We are honored to present the annual Home & Design Excellence Awards. Showcasing the depth and breadth of talent in DC, Maryland and Virginia, this juried competition recognizes outstanding work in residential architecture, interior design, custom-building, kitchen and bath design, landscape design and remodeling. Congratulations to the winners, chosen from 258 entries. They are listed here and further spotlighted in corresponding sections of the Idea Book.
WINNERS
BUILT TO PERFECTION
 | Grand Award
Contemporary Architecture (tie-shown)Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architectand Muse | Kirwan Architects | Merit AwardContemporary ArchitectureMODE4 Architecture, PLLC |
| Grand AwardTraditional ArchitectureKimmel Studio ArchitectsRead More... | Merit AwardTraditional ArchitectureHammond WilsonRead More... |
| Grand AwardCustom Build: Whole House, New ConstructionPyramid BuildersRead More... | Merit AwardCustom Build: Whole House, New ConstructionSandy Spring BuildersRead More... |
| Grand AwardCustom Build: Whole House, RenovationMODE4 Architecture, PLLCRead More... | Merit AwardCustom Build: Whole House, RenovationMPR ArchitectureRead More... |
DREAM KITCHENS & BATHS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
| Grand AwardMore Than One AcrePristine AcresRead More... | Merit AwardMore Than One AcreCampion Hruby Landscape ArchitectsRead More... |
| Grand AwardLess Than One AcreRichardson & Associates Landscape ArchitectureRead More... | Merit AwardLess Than One AcreRichardson & Associates Landscape ArchitectureRead More... |
| Grand AwardOne-Quarter Acre Or LessBob Jackson Landscapes, Inc.Read More... | Merit AwardOne-Quarter Acre Or LessPristine AcresRead More... |
INSPIRING INTERIORS
READY, SET, REMODEL
| Grand AwardInterior RenovationFowlkes StudioRead More... | Merit AwardInterior RenovationPyramid BuildersRead More... |
| Grand AwardExterior MakeoverRobert M. Gurney, FAIA ArchitectRead More... | Merit AwardExterior MakeoverPremier Home CenterRead More... |
THE JUDGES
Three expert panels judged the 2026 Home & Design Excellence Awards. Many thanks to our esteemed local jurists, listed below:
Architects (Architecture, Custom Build, Remodel)
| Sarah Armstrong, AIA, is an award-winning architect and principal/owner of Studio 360 LLC, a boutique architecture firm specializing in custom residential design and interiors. She earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Virginia Tech and is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, DC. Sarah is also a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. |
| Gregory Wiedemann, FAIA, is principal of Wiedemann Architects, with offices in Bethesda and Easton, Maryland. A former professor of architecture at the University of Maryland, he earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics, urban planning and civil engineering from Tufts University, and a master of architecture from Harvard. In 2021, he was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. |
| Christian Zapatka, AIA, is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. After completing his professional degree in architecture at Princeton, he apprenticed with Michael Graves, winning the Rome Prize in Architecture. In addition to teaching, Zapatka was awarded the John Russell Pope Award for urban planning in 2025. His forthcoming monograph will cover 25 years of independent professional practice. |
Interior Designers (Interiors, Kitchen & Bath)
| Todd Howard Ezrin, ASID, brings decades of experience leading residential, multifamily and commercial projects to his work at TOBE DesignGroup. By uniting clients, consultants and contractors around a shared vision, he transforms design challenges into successful outcomes. Todd holds degrees in interior design from Marymount University and business management from Ithaca College. He is NCIDQ- and LEED-certified. |
| Ann Gottlieb delivers bespoke interior design services for luxury spaces, specializing in crafting personalized and curated environments that reflect each client’s lifestyle. Ann holds a B.S. in interior design from Virginia Tech and is NCIDQ- and LEED-certified. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and she was named one of eight designers to know in the DC area by Architectural Digest. |
| Patrick Sutton is an internationally recognized interior designer celebrated for creating residences and hospitality spaces that are as personal as they are beautiful. With studios in Baltimore and Palm Beach, he approaches each project as a story, translating his clients’ dreams into timeless, bespoke interiors. His books, Storied Interiors and Tailored Interiors, offer a glimpse into this carefully considered design process. |
Landscape Architects (Landscape)
| Matthew Gryskevich is the director of sales and design at Wheat’s Landscape based in Vienna, Virginia. A summa cum laude graduate of West Virginia University with a degree in landscape architecture, Matt has built a career around his passion for thoughtful landscape design, exceptional outdoor spaces and developing talented professionals through mentorship and leadership within the industry. |
| J.R. Peter, PLA, is a landscape architect and the owner and managing principal of Colao & Peter Luxury Outdoor Living, a Northern Virginia design-build firm specializing in high-end residential landscapes. With over 25 years of experience, he has designed outdoor environments throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, helping Colao & Peter earn more than 50 industry awards for excellence. |
| Clare Siegel, founder and owner of Land Art Design, has spent the past 41 years transforming outdoor spaces into timeless works of art. Shortly after graduating from George Washington University, she established her firm with a clear vision: to turn ideas into beautifully crafted outdoor spaces. A lifelong love of nature inspires her to create environments that people truly enjoy, are visually striking and highly functional. |
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