This brownstone had been left vacant long enough that a large family of 40 cats had taken up residence. Designed in 1878 and fully gutted along the way, this diamond in the rough left an open shell with very little original detail. After gently re-homing the kitty interlopers, building up and out was the primary goal of the owner in order to maximize the buildable area of the lot. While many of the home’s historical features had been destroyed, the owner sought to retain these features where possible. Of the original grand staircase, only one piece, the newel post, could be salvaged and restored. A Grand ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Dixon Projects Design: Dixon Projects From: New York, New York

Photo of a landscaping in Sydney.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes Producer: Williamette Graystone Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall. Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home. The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement. This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround. Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

This sustainable home by Aidlin Darling Design celebrates the intersection of earth and sky. One enters below grade and ascends vertically through the ground to arrive in a series of glass pavilions, anchored by rammed earth walls and sheltered under kite-like floating roofs. Ecological responsibility guided the design of this LEED-Platinum, Net Zero Energy home. Earth walls utilize on-site material resources and provide thermal mass. Lightweight roof planes orient photovoltaics toward the sun, guide rainwater to cisterns, and provide shade through calibrated overhangs. Photo courtesy of Aidlin Darling Design

Photo of a landscaping in Sydney.

When this non-descript three-story brick row house was purchased by the client, it was stripped completely bare. The owner sought to add additional space, which was achieved by extending the rear of the home by a full 16 feet on the parlor, second and third levels. This not only provided roomier living spaces indoors, it created the opportunity to outfit each reconfigured floor with identical balconies. These outcroppings, finished with matte black railings and full NanaWall folding glass doors, provide the ideal outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining, while creating a harmonious uniformity to the rear façade. A Grand ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Dixon Projects Design: Dixon Projects From: New York, New York

As a design-build firm, the designer's focus for every project is to create a space that will not only suit the lifestyle of their clients, but also incorporate their personalities and sentimental belongings to truly make the home feel that it was built custom to them. This project encompassed the style and reclaimed artifacts from a completely different century. With timely features such as stacked stone, hand troweled limestone stucco, leaded glass windows, re-claimed 18th century European doors, slate and lead roof, gas lanterns and more, the clients wanted to replicate a traditional European home. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Tongue & Groove LLC Designers: Tongue & Groove LLC with Rees Architecture PC From: Wilmington, North Carolina

With mature family buyers and empty-nesters in mind, this home has been inspired by an Italian lifestyle embodying the importance of family and friends. The exterior and the interior are tied together. The cottage elevation radiates a nostalgic charm and continues inside the home. The designers used a mood palette to create continuity making the home comfortable and relaxing. The interiors are designed to welcome family and friends with a warm atmosphere that transmits peace and serenity. A Grand ARDA for Model Home Design goes to Ashton Woods Designers: Centro Stile From: Roswell, Georgia

Photo of a landscaping in Central Coast.

The designer's vision was to redefine a traditional concept and give it a new life. They merged cooking, dining, and entertainment without physical separation, but with opportunities to define spaces in an open floor plan for move-up families. They were challenged with defining each area in the home within a 30’ wide product. The designers were guided by a Mood Palette, and each room has a sense of importance to create a “feast for the eyes”. An ARDA for Model Home Design goes to Ashton Woods Designer: Centro Stile From: Roswell, Georgia

The extensive renovation of this Colonial Revival influenced residence aimed to blend historic period details with modern amenities. Challenges for this project were that the existing front entry porch and side sunroom were structurally unsound with considerable settling, water damage and damage to the shingle roof structure. This necessitated the total demolition and rebuilding of these spaces, but with modern materials that resemble the existing characteristics of this residence. A new flat roof structure with ornamental railing systems were utilized in place of the original roof design. An ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Roney Design Group, LLC Designers: Tim Roney with Interior Design by HomeOwner, Florida's Finest From: St. Petersburg, Florida

Architect: DCHGlobal Inc. AIA Housing Award Recipient. Relic Rock is designed with a simple, flexible, sustainable prototype building system that is adaptable to a broad range of different climates and terrains. This prototype architectural solution sits lightly on the land, with cantilevered floors that minimize site disruption. A distinctive connection to nature is achieved by dissolving the division of interior and exterior space. Bill Timmerman

