The dramatic gallery in the foyer sets the tone for the entire home’s look and feel. The crown molding in the black tray ceiling, paired with the custom black-and-white tile pattern on the flooring of the gallery, makes for a bold entrance. Large, eclectic artwork lines the walls of the gallery and plays beautifully off of the gold statement chandelier. The beauty is in the details—everything from the table orchid to the tabletop book and the art displayed on the…

Selbyville, Del. From the Judges | This community is simply lovely and very well integrated with nature, taking full advantage of its prime waterfront site. It’s very well-amenitized, takes cues from the local environment in its design, and has a continuity in its contextual architecture. Photography by Pamela Aquilani Developer | Carl M. Freeman CompaniesLand Planner | Parker Rodriguez Design Statement | Bayside is thoughtfully designed to enhance the land’s beauty, while providing plentiful amenities and residential choices. A Jack…

The 1980’s was a decade of bold self-expression, and with influences ranging from punk rock to everything floral, it brought a dynamic and eclectic mix of design trends.  Pop Art: One of the defining features of 1980’s interior designs was the infusion of pop art influences. Bright, bold colors in varied patterns and shapes appeared on wallpaper, floors, textiles, and furniture. Neon accents, such as neon signs and lighting fixtures, were very popular, bringing an electrifying glow to spaces. Memphis…

Designers. Builders. Founders. The Best in American Living Awards (BALA) Hall of Fame program was established in 2008 to honor housing industry thought leaders who have significantly influenced the residential design and construction field. Our day-to-day experience would not be the same if these individuals and firms had not envisioned and executed the design improvements we have enjoyed over the last 40 plus years. Since its founding 15 years ago, the BALA Hall of Fame has inducted 48 visionaries who…

Celebrating its Ruby Anniversary and 40 years of design excellence, the Best in American Living Awards (BALA Awards) is the building industry’s premier residential design awards program. The BALA Awards spotlight the most creative and talented building industry professionals who have redefined design excellence for homes and communities across North America. Winning projects showcase those building industry professionals who have set their product apart and hit the right mark with today’s highly educated and discerning home buyers and renters.  Not…

Data obtained from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB, show that the rising trend of two or more stories homes continued in 2022. Although the overall share remained virtually unchanged, the share of two or more stories homes started construction was greater than one story homes in 2022. Nationwide, the share of new homes… Read More ›

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2023. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP increased ranged from 12.4 percent in North Dakota to 0.1 percent in Alabama and Rhode Island. Nationwide, growth in real GDP, measured on a seasonally… Read More ›

The Lake Project involved building an outdoor kitchen, waterproof polymer deck, stairway, railing and recessed tub in the deck on a slope with a 14-month turnaround. This was a complicated project with many people involved. The team was able to work together, during Covid, using a variety of communication methods to build exactly what the customer wanted. Engineering and geotechnical surveys needed to be done because the property was on a slope. The outdoor kitchen is stucco, and the backsplash…

Recheck your documents to make sure you have all that is needed for an award-winning Best in American Living Awards (BALA Awards) entry: Project Team. Name and contact information for architect/designer, builder, developer, green verifier/rater company, interior designer, interior merchandiser, land planner, landscape architect/designer, marketing firm, and/or photographer. Design Statement. Describe the project context, its relationship to its surroundings, the design concept, challenges and design solutions, client’s needs and how they were met, key features and amenities, evidence of success,…

The count of open, unfilled jobs for the overall economy moved lower in May, falling to 9.8 million. While ongoing tight labor market conditions have likely confirmed one to two more Fed rate hikes through the start of the Fall, the JOLTS survey is another data point indicating an ongoing but gradual cooling of macro conditions. The count of open… Read More ›