding area.

Fahrenbruch said it is an honor to be selected as the winner of a design competition for the Fairbanks’ kitchen.

“A lot of hard work goes into submitting a project for a competition,” she said. “It is nice to be recognized for being one of the best. What I am the most proud of, is that together with the client, lighting specialists and contractors we have created a space that we can all be proud of. Any project of this type is truly a team effort for everyone that is involved.”

• By KEVIN HERVERT / Hub Staff Writer