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 139 entries; they are listed below and further spotlighted in corresponding sections of this Idea Book.
 | Grand AwardContemporary ArchitectureTravis Price Architects (left) Read More...and Mode4 Architecture Read More... | Merit AwardContemporary ArchitectureMcInturff Architects |
 | Grand AwardTraditional ArchitectureMoore Architects, PC | Merit AwardTraditional ArchitectureMoore Architects, PC |
 | Grand AwardArchitecture, Getaway HomeRobert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect | Merit AwardArchitecture, Getaway HomeGardner Architects LLC |
 | Grand AwardCustom Build, Whole HouseAnthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc. | Merit AwardCustom Build, Whole HouseClassic Homes of Maryland |
 | Grand AwardCustom Build, Special FeatureWinn Design + Build | No AwardMerit AwardCustom Build, Special Feature |
 | Grand AwardKitchen Design | Merit AwardKitchen Design |
 | Grand AwardBath Design | Merit AwardBath Design |
 | Grand AwardMore Than One AcreHorn & Company | Merit AwardMore Than One AcreColao & Peter |
 | Grand AwardLess Than One AcreMoody Graham Landscape Architecture | Merit AwardLess Than One AcreMoody Graham Landscape Architecture |
 | Grand AwardPool ScapePristine Acres | Merit AwardPool ScapeEd Ball Landscape Architecture |
 | Grand AwardWhole House, ContemporaryLocust Grove Studios | Merit AwardWhole House, ContemporaryDrysdale Design Associates |
 | Grand AwardWhole House, TraditionalAligned Design Interiors | Merit AwardWhole House, TraditionalSusan Sutter Interiors |
 | Grand AwardGetaway HomeBarbara Noguera Interiors | Merit AwardGetaway HomePowell Brower Interiors |
 | No AwardGrand AwardOutstanding Room Makeover | Merit AwardOutstanding Room MakeoverKBJ Interiors (left) |
 | Grand AwardSpecialty SpaceBungalow 10 Interiors | Merit AwardSpecialty SpaceAnnapolis Interiors Read More...and Shea Studio Interiors Inc. Read More... |
 | Grand AwardInterior Renovation | Merit AwardInterior Renovation |
 | Grand AwardCurb AppealAmestudio, Inc. | Merit AwardCurb AppealStudio Upwall Architects |
Three expert panels judged the 2024 Home & Design Excellence Awards. Many thanks to our esteemed local jurists, listed below:
Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, founded Purple Cherry Architects, an award-winning residential architecture and interior design firm, more than 30 years ago. Her first book, The Design of a Country Estate, was published in August 2024; it showcases a manor home with eight companion buildings on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. | Donald Lococo, AIA, spearheads Donald Lococo Architects, an award-winning firm that embraces styles ranging from modern to historic. Over the past 30 years, the firm has received more than 80 awards and Lococo’s projects have graced more than a dozen magazine covers. Clients have included a U.S. president as well as designers and lifestyle editors. | Richard Williams, FAIA, founded Richard Williams Architects in 1999. RWA’s work has received local and national awards, and has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Architectural Digest and more. Williams has made the AD100 list and recently served on the Old Georgetown Board of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. |
Arlene Critzos has a B.A. in design from Mount Vernon College and earned decorative arts degrees in England, Holland, Italy and France before founding Interior Concepts, Inc., in 1979. The firm has worked in several countries and has been published locally and nationally. Interior Concepts has appointed the U.S. vice president’s official residence. | Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Proxmire, Inc., designs tailored, traditional interiors that are both pretty and practical—infused with warmth, color and unexpected finds. In her 20-plus-year career—and as a hall of fame designer—Proxmire has participated in 25 show houses. Her work has been widely published locally and nationally. | Skip Sroka, founder of award-winning Sroka Design, has been creating harmonious and gracious interiors for three decades, bringing a strong aesthetic sensibility, technical skill and business savvy to his work. Sroka is a founding board member of Design Trust, Ltd., an organization dedicated to the continuous improvement of the profession. |
Kevin Campion, PLA, ASLA, co-founded Campion Hruby Landscape Architects in 2010. Years of experience working in the Mid-Atlantic region and time studying in Scotland have informed his perspective, which emphasizes landscape conservation. Campion creates award-winning designs that are architecturally appropriate, ecologically balanced and aesthetically beautiful. | Kate Ries, PLA, ASLA, is president of Clinton + Ries Landscape Architects. With 16 years of experience, Ries leads her team in designing and implementing sustainable, practical and sculptural landscapes. The firm embraces a passion for natural systems, art and sociology through designs that exude the creativity of human touch overlaid with the richness of nature. | Michael Prokopchak, ASLA, discovered his passion for landscaping at 13 years old and boasts 25 years’ experience in the industry. His firm, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, has garnered awards for design and installation from the Landscape Contractors Association’s DC, Maryland and Virginia chapter as well as the National Association of Landscape Professionals. |
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After purchasing a newly constructed abode in Arlington, a young couple tapped designer Susan Sutter to carry out their vision for the interiors. “They wanted a traditional yet updated home with a cohesive look,” notes Sutter. “We focused on high-quality materials and classic lines with a tranquil, unifying color scheme.” Integrating motorized window treatments, appliances and entry-lock systems with Google Home was also a priority.
