Home & Design

Sponsored by the Maryland Building Industry Association, the 2023 Montgomery County Custom Builder Awards recognize the work of custom-home builders and architects for outstanding design and workmanship. Selected by a diverse team of judges, winners were announced on September 21st during a celebration at The Home Depot Design Center in Rockville. A full list appears below, with photos of a number of award-winning projects pictured above.

Accessory Dwelling Unit
FineCraft Contractors, Inc. Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects.

Custom Contemporary Home, 3,000–4,000 square feet
The Block Builders Group. Architecture: Teass \ Warren Architects.

Custom Contemporary Home, 5,000–5,500 square feet
Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC. Builder: Tulacro Development.

Custom Contemporary Home, 5,500–6,000 square feet
Elie Ben Architecture, LLC. Builder: Castlewood Consulting.

Custom Traditional Home, 10,000–10,500 square feet
Mark Giarraputo, AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts. Builder: Rivers Edge Builders, LLC.

Custom Traditional Home, 10,5000–11,000 square feet
Laurence Cafritz Builders. Architecture: GTM Architects.

Custom Traditional Home, 12,000–13,000 square feet
Castlewood Builders. Architecture: Castlewood.

Custom Traditional Home, 3,000–4,000 square feet
Douglas Construction Group, LLC. Architecture: Chris Lapp, AIA.

Custom Traditional Home, 4,000–5,000 square feet
Claude C. Lapp Architects. Builder: The Kehoe Group.

Custom Traditional Home, 5,000–6,000 square feet
Sandy Spring Builders. Architecture: GTM Architects.

Custom Traditional Home, 6,000–7,000 square feet
Classic Homes of Maryland. Architecture: Carib Daniel Martin | Architecture + Design.

Custom Traditional Home, 7,000–8,000 square feet
Castlewood Builders. Architecture: Castlewood.

Custom Traditional Home, 9,000–10,000 square feet
Castlewood Consulting. Architecture: Castlewood. Outdoor Space FineCraft Contractors, Inc. Architecture: MCDStudio.

Renovation, 4,000–4,500 square feet
Foxhall Homes. Architecture: Elie Ben Architecture.

Renovation, 4,500–5,000 square feet
Sandy Spring Builders. Design & Architecture: Ray Sobrino and Studio Z Design Concepts.

Renovation, 5,000–6,000 square feet
Francis Development, LLC. Architecture: Axis Architects.

Renovation, Under 1,000 square feet
Mark Giarraputo AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts. Builder: Structure Home Reinvented.

Speculative Home, 3,000–4,000 square feet
Douglas Construction Group, LLC. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts.

Speculative Home, 5,000–5,500 square feet
Francis Development. Architecture: Claude C. Lapp Architects.

Speculative Home, 5,500–6,000 square feet
Foxhall Homes. Architecture: GTM Architects.

Speculative Home, 6,000–6,500 square feet
Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture: Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders.

Speculative Home, 6,500–7,000 square Feet
Classic Homes of Maryland. Architecture: Carib Daniel Martin | Architecture + Design.

Speculative Home, 9,000–10,000 square feet
Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture: Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders.

 

The Maryland Building Industry Association’s Maryland Awards of Excellence recognize remodeling and custom-building projects in the greater DC area. The 2023 ceremony took place on May 11 at Merriweather Lake, Autograph Collection in Columbia; a list of winners appears below, along with photos of a number of winning projects above.

BATHROOM REMODEL
Beautiful Bathroom Spa Full of Light and Storage to Age In Luxury, Potomac, Maryland—House to Home Solutions.

COMMERCIAL
Bowling Brook Estates, Laurel, Maryland—Martin Architectural Group.

EXTERIOR, FRONT FAÇADE
Saul Road Front Façade Renovation, Kensington, Maryland—Mitchell & Best Homes.

HISTORIC RESTORATION
SchoolHaus, Baltimore, Maryland—Edgemont Builders.

INTERIOR REMODEL
Modern Interior Remodel, Lutherville, Maryland—Owings Home Services.

ADDITION, $250,000 to $300,000
3120 Florence, Woodbine, Maryland—Crosen Homes LLC.

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION,$100,000 to $150,000
Michaels Ridge Kitchen, Ellicott City, Maryland—Cornerstone Remodeling.