2017 HNA Awards Winner - Concrete Paver - Residential - Size less than 3,000 sf Contractor: Paver Designs LLC Manufacturer: Belgard Designer: Paver Designs LLC

This large estate house was carefully crafted to compliment the rolling hillsides of the Midwest. Horizontal board & batten facades are sheltered by long runs of hipped roofs and are divided down the middle by the homes singular gabled wall. At the foyer, this gable takes the form of a classic three-part archway. Subtle earth-toned wall colors, white trim, and natural wood floors serve as a perfect canvas to showcase patterned upholstery, black hardware, and colorful paintings. A Grand ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Visbeen Architects, Inc. Designers: Visbeen Architects, Inc. with Laura Davidson From: East Grand Rapids, Michigan

HNA Hardsape Project Award Winner Cino Residence Blairstown, NJ JB's Landscape With the homeowner’s insistence on incorporating a pool to accentuate the amazing view from their property, the challenge lay in creating a unified look with several outdoor living areas. By utilizing different levels in the design, JB's Landscape tied together an amphitheater seating area in front of a fireplace, pool deck, custom kitchen, fire pit, ponds, stream, and pathway leading to the garage area. JB's Landscape incorporated natural stone to compliment the many styles of pillars were constructed in which water cascades into two smaller ponds which feed into a larger pond. This is truly a unique outdoor design considering the creativity and detail of the project; the styles, colors, textures, lighting, water features, landscaping, were all blended seamlessly to create a distinguishable outdoor living area.

Originally submitted for the Model Homes category, the judges felt this entry deserved an ARDA in Design Detail. This particular home was designed to meet the demands of empty nesters, seeking a low maintenance home close to everything. This design is located in a neighborhood with strict design guidelines. The garage was required to be setback 35 feet from the front of the home. Small lot constraints with a public access path on one side presented challenges fitting all requests into a single level. Coming in at just over 1,600 square foot, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with expansive great room accomplished the designer's goals. An ARDA for Design Details goes to Muddy River Design Designer: Adam R Peterson From: Bend, Oregon

The extensive renovation of this Colonial Revival influenced residence aimed to blend historic period details with modern amenities. Challenges for this project were that the existing front entry porch and side sunroom were structurally unsound with considerable settling, water damage and damage to the shingle roof structure. This necessitated the total demolition and rebuilding of these spaces, but with modern materials that resemble the existing characteristics of this residence. A new flat roof structure with ornamental railing systems were utilized in place of the original roof design. An ARDA for Renovation Design goes to Roney Design Group, LLC Designers: Tim Roney with Interior Design by HomeOwner, Florida's Finest From: St. Petersburg, Florida

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Residential (size more than 3,000 sf) Contractor: Go Pavers Producer: Orco Designer: Aaron Barnes The homeowner wanted to create a luxurious outdoor space. A one-of-a-kind design, the company combined Orco Villa stones and arranged them in a random pattern to create the outline of a small airplane which accents the shape of the swimming pool. The subtle earthy tones of the stones together create the perfect contrast between the rich blue of the pool water and green tones of the artificial turf installation. What truly takes this design to the next level is the propeller design that was created using Holland stone in Charcoal. The company had the idea of creating a "starburst" effect with the colors, where the dark grey bursts into the a lighter brown (Chateau). To create the symmetrical, rounded shape the company used high end cutting machines to precisely cut each and every edge stone, ensuring they all lay perfectly together. The company also installed red, green and white lights into the system which are reminiscent to the tail lights on a real airplane to create the some of the final touches. Despite being the statement design, the company tied in an alternating runner border in the Manor colorway to truly tie in the pool to the rest of the yard. By incorporating different elements of the back patio, such as the turf, water and overall shape, the company was able to accent the homeowner's front driveway as well. Approximately 3,700 square feet in total, the company combined Orco Villa with Orco Antique Cobble Circle to create an open, welcoming entrance to a lovely home. The company took advantage of the naturally rounded edges of the home and created accents with the circle kit and border detail near an existing water fountain. Similar to the "starburst" effect on the plane propeller, this was replicated on the each circle kit on the front entryway. The artificial turf border around the fountain paired with the Antique Cobble circle kit truly make this piece stand out.