2025 Excellence Awards

This award honors exceptional homes designed in a modern or transitional style. Entries will be judged on accomplishment of stated goals, aesthetics and form, functionality, originality and innovative/consistent use of materials.

This award honors exceptional homes designed in a classical or traditional style. Entries will be judged on accomplishment of stated goals, aesthetics and form, functionality, innovative/consistent use of materials and translation of traditional architectural norms to 21st-century living.

This award evaluates how well an exterior renovation accomplishes the stated goals and improves upon the existing structure, taking into account the overall aesthetic, the execution of new style and the innovative or consistent use of materials. Can range from curb appeal-style façade makeovers to whole house exterior reinventions.

This award evaluates a renovation based on accomplishment of stated goals as well as improvements made to the original layout, functionality, originality, aesthetics of completed design and innovative use of materials. Additions should be submitted to this category.

This award evaluates the construction of a whole home. It takes into account the level and quality of craftsmanship, the complexities posed by the architecture and/or the site, and the overall completed aesthetic. Entries are only open to custom builders.

This award evaluates comprehensive renovations done to an existing home that encompass 50 percent or more of the home's interior and/or exterior. Generally, this is a substantial project that involves some structural change and goes beyond minor or purely cosmetic updates.

This award honors exceptional interiors designed for a whole house with a four-room minimum in any style (traditional, contemporary or transitional). Entries will be judged on accomplishment of stated goals, aesthetics and form, functionality, originality and innovative/consistent use of materials and furnishings.

This award evaluates the interior design component of an apartment or condo project in terms of accomplishment of stated goals, layout and functionality, originality, overall aesthetic and the innovative use of materials, lighting and furnishings.

This award honors the interiors of second homes outside of our region (meaning outside of DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware beaches). Entries will be judged on accomplishment of stated goals, aesthetics and form, functionality, innovative/consistent use of materials. The ways in which the interiors reflect or relate to the environment will be considered.

This award evaluates how well a redo transforms a singular space with an eye on originality, functionality, style and novel/innovative use of materials and furnishings as well as accomplishment of stated goals for that room.

This award evaluates a kitchen in terms of its layout and functionality, originality, overall aesthetic and the innovative use of materials, lighting and appliances as well as accomplishment of stated goals.

This award evaluates a bath in terms of its layout and functionality, originality, overall aesthetic and the innovative use of materials, lighting and fixtures as well as accomplishment of stated goals.

This award evaluates a landscape property less than an acre in size, in terms of the accomplishment of stated goals, layout and innovative application of hardscape and plant materials.

This award evaluates a landscape property greater than an acre in size, in terms of the accomplishment of stated goals, layout and innovative application of hardscape and plant materials.

This award evaluates an outdoor entertaining space, in terms of the accomplishment of stated goals, layout, functionality and aesthetics, as well as the use of materials and amenities including kitchen components.