KITCHEN REMODEL, $150,000 to $200,000
Transitional Style Kitchen, Completely Reimagined, Darnestown, Maryland—House to Home Solutions.

KITCHEN REMODEL, $150,000 to $200,000 (Over 2,000 square feet)
Bright and Blue Kitchen Remodel, Severna Park, Maryland—Owings Brothers Contracting.

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION, $250,000 to $300,000
Layton Ct. First Floor Renovation, Elkridge, Maryland—Cornerstone Remodeling.

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION (Over $1,000,000)
Silver Spring Main Level, Transitional-Style Makeover, Silver Spring, Maryland—House to Home Solutions.

MULTI-GENERATIONAL RENOVATION
Basement In-Law Apartment, Brookeville, Maryland—Owings Brothers Contracting.

OUTDOOR LIVING, $100,000 to $150,000
Luxury Deck Creates Bird Watcher Sanctuary, Vienna, Virginia—House to Home Solutions.

OUTDOOR LIVING, $200,000 to $250,000
Backyard Oasis to Relax and Entertain, Potomac, Maryland— House to Home Solutions.

WHOLE HOUSE REMODEL, $350,000 to $400,000
Birch Manor, Edgewater, Maryland—Maryland Building Company, LLC.

WHOLE HOUSE REMODEL, $600,000 to $650,000
Cape Cod Renovation, Lutherville, Maryland—Owings Brothers Contracting.

WHOLE HOUSE REMODEL, $950,000 to $1,000,000
Stewart Driveway, Chevy Chase, Maryland—Francis Development.

 

Home & Design toasted its September/October 2023 issue on August 24th with a festive event at ABW—Appliances a Better Way in Rockville. Guests mingled and perused the showroom’s array of cutting-edge appliances.

 

Grand Award Less Than One Acre
Studio AKA

While building a modern carriage house on their property, the owners of a Federal-style Capitol Hill row home hired Studio AKA to reimagine the backyard, which would serve as a connector between the old and new buildings. “Asymmetry drove the design,” observes principal Danielle Alexander, who used dynamic paving patterns and irregular jointing to create an organic patio space bordered by billowing plants. A refreshed, vine-covered stucco wall on one side and a fence festooned with wisteria envelop what Alexander deems “a secret garden.”

"This garden is well-conceived and executed. I like the paving pattern with edges left open for plant combinations.”
— Scott Brinitzer, jurist

Landscape Architecture: Danielle Alexander, Studio AKA. Carriage House Architecture: Fowler Architects. Contractor: Cooper Renovations.

Grand Award Pool Scape
D.A. Dunlevy

Clients living on a rural Woodbine, Maryland, property hired D.A. Dunlevy to design and build an outdoor-living zone in their backyard. One priority: to create a swimming pool that would inspire conversation. A retrofitted shipping container—currently a popular alternative to traditional pools—answered their wishes. “We set it into an existing slope so its glass viewing window is visible below,” recounts principal Blake Dunlevy. An expansive ipe deck surrounds the pool, flowing out from the farmhouse-style residence.

"An innovative design; the container and viewing window create a terrific garden folly.”
— Miles Barnard, jurist

Landscape Design & Construction: D. Blake Dunlevy, D.A. Dunlevy.

 

 

 

STAR POWER
The Mesa Starburst by Hammerton Studio aims to conjure the rugged landscape of the Southwest. Artisan-blown crystal shades contain striated diffusers and LED bulbs; both base and shades come in various metallic finishes. Pictured: a Novel Brass base with a Mesa Bronze shade. studio.hammerton.com

CRYSTAL CLEAR
At 36 inches in diameter, Allegri’s Vezzo makes a bold statement. The nine-light fixture is elaborately layered for a waterfall effect with strings of octagonal crystals woven onto cast-brass loops; even the canopy is ornamented in crystal. Pictured in Winter Brass. allegricrystal.com

MAKING HISTORY
Venerable glassmaker Barovier&Toso named the Bissa Boba chandelier after the Venetian word bissa, meaning snake. Fashioned from mouth-blown Murano glass, its sinuous arms wind out from a metal center. Find in a host of glass colors and two metal finishes; Olive glass is pictured. barovier.com

SUSTAINABLE STYLE
The Flow chandelier by Varaluz presents a delicately detailed silhouette of twisting ribbons. Hand-forged out of recycled steel with a two-tone Hammered Ore finish, the fixture comes in a range of sizes; the eight-light version is pictured. varaluz.com

