An air of celebration and gratitude
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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 41st 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.
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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.
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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 11th 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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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