Sutter brought in shades of blue throughout—from the crisp-white kitchen with its light-blue accents to the powder room with textured, tile-look wallpaper. Blue saturates the walls of the cozy library (pictured), where upholstered seating beckons.
Interior Design: Susan Sutter, Susan Sutter Interiors. Builder: BCN Homes. Styling: Gretchen Dimina.
Nestled among pine trees in Bethany Beach, Delaware, a new oceanfront home was conceived to respect historical precedent. It consists of three volumes sporting traditional, gable-framed roofs that are connected by a central hub with glass ends. White cedar shingles that will weather with time, along with reclaimed wood from a local Delaware barn, clad the exterior. A fourth, trellised volume houses a deck where owners and guests can watch the sun set on the western bay.
“The simple and pure forms are designed to respond to the program and site,” explains principal architect Robert Gurney. Large expanses of glass, as well as numerous terraces, forge strong indoor-outdoor connections and maximize ocean views.
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal architect; Claire Andreas, AIA, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Jodi Macklin Interior Design. Landscape Architecture: Topio Landscape Architecture.
Despite its urban location in the heart of Georgetown, a new, modern row house revolves around the path of the sun. In their conception of the four-story abode, architects Travis Price and Kelly Davies Grace embraced passive solar design. Perforated stainless-steel fins screen the home’s façade, preserving views while shading interiors from solar gain. The dramatic changes in light, “both daily and seasonally, bring a healthy simplicity of country life right into the middle of the city,” remarks Price.
A floating staircase anchored by panels of perforated stainless steel and glass also bounces light throughout the interiors. From the open living, dining and kitchen area, the stair leads to a second level housing two ensuite bedrooms, plus a primary suite on the third floor. A lower level accommodates a separate apartment.
Architecture: Travis Lee Price, III, FAIA, principal; Kelly Davies Grace, AIA, project architect, Travis Price Architects. Builder: KGPBuild Inc.
A primary bath in Ashburn was hampered by a compartmentalized footprint. Kitchen designer Joey Olson and interior designer Susan Kuehhas reconfigured the problematic space, creating a wet room and his-and-her vanities featuring storage towers and a makeup zone, respectively.
A palette of white and light wood hues conjures a spa-like feel. Crestwood cabinetry in a beech stain complements wood-look porcelain tile in the wet room, where marble-look porcelain clads the shower wall. Gold-finished Kohler fixtures add a dose of glam.
Bath Design: Joey Olson, The Kitchen Guru. Interior Design: Susan Kuehhas, SK Interiors. Contractor: Xtreme Paint & Remodeling, LLC.
Clients with an Eastern Shore getaway on the Wye River wanted a whole-house update that would better reflect their mid-century sensibilities. Tapped for the job, architect Colleen Healey reimagined the primary bath with clean lines and crisp detailing. “We used materials like bronze and walnut to create a rich, warm material palette in a contemporary language,” Healey observes.