PERFECT CIRCLE
The 10-light Trina Chandelier by Arteriors is designed to resemble a bracelet or earrings. Hoops of clear, seedy glass are punctuated by exposed bulbs around a ring made of iron in an Antique Brass finish. arteriorshome.com

IN THE ROUND
Designed by Atelier Alain Ellouz, the Soho Chandelier is composed of hanging discs suspended from a gleaming metal structure. Each disc joins two alabaster rounds via a small metal ring. Find in a choice of sizes at Holly Hunt in DC. atelier-alain-ellouz.com; hollyhunt.com

FLOATING ON AIR
The light and airy Bubbles chandelier assembles blown-glass bulbs clustered—and seemingly afloat—around a brushed-nickel or -brass frame. Designed by Ashley Stark with a single bulb at its center, the fixture is available in clear, blue or opaque glass. ashleystarkhome.com

DOUBLE DUTY
Clean-lined and modern, Castro Lighting’s Rolland Round Suspension light features gold-plated brass bands supporting two rows of clear crystal tubes; 48 bulbs, hidden inside the circle, emit a soft glow. It also comes in a square format. castrolighting.com

 

 

NEAT SEAT
Ares, a dining and lounging collection by JANUS et Cie, brings clean-lined style to al fresco spaces. A driftwood-finished teak frame, offered in a Fossil or Cocoa finish, supports a rope back and mesh seat. Cushions come in various colors. janusetcie.com

NAP TIME
The densely braided ropes used to moor boats inspired Bitta (which means mooring in Italian), an outdoor collection by Rodolfo Dordoni for Kettal. Aluminum frames are wrapped in polyester cords to create soft, comfortable seating; Daybed Bela Rope is pictured. kettal.com

ON A CURVE
Patricia Urquiola conceived the curvaceous Trampoline sofa for Cassina. A backrest of hand-knit polypropylene-and-nylon cord attaches to a painted, stainless-steel frame; recycled-fiber cushions are upholstered in water-repellent polyester. A two-seat sofa and three flexible modules create a variety of seating possibilities. cassina.com

ROPED IN
Traditional chairs found on Brazilian balconies inspired Alfio Lisi’s Amado collection for Tidelli Outdoor Living. A powder-coated aluminum structure is bound in polyester rope to form the seat and back. The frame comes in 52 colors and the rope in 62. tidelli.com

DINING OUT
Ethimo’s Pluvia dining chair by Luca Nichetto features an aluminum structure with a tightly woven seat and back in a Natwick Sand Beige colorway. Pictured here with Nichetto’s Esedra dining table, made of WarmWhite aluminum and topped with pickled teak. ethimo.com

PERFECT PERCH
Poltrona Frau has expanded its outdoor offerings with Leplì Outdoor—a line of poufs, stools and benches originally designed by Kensaku Oshiro for indoor use. Each piece intertwines polypropylene string around an aluminum base; the Taupe, Ecru and Rust color palette complements the brand’s other outdoor collections. poltronafrau.com

CLASSIC COOL
The Panama Berger Armrest was designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba for Talenti Outdoor Living. Echoing the lines of a classic French Bergère chair, it extends nautical rope over an aluminum frame. Find in a wide range of colors and cushion fabrics. en.talentispa.com

COMFORT ZONE
Designed by Radice & Orlandini for Potocco, the Ola armchair boasts an enveloping backrest framed in tubular metal and softened by supple, hand-woven lines of rope; the legs are made of lacquered, stainless-steel pipe. Removable cushions are filled with polyurethane foam and polyester padding. potocco.it

 

 

SURFACE STYLE
Conceived by Patricia Urquiola for Agape, the Bloque countertop and storage system supports the brand’s washbasins, including the designer’s clay Cenote vessel, pictured here. Flat, intersecting stone or wood surfaces are configured in an open design and can be combined in larger dimensions. agapedesign.it/en

LIVING COLOR
Italian bath-product maker Bleu Provence has debuted the True Colors Lite collection, which enhances classically shaped vessels with bold, novel hues. Buyers can choose among 30 glossy or matte colors and an array of vintage-style faucets. Pictured: a double sink in Verde. bleuprovence.it

