An air of celebration and gratitude

Article content

It was a special night for Ottawa’s housing industry Nov. 2 as excellence in design was celebrated at the annual Housing Design Awards in record fashion. 

Organized by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, the awards gala, now in its 41^st year, is one of the largest events of its kind in the city. A record 760 guests gathered at the Rogers Centre Ottawa (formerly the Shaw Centre), which was decked out in a theme of urban graffiti, complete with on-site artists creating works for auction, break dancers, record spinners and an Airstream RV serving signature drinks. 

Article content

Trophies were awarded to area designers, architects, builders, renovators and suppliers in 54 categories ranging from kitchens and bathrooms to production and custom homes, renovations, green innovation, design details and more. In all, there were 232 finalists (another record) from 369 entries (yet another record). 

“Not only did we have a record number of entries and companies participating, but the quality of entries continues to climb even further, with our members striving to raise the bar even more each year,” says Linda Oliveri Blanchard, who chairs the awards committee. 

Entries were judged by 12 industry experts from across the country, who each had certain categories to evaluate in blind judging.  

“Overall, I was very impressed with the superior quality, the forward thinking, the beauty of these submissions,” says designer Benjamin John Ouellette of BJOID Inc., who judged the kitchen and bath categories. “Greater Ottawa has absolutely phenomenal talent.”  

Many of the trends or recurring elements that we saw in last year’s awards continued or were amplified this year. Arches, texture, wall treatments and wood were all popular, as they were last year. Joining them this year were moody bathrooms and the use of rich, saturated colour everywhere. 

Article content

Big winners 

Leading the pack was RND Construction, which took home seven trophies ranging from custom homes and kitchens to green innovation and one of the prestige categories — custom builder of the year, a category that RND has won repeatedly, including for the last three years in a row. 

“It’s always a thrill to win,” RND owner Roy Nandram said the morning after the gala. He then added: “We need to think about the people who help us win an award: our staff or subtrades; our architects and designers we work with; and, more importantly, we have amazing clients.” 

Following closely behind RND was a trio of companies with five wins each: Hobin Architecture, Laurysen Kitchens and Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry. 

Other prestige category winners included Shean Architects, which was named designer of the year among a crowded field of 12 entrants, and Amsted Design-Build, which reclaimed the renovator of the year award for a record 11^th time. Amsted was also named provincial renovator of the year at this fall’s Awards of Distinction put on by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association. 

Article content

For Amsted owner Steve Barkhouse, the overwhelming feeling was gratitude. 

“Grateful to see a record turnout to the event and a record number of fantastic submissions. Grateful to be pushed harder every year by our strong competition.” 

Other notable wins 

Minto Communities and Tanya Collins Design scooped up an impressive three trophies for one home — the grand prize home in last year’s CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery. A prime example of design infused with rich colour, the home was decorated with a palette of deep green, blue, burgundy and caramel. 

Collins won a fourth award for best home office and Minto also captured a fourth, for production builder of the year, a prestige award the builder last won in 2022. 

The final prestige category was the coveted All Things Home People’s Choice Award, the only trophy that is determined by public vote. This year’s award went to custom builder Modello Homes for a sophisticated modern farmhouse bungalow loft in an estate subdivision. 

PLOTNONPLOT Architecture teamed with Crossford Construction to win three awards of their own for one home, dubbed the Warren. The quirky yet sophisticated custom urban home took its cue from a rabbit’s lair, with the main living level partially embedded into the ground and boasting eye-catching round windows scattered throughout. The project won its custom home category and for its kitchen and primary ensuite. 

Article content

And Claridge Homes won four trophies, two for its Sussex model and one each for its Wentworth and Shinnecock models, all at River’s Edge in Riverside South. The homes opened earlier this year. 