The long room is lined on one side with 10-foot-tall, bronze-framed door panels of alternating frosted and mirrored glass; they conceal the shower enclosure and two WCs. On the opposite wall, floating walnut vanities with ceiling-height mirrors flank a soaking tub beneath a bank of windows. At the far end of the room, a narrow window is tucked between mirrors that elongate the room.
Architecture & Kitchen Design: Colleen Healey, AIA, Colleen Healey Architecture. Interior Design: Kate Ballou, Allied ASID, Hendrick Interiors. Contractor: West & Callahan.
Crownsville, Maryland, residents tapped Tina Colebrook Kitchens to overhaul their dark, outdated kitchen. Principal Tina Colebrook brought in natural light with an expansive picture window along the sink wall. A small, awkward island made way for a large, rectangular one and a fresh layout improved functionality and flow.
A modern aesthetic prevails. Sleek, European-style cabinetry is distinguished by a ribbed surface. Dark-stained wood and green accents in marble and tile connect the kitchen to the woodsy tableau visible just outside the window.
Renovation Architecture & Kitchen Design: Tina Colebrook, AIA; Nicole Rauzi, AIA, Tina Colebrook Kitchens. Contractor: Improving Spaces LLC.
Architecture firm Fowlkes Studio was tasked with bringing a new level of functionality to a vintage home in Northwest DC. The linchpin of the plan: relocating the small, dark kitchen to an under-utilized family room, which offered abundant natural light in a more central spot in the house. The original kitchen became a butler’s pantry featuring dedicated storage for each family member, a dog-washing tub and a prep zone for gardening and cooking. “The remodel activated the spaces without adding new square footage,” explains principal VW Fowlkes, who collaborated with co-principal Catherine Fowlkes on the project.
The kitchen boasts clean-lined peripheral cabinetry and a central island with seating. In the pantry, a brick floor, farm sink and marble counters convey a classic look.
Architecture: VW Fowlkes, AIA, LEED AP; Catherine Fowlkes, AIA, Fowlkes Studio. Contractor: Ley, Ltd.
Privacy was a priority for a couple in McLean who had been living with not one but two adjacent primary baths. The setup supplied the separation they liked, but it came at the expense of space and functionality. They tapped designer Christina Simon to rethink the problematic layout.
“We removed the wall between the bathrooms to create one spacious bath,” she explains. Relocating the plumbing made way for a wet room with soaking tub and shower and a wide double vanity flanked with storage towers. Two water closets satisfy privacy needs.
Custom cabinetry in a deep taupe hue is offset by elegant, marble-look porcelain floor and shower tile and an expansive accent wall of polished Arabescato marble tile in a quatrefoil motif.
Bathroom Design: Christina Simon, ASID, CKBD, c|s Design Studio LLC, Clifton, Virginia. Contractor: Metro Building & Remodeling Group, Ashburn, Virginia.
McLean homeowners with three daughters who swim competitively wanted to create an outdoor oasis complete with a pool and space where they could gather and entertain. A longtime friend of the family, Michael Winn of Winn Design + Build introduced the owners to landscape architect Joseph Richardson. He began a contemporary-style hardscape plan for the property and, together with the owners, discussed adding a pool house to the project. Winn Design + Build came in for the pool house design and build.
Winn and project architect Jimmy Finn got to work, conceiving and building a modern, 500-square-foot pool house that would complement the hardscape. The structure features a powder room, a board-formed concrete fireplace and radiant-heat flooring. Smart lighting controls and integrated audio and video systems, along with a beverage fridge, ice machine and grilling station, make entertaining a breeze.
Architecture & Construction: Michael Winn, project lead; Jimmy Finn, AIA, project architect; Jennifer Hall, project designer; Paul Walhout, project manager, Winn Design+Build. Landscape Architecture: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture.
Recently completed by Classic Homes of Maryland, a custom residence in Potomac embraces modern California style. The project conceived by Carib Daniel Martin Architecture + Design and interior designer Myron Wolman is a single-level abode featuring soaring ceilings and wide-open vistas that forge a strong indoor-outdoor connection. A Zen garden graces the front yard while an expansive deck awaits in back.
