2015 DHDA: Exteriors

2015 Design Awards

Judges | Details | Exteriors | Interiors | Commercial Interiors
Homes | Rising Star | Reader’s Choice

Playhouse/ Outdoor Building

Photo by Beth Singer

1st – Michael Willoughby & Associates – Architects

The objective was to create a “carriage house” that would seem as though it was an original farm building that once shared this land with the circa-1890s farmhouse the owners painstakingly restored. The new structure doesn’t copy the main house, but complements it with authentic stucco and cobblestone walls. The heavy solid-sawn timber beams, posts, and corbels; stained-wood carriage doors; out-swing casement windows; bluestone porch; and custom metal railings prompt comments like, “They just don’t build ’em like that anymore!” from passersby.

Gate / Fence / Wall

Photo by comassociates.com

1st – Arteva Home, with TR Design Group

A bold decision to center the home’s design around a freestanding gatehouse sets the tone for visitors, conveying both the clear classical Italian villa influence and the uniqueness of the design. Typically reserved for palatial estates, the gatehouse utilizes a decorative wall that connects to the home’s garage to form an inviting courtyard entry. This outdoor space, when used with the lanai and pergolas off the Great Hall, provides a wide array of entertaining options.

Residential Landscape Water Feature

Photo by Gene Meadows

1st – Michael J. Dul & Associates Inc.

Lush plantings and stone rock outcroppings are the highlight of this urban garden space. Weathered chunks of granite stone are strategically placed within the garden, in a way that announces the monolith stone water feature viewed in the background. The granite water feature, which was cored to accommodate recirculating water flow through and over the stone mass, produces a pleasing visual and soothing sound effects, and serves as a dramatic focal point to the overall garden.

Exterior Use of Stone / Tile / Concrete

Photo by Brad Zeigler

1st – VanBrouck & Associates, with Olde World Homes, David Gibbons Masonry

Rugged, authentic Cortona stone was selected for the exterior walls, courtyard walls, and loggias of this residence; the heavy, rustic stone is artfully manipulated to replicate the look of ancient Tuscan villas. The tripartite stone arches of the front-entry loggia are repeated on both the side and rear loggias, and an inner courtyard wall at the entry loggia evokes the charm of Tuscan farmhouses. Crushed pea stone is used throughout the landscape, reminiscent of rural Tuscan landscapes.

Residential Swimming Pool / Spa

Photo by Jim Haefner

1st – Moceri Custom Homes, with Anderson Custom Pools

Providing a seamless melding of interior and exterior spaces, the stunning pool and surrounding courtyard clearly provide the defining feature of this amazing home. The 60-square-foot gunite pool is completely state-of-the-art, with an infinity edge and strategically placed resistance jets. Colored LED lights and LED-driven laminars send streams of water cascading into the pool, adding beauty and excitement. The filtration system utilizes salt minerals and ozone in addition to an ultraviolet water sanitization system, ensuring that the pool’s finish is spotless.

Deck / Patio / Porch

Photo by John Allegretti

1st – Allegretti Architects, with Artisan Builders

In southwest Michigan, association members share a mile of Lake Michigan beach but haven’t been able to access it for years because of the moving dunes. A barrier-free boardwalk was proposed in 1998, but the project languished until 2010 — when it was resurrected by the community’s commitment to an aging membership and environmental consciousness. This is now a place to watch sunsets, meet neighbors, or have a picnic dinner.

Residential Landscape Design under One-Half Acre

Photo by Gene Meadows

1st – Michael J. Dul & Associates Inc.

What was once a spot defined by a garage and driveway was transformed into an elegant formal garden. Defined by clipped arborvitae, yew, and boxwood hedges, the space was appointed with urns and garden ornaments. A patio unifies the interior and exterior, while a passageway flanked by brick columns discreetly provides access from the service area. Pachysandra groundcover forms a lush carpet that ties the evergreen walls together, and hydrangea provides texture and color that create additional interest.

Residential Landscape Between One-Half and One Acre

Photo by Z and Z Visual

1st – Outdoor Living by Ryan Payment

An environment that captured nature yet provided amenities to utilize the space year-round was the goal. The drastic slope toward the home needed to be terraced to accommodate the different levels; the pool and existing surrounding landscape were designed as a cohesive blend for an outdoor living space. An outdoor kitchen/bar/lounge area, fire pit, and a waterfall with a natural pond all are welcoming, on different levels. To complete the design, a butterfly and hummingbird garden was carved out of the natural landscape.

Residential Landscape Design More Than One Acre

Photo by George Dzahristos

1st – Zaremba & Company

At the center of this garden is a 25’ x 73’ swimming pool. A custom timber beam pergola is anchored by stone piers and a low stone wall that defines the pool garden terrace space, while a cabana with a grill and bar serves the outdoor dining area and is accented by the soft sounds of a limestone wall fountain. A sunken bocce court, framed with cedar timbers and benches, provides an enjoyable recreation area.