The winners 

Production home, attached, 2,000 sq. ft. or less 
Claridge Homes, the Sussex 

Production home, attached, 2,001 sq. ft. or more 
Claridge Homes, the Wentworth 

Production home, single detached, under $950,000 
Claridge Homes, the Shinnecock Hills 

Production home, single detached, $950,001 – $1,200,000 
Mackie Homes, the Trenton 

Production home, single detached, $1,200,001 and over 
Hobin Architecture, the Beckett 

New community, underway 
BLD Homes, McEwen’s Mill 

New community, built 
Hobin Architecture, Peridot 

Apartment, condo or rental 
Uniform Urban Developments with Hobin Architecture and 2H Interior Design, Echo 

Condo or rental apartment suite, 801 sq. ft. or more 
Campanale with Raywal Cabinets, Urban Terraces at Longfields Square II 

Custom home, 3,000 sq. ft. or less 
Ardington + Associates Design with Maple Leaf Custom Homes and Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry 

Article content

Custom home, 3,001 sq. ft. or more 
Nowacki Homes 

Custom urban home, 2,800 sq. ft. or less 
PLOTNONPLOT Architecture with Crossford Construction 

Custom urban home, 2,800 – 3,800 sq. ft. 
RND Construction with Andre Godin Design 

Custom urban home, 3,800 sq. ft. or more 
Linebox Studio with Sanchez Homes 

Custom urban home, semi-detached 
RJH Architecture + Planning with Haslett Construction 

Production kitchen, 200 sq. ft. or less 
Laurysen Kitchens with Urbandale Construction 

Production kitchen, 201 – 250 sq. ft. 
Claridge Homes, the Sussex 

Production kitchen, 251 sq. ft. or more 
Minto Communities with Tanya Collins Design and Laurysen Kitchens, the Equestrian 

Custom kitchen, 175 sq. ft. or less, traditional 
Gordon Weima Design Builder 

Custom kitchen, 175 sq. ft. or less, contemporary 
PLOTNONPLOT Architecture with Crossford Construction 

Custom kitchen, 176 – 250 sq. ft., traditional 
West of Main with Urban Quarry 

Custom kitchen, 176 – 250 sq. ft., contemporary 
The Cabinet Connection  

Custom kitchen, 251 sq. ft. or more, traditional, $100,000 and under 
Sonya Kinkade Design with Laurysen Kitchens 

Article content

Custom kitchen, 251 sq. ft. or more, contemporary, $100,000 and under 
Simmonds Architecture with RND Construction and Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry 

Custom kitchen, 251 sq. ft. or more, traditional, $100,001 and over – John Laurysen Memorial Trophy 
West of Main with Urban Quarry 

Custom kitchen, 251 sq. ft. or more, contemporary, $100,001 and over 
RND Construction with Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry 

Production bathroom 
Minto Communities with Tanya Collins Design and Laurysen Kitchens, the Equestrian 

Custom bathroom, 100 sq. ft. or less, traditional 
Nathan Kyle Studio 

Custom bathroom, 100 sq. ft. or less, contemporary 
PLOTNONPLOT Architecture with Crossford Construction 

Custom bathroom, 101 sq. ft. or more, traditional 
West of Main with Urban Quarry and Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry 

Custom bathroom, 101 sq. ft. or more, contemporary 
Laurysen Kitchens with Peridot Design & Build 

Bathroom – powder room 
RND Construction with Cedar Ridge Designs & Custom Cabinetry  

Renovation under $150,000 
Amsted Design-Build 

Renovation $150,001 – $250,000 
Suite Spot Design with To Do-Done 

Article content

Renovation $250,001 – $400,000 
Terra Nova Building Corp. 

Renovation $400,001 – $600,000 
Amsted Design-Build 

Renovation $600,001 – $750,000 
Shean Architects 

Renovation $750,001 – $1,000,000 
Simmonds Architecture with Casa Verde Construction 

Renovation $1,000,001 and over 
Casa Verde Construction 

Basement renovation 
Suite Spot Design with To Do-Done 

Housing details 
Shean Architects with Cada Construction 

Any room in the house 
Hobin Architecture with Cada Construction 

Best home office 
Tanya Collins Design 

Exterior details 
Nowacki Homes 

Exterior living space 
Simmonds Architecture with RND Construction 

Alternative enclosed space 
Crossford Construction 

Anywhere in the world 
Hobin Architecture with 2H Interior Design 

Innovation award – production home of the year 
Minto Communities with Tanya Collins Design and Agrodrain Systems Limited, the Equestrian 

Innovation award – custom home of the year 
RND Construction 

Custom builder of the year 
RND Construction 

Designer of the year 
Shean Architects 

Production builder of the year 
Minto Communities 

Renovator of the year 
Amsted Design-Build 

All Things Home People’s Choice Award 
Modello Homes 

Article content