NATURAL STONE
A spacious, rectangular form delineates Stone Forest’s Ventus, available as a console, wall-mount or stand-alone sink. The basin, in Carrara marble or honed Antique Gray limestone, is supported by an industrial-style base in a range of finishes; limestone is pictured with an Aged Bronze base and matching tray. stoneforest.com

WORK OF ART
Michelangelo’s Piéta inspired Kreoo’s Nami washbasin by Enzo Berti, which mimics the drape of the sculpture’s veil. To achieve the effect, the designer scanned velvet laid atop an oval bowl in 3D, then created a digital image to be reproduced in marble and finished with hand-chiseling. kreoo.com/en

Merit Award Less Than One Acre
Pristine Acres

Pristine Acres devised an extensive plan for a compact lot in McLean, ensuring that the landscape would reflect the contemporary style of the newly built custom home on site. On the wish list: a swimming pool with a spa and sun shelf; a flat-roof pavilion housing a fire pit and outdoor kitchen; cedar fencing; and underground stormwater management. “Retaining walls are clad in porcelain tile to echo the architectural character of the home,” explains the landscape architect, Kevin Kurdziolek. A sheer-descent water feature anchors the pool scape.

"The new landscape is nicely tucked into the home’s architecture.”
— Katia Goffin, jurist

Landscape Architecture & Installation: Steve Waldron, owner; Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA, Pristine Acres. Builder: TriCrest Homes.

 

 

EASY BAKE
Italian manufacturer Forza’s 48-inch dual-fuel range boasts a single, capacious oven cavity with six racks and room for two turkeys at once. An electric broiler spanning the width of the oven evenly distributes heat. Its chic exterior with race car-inspired lines comes in seven bold colors. forzacucina.com

COLD STORAGE
The Series 9 74” Integrated Triple Zone Refrigerator from Fisher & Paykel introduces the brand’s latest innovation in cooling technology. Measuring 24 inches wide and 74 inches high, the fridge efficiently stores contents in three temperature and humidity modes: Chill, Fridge and Pantry. A freezer model is also available. fisherpaykel.com

PERFECT FINISH
SMEG has debuted Nettuno, an understated blue-gray finish devised for ovens, warming drawers, coffee makers and select wine coolers. The finish is pictured above on the brand’s built-in coffee system, which serves up cappuccino, latte and more with a hot and cold milk frother. smegusa.com

MULTI TASKER
Robam’s CQ762 Built-In Combi Steam Oven features 13 cooking functions including steaming, grilling and roasting with steam, as well as defrosting, sterilizing, fermenting and more. Fifty customized recipes are pre-programmed into the appliance, which is clad in black tempered glass and stainless steel; other finishes are on offer. robamworld.com

 

 

PURE GEOMETRY
Arteriors’ sculptural Torrington Coffee Table explores circular forms in minimalist style. A round slab of leathered Toronto marble, 48 inches in diameter, rests atop two columnar pedestals crafted from ebony-stained oak. arteriorshome.com

LIVING COLOR
Designed by Joana Vasconcelos for Roche Bobois, Pirulito earthenware accessories are hand-turned in organic shapes and glazed in bright colors. To create Totem (pictured), each component was turned and enameled manually, then fused to create a whole. roche-bobois.com

AT REST
Conceived during the pandemic with serenity in mind, Miranda Kerr Home’s Tranquility collection for Universal Furniture is delineated by restful neutrals and soft, organic lines. The Mantra sideboard combines reeded-wood door fronts finished in white and a mappa burl-finished frame with gold accents. universalfurniture.com

VERY VERSATILE
The low-slung Curve modular sofa by Resource Furniture presents a crescent-shaped profile. Its generous seat is equipped with backrest cushions that can be rearranged to suit the moment. A host of sizes, configurations, fabric and leather options is offered. resourcefurniture.com

FLUID FORM
Italian maker Turri has partnered with Monica Armani to create Roma, a collection of furniture notable for its soft, rounded lines. Pictured: The Roma cabinet comes in glossy lacquer, walnut or leather; printed decoration on the doors is optional and legs can be finished in gold or graphite. turri.it

SIMPLE LINES
The diminutive, curvaceous Bisou chair by Portuguese brand Mambo Unlimited Ideas marries comfortable foam cushions with a base of solid stained or lacquered wood. Available as a swivel chair and in a wide range of fabrics; Palm Beach is pictured with a beechwood base. mambounlimitedideas.com

