Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, the Washington Metropolitan Sales & Marketing Council and the Maryland Building Industry Association, the GALA Awards—held last October at the Hyatt at Reston Town Center—honor excellence in new-home architecture, interior design, sales and marketing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 2021 entries filled 48 categories; those pertaining to architecture and design included single- and multi-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, and custom-home and remodeling projects. Following is a list of Grand Award winners in residential design, architecture and custom building.

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Home of the Year—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
Custom Home of the Year—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA
Community of the Year‑—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Innovative Land Planning—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; Shalom Baranes Associates; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Mitsui Fudosan America; JBG SMITH
FreeStanding Club House—Bayside Fenwick Island, Fenwick Island, DE.
Carl M. Freeman Companies; AdsIntelligence Marketing
Outstanding Living Space or Architectural Feature—Cabana at Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, VA.
James McDonald Associate Architects
Outstanding Implementation of Innovative Design Concepts Detached/Attached—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; Grow Landscapes
Green Building—Mid-Century Modern, Arlington, Arlington, VA. Arlington Designer Homes Construction LLC

Detached Home (lots under 7,000 square feet)
Under $300,000—Brooke in Evershire North, Waynesboro, VA. KTGY; Atlantic Builders
$600,001-$700,000—Atwood at Tapestry, Clarksburg, MD. KTGY; Miller and Smith
Over $850,000—Parkhurst at Willowcreek, Dayton, MD. Toll Brothers; Lessard Design, Inc.
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Detached Home (lots 7,000 square feet and over)
$1,000,001-$1,400,000—The Robey on Homesite 8 at Miller’s Reserve, Purcellville, VA. Evergreene Homes
Over $5,000,000—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; James McDonald Associate Architects
Under $400,000—The Chesapeake at Orchard Hill, Spotsylvania, VA. Atlantic Builders
$400,001-$500,000—Tidewater Slab at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$500,001-$600,000—Southport Basement at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$850,001-$1,000,000—The Monroe at Meadows at Rose Hill, Alexandria, VA. The Christopher Companies; Moment Engineering + Design
Over $1,400,000—Palatine at the Windmill Collection, North Potomac, MD. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Attached Home
Over $850,000—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
$400,001-$500,000—Norwood at Watson’s Glen, Millersville, MD. KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes
$500,001-$600,000—Bluemont at Carter’s Mill by Del Webb, Haymarket, VA. PulteGroup
$600,001-$700,000—Sydney at Crown East, Gaithersburg, MD. PulteGroup
$700,001-$850,000—Willard at the Braddock, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Multi-Family
New Construction—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH ; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Mixed-Use—Juniper, Columbia, MD. CBG Building Company; The Howard Hughes Corporation; The Preston Partnership
Condominium or Apartment Unit—Walney at the Fairfax Collection, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

CUSTOM BUILDING
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom Home, Single Lot
3,000-5,000 square feet—Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
5,001-7,000 square feet—Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, MD. James McDonald Associate Architects

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom or Customized Infill Home
5,001-7,000 square feet­—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA Under 3,000 square feet—OPaL’s Tiny House, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC
3,000-5,000 square feet—6525 32nd Street, Falls Church, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—1016 Langley Hill Drive, McLean, VA. Brush Arbor Home Construction; WCRA

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Renovations or Additions Over $1,000,000—
OPaL’s Historic Renovation in Cleveland Park, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC

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The owners of a 20-year-old French Country manor in Washington, DC, recently turned to Patrick Sutton to revive its outdated interiors. Patrick reimagined the entire residence, creating chic, timeless spaces that foster easy entertaining. Please join us for a before-and-after look at this dramatic transformation and a conversation with designer Patrick Sutton and builder Mark Sanders, moderated by editor in chief Sharon Jaffe Dan.

With the plethora of possibilities available today, shopping for appliances can be a daunting experience. “We recommend visiting a showroom to see what is out there and learn about the latest industry trends,” says Oliff. Below are tips to help you on your way.

Finish Line

• Stainless steel is still king, followed by white appliances with professional stainless-steel handles, then slate finishes.
• Many home chefs seek out a pop of color, customizing the range, hood and refrigerator in a painter’s palette of 1,000-plus colors and finishes.
• Brass-handled appliances, brass hoods and other brass accents are a hot trend in the kitchen.

Sleek Style

• Homeowners are moving away from the retro look in favor of a sleek, modern aesthetic with flush-mount installation.
• Appliances with no handles are on the rise with finger-touch and swipe controls replacing traditional knobs and pulls.

