And the nominees are... | Key Residential Awards of Merit

With Oscar Sunday right around the corner, below is our nod to the oldest entertainment industry awards ceremony with our own version of the Key Residential Awards of Merit nominees. While America (and the world) will be tuning in to see the winners of the 86th Annual Academy Awards, we're taking a look back at the home remodeling and construction equivalents with some of our best spaces from projects over the years.

Best Custom Home

Our version of Best Picture would have to be Best Custom Home (or Whole Home Renovation, which is up next). However, unlike the Oscars, we won't make you wait til the end for the big guys. 

Just as Best Picture is considered the most important of all Academy Awards for encompassing the highest quality in directing, acting, music composition, editing, and all other aspects of film making, these custom homes were carefully designed and constructed, down the smallest detail, to ensure the families that reside within enjoy their home for years to come.

And the nominees are... 

Greenbrier Custom Home 2013  (top) Brookridge Custom Home 2012  (bottom)

Best Whole Home Renovation

And now on to Whole Home Renovations, which are similar to Custom Homes in the amount of detail put into each project, however present very unique challenges as you are dealing with an existing structure and possibly old or damaged systems that must be repaired or updated before you can reveal the stunning final masterpiece.

And the nominees are... 

Joyce Way Renovation 2008, Caruth Remodel 2012/2013, Hollow Way Remodel 2012 (left to right)

Best Kitchen or Bath 

(in a Leading Role)

Especially in the world of remodeling, Kitchens and Baths are the superstars! And why not? 

You've got natural stone countertops, tip-top-of-the-line appliances and sparkling fixtures & finishes. These spaces are the most often remodeled because of the high ROI and level of impact the updates make on your daily routine. Don't believe me? Try going a day without setting foot in one of these rooms.

And while we won't even attempt to decide whether the actor or actress best embodies the kitchen or bath, both qualify as the leading role in our review of Key Residential's outstanding projects. 

And the nominees are... 

Edmondson Kitchen 
Greenbrier Master Bath 
Caruth Kitchen 
Edmondson Master Bath 
Greenbrier Kitchen 
Brookridge Powder  
(top to bottom, left to right)

Best Supporting Space

And while K&B may be the leading ladies & gents of the home, they wouldn't be able to pull it all off without a little help from the supporting cast. Whether we're talking a unique specialty room, a custom addition, or an accessory living space with that wow factor, these supporting players give their homes an unmistakable charm. 

And the nominees are... 

Hollow Way Utility/Exercise, Southcrest Study, Hollow Way Poker Room, Creekridge Pool Cabana, Brookridge Entry,  Caruth Sunroom (left to right, top to bottom)

Best Kids' Space

And now on to spaces dedicated to the fans of the Best Animated Feature Film- KIDS. These rooms include a nursery, teen's room, study nook, boys' bunk room and a shared grandkid guest room, all with just the right amount of color, comfort, and  whimsy!

And the nominees are... 

Greenbrier Girl's Room, Edmondson Girl's Room, Joyce Way Study Nook, Joyce Way Boy's Room, Hollow Way Girls' Room  (clockwise from top left)

Best Interior Furnishings

And lastly on our list, the contractor/builder awards equivalent of Best Costume Design, are our spaces with best furniture, accessory specifications, and interior finish materials. Like the icing on a cake, these accouterments place the perfect finishing touches on each space, elevating them from something beautiful, to something truly memorable.

And the nominees are... 

Greenbrier Dining, Reading Room, Hollow Way Great Room, Brookridge Master Sitting (left to right)

To see more of any of the projects featured above, check out our Houzz profile!

And now the Credits (in order of appearance):

Greenbrier Custom Home, Architect: Roberto Castanheira, RC3D, Interior Design: Pat Ratcliff

Brookridge Custom Home, Architect: Fred Roberts, Interior Design: Joanie Wyll

Caruth Whole Home Renovation, Architectural/Interior Desgin: Becci Meier 

Hollow Way Whole Home Renovation, Interior Design: David Cadwallader, Architect: Bruce Bernbaum

Edmondson Whole Home Remodel, Interior Design: David Cadwallader

Southcrest Study Remodel, Interior Design: Pat Ratcliff

Creekridge Cabana Addition, Architect: Roberto Castanheira, RC3D

Reading Room Renovation, Interior Design: Pat Ratcliff

Bedroom Inspirations | Key Residential

In creating our Houzz Bedroom Ideabook, featuring spaces from remodels and custom homes constructed by Key Residential over the years, we came across a few commonalities that make for the perfect place to lay your head. 

