Regional “Contractor of the Year” (CotY) Winners were named by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) during this year’s regional competition. Of the 140 winners, only three were from Michigan, and all three came from the Ann Arbor area: Meadowlark Builders, Rochman Design-Build and Wright Street Design Group. These regional winners are now eligible for the National CotY Awards. National winners will be honored at NARI’s Evening of Excellence on Saturday, April 2 at the Westin Jersey City Newport.

An impartial panel of judges who are experts within the industry and associated fields, selected winners based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.

Meadowlark Builders: Kitchen Remodel and Energy Retrofit

Photo provided by Meadowlark Builders

This award-winning project combines remodel of a kitchen, daily entry and adjacent living areas with a deep energy retrofit, including geothermal heating and cooling. Working in collaboration with the homeowner, this home became a one-of-a-kind expression of their personal lifestyle, adding more storage, and great design.

A preference for sharp angles, curves, and asymmetry, guided the design, integrating different textures and modern wood and stone finishes. The kitchen was transformed from a vanilla “builder spec” to a bold contemporary vision with warm, rich colors and textures throughout. As the kitchen area was being transformed, the owner also updated the living room to bring the contemporary flair from the kitchen to the other public area of the home.

Overall energy efficiency was a concern. The home had high energy consumption, poor air circulation, virtually no south-facing glass, and the fireplace wasn’t being used because of the cost to operate. The homeowner understood that while adding solar panels would help in reducing energy cost, it would not alleviate all of the home’s inefficiencies. Meadowlark implemented a home performance retrofit to deeply cut energy use and increase air quality. The homeowner is experiencing approximately 44 percent reduction in energy use, even with increased loads on the house inherent in a remodel.

Rochman Design-Build: Functional Elegance

Photo provided by Rochman Design-Build

Photo provided by Rochman Design-Build

This homeowner wanted a dedicated bathroom for the guest bedroom. As part of their guest suite, it will serve as a home away from home for visitors. In the future, the bathroom will serve the clients themselves, as aging requires more accessibility.

Rochman designed and built an addition on the side of home for this new bathroom, integrating it functionally and aesthetically. This new space is a showpiece, a room that speaks of the client’s sophistication and style, with appealing and accessible fixtures and accessories.

The accessibility of the project is simply one component of a great design. As such, it is built into the fabric of the design, considered alongside practicality, budget and aesthetics. No individual component stands out from the composition. Instead, every piece compliments the whole. In the end, the bathroom is a peaceful and serene space.

Wright Street Design Group: Creating a delightful space in the Woods

Photo provided by Wright Street Design Group

Photo provided by Wright Street Design Group

This 1960s era split-level home came with three delightfully wooded acres and an awkward floor plan. While the homeowner loved their close-to-the-city, country-like surroundings and beautiful outdoor views, the 60s style interiors had to go. Additionally, they were dealing with a floor plan that just didn’t work: a master bedroom door opening to the foyer, an entry visitors just couldn’t find, and no powder room for their guests. 

The rooms on the main level were dark and their kitchen sorely needed an update. In short, this was far from the kind of bright, open, warm and comfortable home they longed to have and enjoy with friends and family.