Tech Watch

• Oven features now make it possible to cook with less butter and oil. These functions include steam assist; options for air frying and slow cooking; and thermometer controls for sous vide, a process that cooks food for a long time at very low temperatures.
• Smart hubs above the range hood or integrated into the backsplash control the kitchen (among other parts of the house) via touch screen. They allow you to preheat your oven, turn on your hood, check ice levels in your freezer and much more.

Personal Favorites

• The Monogram Hearth Oven is handcrafted to capture the performance of a wood-fired brick pizza oven and comes in a new brass option.
• Beverage centers from Sub-Zero and Monogram hold wine, beer and sodas, freeing up space in the main refrigerator.
• A steam oven from Wolf can cook a 20-pound turkey in an hour and a half.
• A built-in Miele espresso machine holds a pound of beans and brews perfect coffee, cappuccino and latte.

Pro Tips

“Textured backsplash tile contrasts with sleek cabinets in a contemporary kitchen. Add a subtle crackle finish in a transitional space or classic subway tile in a traditional one.” —Stephanie Fried, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens

“Wood stain is back in style in the kitchen—but not cherry or maple. Now is the era of walnut, oak and hickory.” —Yasin Kazanci, USA Cabinet Store

Sponsored by the MBIA, this annual awards program honors architecture, construction and remodeling projects in the Greater Washington, DC, area. A full list of 2021 winners follows, along with photographs of a number of award-winning projects.

Custom Contemporary Home over 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Custom Contemporary Home under 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group

Custom Traditional Home
between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Bethel Regency Homes

Custom Traditional Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 7,000-7,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home under 4,000 square feet
GOLD—Leveille HIC, Leveille Custom Cabinets

Renovation
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Speculative Renovation
GOLD—Francis Development

Speculative Home between 3,000-3,999 square feet
GOLD—Foxhall Homes
BRONZE—Foxhall Homes

Speculative Home between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Builders LLC

Speculative Home between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders

Speculative Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Speculative Home under 3,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group

When purchasing windows, most homeowners think about aesthetics and operation, while very little consideration is given to the glass itself. Below, Brenda Brunk, product portfolio strategist at Marvin, provides a rundown of glass types and their performance to help you decide which product is best for your home.

Double Panes—In the 1950s, residential-glass manufacturers devised double-paned glass, in which two panes are separated by an air pocket. It acts as an insulator and reduces condensation buildup in winter.

Low E Coatings

• Radiation from the sun, in the form of infrared light, can shine through a window and heat up the objects in a room—not desirable on a hot day. Also, warm objects themselves can emit heat radiation, which means a room can lose heat by radiating it outdoors through the window. Glass alone will not reduce the effects of radiant heat transfer, but low emissivity (Low E) coatings can.
• Low E coatings are made of microscopically thin metal on the surface of the window. They reflect radiant heat, reducing heat gain and loss, and block ultraviolet light, which causes flooring and furniture to fade.
• A Low E coating is only noticeable as a slight tint. Adding layers and switching their surface application will change the performance of the glass.

Insulation—The first examples of dual-pane glass contained an eighth-inch of air in between the panes. Eventually, manufacturers began separating the panes by a half-inch and filling the space with argon, an inert gas. This type of assembly is referred to as an insulating glass unit (IGU). Krypton is even more effective than argon but is much more expensive to create. While insulating glass helps thermal performance, indoor comfort levels are still mostly controlled by Low E coatings.

Glass Ratings

• U-FACTOR—Measures how well a window keeps heat inside. Lower numbers mean greater insulating capabilities.
• SOLAR HEAT GAIN—The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much radiant heat enters your home. The lower the number, the less heat a window lets in.
• VISIBLE TRANSMITTANCE—This describes how clear the glass is. The higher the number, the clearer the glass.

Climate Questions

• The colder your climate, the less heat you want escaping your home and the more radiant heat from the sun you want entering. This means you should seek out a lower U-Factor and higher SHGC.
• If you live in a warmer climate, escaping heat is not as important as preventing radiant heat from entering, which means a higher U-Factor and lower SHGC.

Pro Tips

“We create a balance between modern and traditional in a home by preserving charming existing features while layering in sleek elements that impart modern appeal.”  — Maryam Tabrizchi, AIA, Elie Ben Architecture, LLC

“The architect’s role is vital during the construction phase. He or she resolves questions from the permit office, construction team and homeowner, and assists with design details throughout.” —Bruce Wentworth, AIA, Wentworth, Inc.

Grouped Together
Layering groups of accessories will achieve a fuller, more finished look. Do not line them up or space them apart as separate elements; instead, pull objects together to form a cohesive look—even if they appear to be touching. Hanging a mirror or artwork behind them will connect them visually.