A LITTLE ASKEW
Shewekar, an Egyptian studio designing interiors and furniture, has dubbed its D-shaped dining table Divine. Crafted with hand-laid strips of straw in a bronze finish, the piece is defined by an asymmetrical surface and three asymmetrical legs that accent its off-kilter charm. shewekar.com

SOFT SELL
Saba’s Wabi bed was devised by Alain Gilles with an upholstered headboard padded with foam and an additional soft insert for comfort. The frame is supported by solid ash feet, blanched or stained dark; they can be installed on the sides or ends of the bed. sabaitalia.com

 

Grand Award Curb Appeal
Donald Lococo Architects

While revamping a vintage dwelling in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Donald Lococo addressed the home’s exterior when he and his team conceived a 221-square-foot addition on the front of the house. “We followed the rooflines of the existing gables, taking architectural cues from the size, language and scale of the historic neighborhood,” Lococo notes. Brick siding was replaced with HardiePlank; beneath a Dutch Colonial-style gable, the front entry commands attention with additional windows and a series of columns.

"The architect’s creativity and knowledge of history were well-served here.”
— Simon Jacobsen, jurist

Renovation Architecture: Donald Lococo, AIA; David Moore, project architect, Donald Lococo Architects. Renovation Contractor: Acadia Renovations.

Grand Award Interior Renovation
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect

Architects Robert Gurney and Kara McHone dramatically reimagined a 20-foot-wide Queen Anne row house in Northwest DC, transforming choppy, dilapidated interiors into four floors of open, airy living space. The redo is organized around an open-riser stair of steel and white oak, with a skylight above. A one-story rear addition of brick, steel and glass provides extensive daylighting. Lowering the basement floor by 16 inches increased ceiling height.

A distinctive material palette includes reclaimed-white oak plank flooring and walls; hot-rolled steel; brick; copper; welded-wire fabric; and concrete countertops and tiles chosen for durability and ease of maintenance. “The goal was to yield a composition both restrained and polished,” says Gurney. “The project is a duality of old and new.”

"The detailing and design of the new residence beckon the older one to join it in the 21st century.”
— Simon Jacobsen, jurist

Renovation Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA; Kara McHone, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors. Renovation Contractor: Peterson + Collins, Inc.

Merit Award Curb Appeal
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect

Robert Gurney was tapped to put a modern spin on a 1931 Federal-style residence in Northwest DC’s Observatory Circle. He and colleague Kara McHone incorporated the home’s original brick structure into the composition, adding dynamic contemporary volumes beside and above its front façade. The additions, rising three stories, employ solid and glass planes to dramatic effect. “The project is an arrangement of simple, intersecting volumes, rendered in varied materials combining solids and voids,” explains Gurney. “A linear volume is inserted through the existing masonry shell, extending beyond and connecting the new and existing volumes.” Now painted gray, the original brick offsets stucco, mahogany and fiber-cement panels. A new, glass-enclosed front entrance lets in the light.

"A dramatic, light-filled intervention transformed this ‘brick box’ home’s presence on the street.”
—Amy Gardner, jurist

Renovation Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA; Kara McHone, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Renovation Contractor: Steven T. McCaughan. Landscape Design: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.

Merit Award Interior Renovation
Fowlkes Studio

A gracious row house in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood had become outmoded with time. When new owners entered the scene, they hired Fowlkes Studio for an update that would marry the dwelling’s grandeur with modern elements. The team replaced the dated kitchen with a sleek one by Poggenpohl; installed an open staircase of white oak; and converted a second-story sleeping porch into a home office topped with a roof terrace. The now-finished basement features guest quarters, a prep kitchen and a wine cellar.

Refined finishes spoke to the owners’ aesthetic vision. “Interior walls are clad in rugged materials like brick and Venetian plaster for a sense of monumentality and timelessness,” architect VW Fowlkes points out. “Wood and stone elements are layered in dialogue.”

"The designers rigorously executed a modern interior in a traditional row house. It’s the architectural equivalent of culinary fusion.”
— Stephen J. Vanze, jurist

Renovation Architecture: VW Fowlkes, AIA; Catherine Fowlkes, AIA; Martin Locraft, AIA; Josh Eager, Fowlkes Studio. Renovation Contractor: Added Dimensions, Inc.

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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