“The clients envisioned a home that would allow them to age in place,” explains Dinesh Jain, president of Classic Homes. “They wanted to incorporate natural building materials throughout the exterior façade. They also wanted interiors that are filled with light and ample space to showcase an art collection they’ve gathered over a lifetime.”
Architecture: Carib Daniel Martin Architecture + Design. Interior Design: Myron Wolman Designs. Builder: Dinesh Jain; Howard Saslow, Classic Homes of Maryland. Styling: Kristen Alcorta.
The owners of a 30-acre property complete with a private lake in West Friendship, Maryland, tapped Anthony Wilder Design/Build to make their dream for a modern, farmhouse-style home a reality. Architect George Bott and team got to work designing a custom home that met the clients’ requirements for one-level living with second-story guest rooms, geothermal heating and cooling and state-of-the-art home automation.
The greatest challenge was orchestrating a special request: The owners wanted a silo incorporated into the design. It became an enclosure for a dramatic, winding staircase connecting the home’s two levels.
“The spiral staircase in the silo and trussed ceilings in the family room,” says Bott, “bring sophisticated elegance to farmhouse style.”
Architecture & Construction: George Bott, AIA, LEED AP, project architect; Anthony Wilder, founder; Sean Mullin, AIA; Rob Farrie, CRPM, CR, CLC, VP construction; Mike Marion, CRPM, CLC, production manager; Bob Rippeon, lead carpenter; Wade Rippeon, carpenter, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.
The owner of a 64-acre parcel in Virginia’s Rappahannock County wanted to build a sustainable retreat where she could focus on nature. She turned to Gardner Architects with a wish list that included separate living and sleeping wings, vegetable and flower gardens, a year-round pool and a bocce court. Inspired by local pastoral outbuildings, the team designed a home that nestles in the landscape with views of nearby meadows and distant mountains.
Architecture: Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP, principal; Brittany Williams, AIA, LEED AP, Gardner Architects LLC. Kitchen Design: Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. Landscape Architecture: Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect. Builder: Willoughby Construction and Consulting.
An Italianate-style portico housing a wide front porch adds a dose of charm to a Northern Virginia bungalow designed by Moore Architects. A carefully proportioned façade envelops interiors boasting lofty, 10-foot ceilings. Designed for aging in place, the floor plan includes a spacious kitchen, a convenient, ground-level owners’ suite and two ensuite bedrooms on the second floor. A lower-level gym and wine cellar complete the picture.
Architecture: Charles Moore, AIA, principal architect; Shamual Choudhury, project manager; Jordan Campbell, interior designer, Moore Architects, PC. Kitchen Design: Lobkovich. Builder: Metro Green, LLC. Landscape Architecture: Horn & Company Landscape Architecture.
A simple, gabled façade in white-painted Boral siding welcomes visitors to a new Arlington home designed by Moore Architects. Despite its traditional street presence, a streamlined approach lands the 4,800-square-foot residence very much in the 21st century. Modern elements, from porch overhangs to a tower form on the left, deliver pared-down appeal. A rear deck and covered passageway connect to a detached garage. Soft landscaping by Horn & Company enhances the crisp architecture.
Thoughtfully detailed interiors celebrate clean lines and a simple material palette. Custom cabinetry in solid white oak anchors the kitchen, which boasts an island clad in soapstone. The same material frames the living room’s wood-burning fireplace for continuity.
Architecture: Charles Moore, AIA, principal architect; Aren Knudsen, Associate AIA, project manager; Jordan Campbell, interior designer, Moore Architects, PC. Builder: Metro Green, LLC. Landscape Architecture: Horn & Company Landscape Architecture.
When challenged to transform a defunct dairy farm into a single-family home, McInturff Architects rose to the occasion. Mark McInturff and team repurposed existing structures on the Fauquier County, Virginia, site, creating a modern residence that salutes its agrarian past. The living and dining areas and the kitchen took shape in former cattle pens while bedrooms are located in one-time feed lofts. A previous pasture now houses an inviting courtyard and pool.
Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA; Peter Noonan, AIA, McInturff Architects. Interior Design: Pamela Bakos, NCIDQ, ASID, Bakos Interiors. Builder: Added Dimensions. Pool: Don Gwiz, Lewis Aquatech.