By the Book
The visual appeal of books in a setting is undeniable—and books aren’t just for bookcases! Use them to bring extra color into a setting or stack them as an anchor for accessory groupings. Books can serve as a base for a lamp to give it extra height; they also make great fillers when placed on odd shelves.

Unexpected Statement
While accessories should reflect your personality, they should also be visually stimulating. Select surprising accent pieces, energizing colors and lamps with unusual bases. Consider incorporating a classical motif such as an elegant Greek key or some of the latest designs trends on your throw pillows. Above all, blend contemporary, natural and classic items for maximum effect.

Get the Picture
You may have been told to hang art at eye level—but in reality, this is a meaningless concept. Just as accessory groupings add interest through their connection with one another, artwork and mirrors should also be visually connected with other elements in a room. A few pointers:

• Hang your art close to a tabletop or mantel or above the back of a sofa or a chair rail.
• Layer items in front of your art whenever possible, even if that means resting the art on or placing it slightly behind your furnishings.
• When using art to flank an architectural feature or a piece of furniture, hang it close to the main subject, not spaced at an equal distance from it.

Back to Nature
Fresh flowers and plants not only add beauty and interest, but they are also welcoming, giving the most sterile room a positive lift. Placing them on cocktail tables, nightstands and mantels, or even inside bookcases, will enhance the atmosphere of your space.

Pro Tips

“Window treatments should complement a space, not overpower it. They should be the icing on a cake, that special finishing touch.” —Bonnie Ammon, Bonnie Ammon Interiors

“Choosing a carpet or rug boils down to form and function. Will it be a focal point or a textural backdrop? Size and proportion are everything.” —Melanie Whittington, Whittington Design Studio

The most important decision you’ll make when planning a remodeling project is who to hire. Keep in mind that you’re giving a third party free reign in your house—and paying a substantial sum for a product whose costliest components are hidden, from plumbing and electrical wiring to framing and HVAC. It is essential that you trust your remodeling partner implicitly. Below, Four Brothers Design + Build lists the dos and don’ts of choosing your contractor.

Do

• Use a company with strong pre-construction/planning, even if little or no design is involved. A well-run construction project takes many hours to plan. If the design is not finalized with materials selected and ordered before construction begins, expect delays and stoppages.
• Check online and print forums for reviews. If multiple negative reviews exist, chances are there is a good reason.
• Interview at least three companies before settling on one.

Don’t

• Hire the lowest bidder. As with anything else in life, you usually get what you pay for. Many companies will secure a contract by low-balling an estimate, then assess premeditated change orders once construction begins.
• Choose a “yes man.” You need someone who will tell you the truth even if it is not what you want to hear.
• Hire anyone who pushes their own agenda. Your remodeling partner should be receptive to your input.

What to Ask

• How much of your business is repeat- or referral-based?
• Do you have examples of projects like mine that you have completed recently?
• Are you licensed, bonded and insured in my area?
• Do you have a fixed-price contract, and what is your policy on change orders?
• Will you pull the necessary permits?
• What work do you subcontract out, and how are your relationships with your trade partners?
• Who will be in charge of the work once it begins?
• What is your timeframe for completion, and will you work every day?
• Are you LEED-certified by the EPA?
• How will you ensure that my home stays clean and safe?

Pro Tips

“Solid oak is our go-to for hardwood flooring. Unlike vinyl or engineered wood, hardwoods like oak can be countlessly refinished, making them the most timeless selection.” —Fritz Eisenbrandt, Eisenbrandt Companies

“Everyone wants control via a smart device—often voice-activated—from HVAC, lighting and entertainment systems to exterior and low-voltage landscape lights.” —George Papaheraklis, FineCraft Building Contractors, Inc.

GOING GREEN Durapalm’s latest line of wall- and ceiling-panel systems is made in the U.S. from reclaimed, plantation-grown palm trees. Pictured, the Manali system pairs a palm veneer with a core of bamboo. The design was influenced by colors and textures found in the Himalayan region of the same name. durapalm.com

EASY OPENING The Contemporary Aluminum Model 8850 from Wayne Dalton Garage Doors combines an anodized black frame and clear glass panes for a modern look and maximum visibility. It’s designed with tongue-and-groove joints and heavy-duty tracks that ensure smooth operation. wayne-dalton.com

SAFETY FIRST The Precious Bar cabinet lock by Buster + Punch keeps valuables safe in style. Two vertical pulls hold a fixing bar on a chain; the lock features the company’s signature knurl pattern and can be secured with a Buster + Punch padlock. Available in solid brass (pictured) or burnt steel.busterandpunch.com