Click to see the full collection of  bedrooms in our Houzz ideabook.

Access to the Outdoors 

Being able to walk out onto a patio, balcony, or even directly into your backyard to get a little fresh air is always a good thing. Having convenient, direct access to nature from your bedroom elevates the space from a sleeping chamber for mere mortals to a relaxing retreat fit for royalty.

Natural Light 

While it may seem counterintuitive to add light to a room generally associated with being dark during sleeping, sources of daylight help regulate the body's internal clock and aid in the development healthy sleep patterns. Of course the light must be able to be be controlled or regulated in some way via shades, shutters, curtains, etc. for those lazy days that you just want to sleep in.

High Ceilings

A vaulted, cathedral, or higher-than-standard ceiling can add a sense of drama and grandeur, especially to a master bedroom. This height and architectural detailing also affords you the opportunity to add visual interest with crown molding, coffers, or custom beams. 

Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans are a classic bedroom favorite. They increase airflow, provide ambient noise, and aid in the regulation of body temperature, all of which are extremely important for a restful night's sleep.

Seating Area

Whether it's a chaise lounge or a built-in window seat, having a comfy place to plop down and read a book or have a chat on the phone will increase the comfort level and functionality of your bedroom.

Neutral or Cool Color Palette

While aesthetic preferences and design trends definitely change over time, and there is no hard fast rule about bedroom color, many of the bedrooms featured in our ideabook lean towards a cool or neutral, less saturated palette. As it is generally accepted in color theory that cooler colors have a calming effect while warmer colors are believed to stimulate mental and even physical activity, it makes sense to go for a blue, green, or neutral as opposed to a bright red in your restful and relaxing space.

Got some ideas for a the ultimate bedroom retreat?  Contact us to discuss your upcoming renovation or custom home project today!

Fall In Love With Your Home (All Over Again)

Have you lost that lovin' feeling (when it comes to your home at least)? Well bring it back with a few product upgrades that will help you rekindle the flame in 2014. Below are a few of the top products debuted and reviewed at KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and IBS (International Builders Show) in Las Vegas earlier this month. 

1. Turbo-speed appliances

Speed Microwave Oven

One consistent feature of appliances featured during Design & Construction week is the ability cook foods faster and more efficiently than ever before. On the higher end, at over $10,000 and available in late 2014, the Viking Professional TurboChef Double Oven boasts the ability to cook food 15 (fifteen!) times faster than conventional ovens, using the same high-speed cooking technology used by your favorite nationally recognized coffee shops.   
On the slightly more affordable side, Bosch offers the Benchmark Steam Convection Oven at around $3000. Besides faster cooking, it is being hailed as a healthy option, that will maintain flavors & colors, retain nutrients, and preserve moisture in your food. The Bosch Speed microwave ovens ($1,799 - $1,999) are marketed to combine the cooking ability of convection baking with the speed of a traditional microwave. with five settings: Bake, Broil, Convection, Microwave, and AutoChef Combination. 

2. Temperature Sensing Technology

Delta Faucet Touch20 took home Best of Baths Gold for the technology that allows homeowners to gauge the temperature of the water stream before stepping into the shower. A battery powered thermal sensor detects the water temperature which is communicated through a digital display on the unit that uses colored LED lights to indicate a temperature range. 
  

 Below 80 F = Blue
   80 to 100 = Magenta
   Over 110 = Red

3. Durability/Luxury Hybrid

No, this isn't a car commercial. Rohl has introduced a  Copper Stainless Sink, handcrafted in Italy, offering commercial-grade durability with just the right amount of luxury. The rounded, easy-to-clean bottom edge radius and zero-edge side walls promote quick clean up, while an insulating undercoat on the entire sink is designed to reduce the splash-back noise generally associated with commercial sinks.  The copper look is achieved by a fusing a very thin layer of specialty metal to the stainless steel surface. Stainless Copper performs much better than actual copper, as it will not oxidize or patina over time and offers exceptional surface durability. 

4. Forget charging mats and docking stations, think Charging Surfaces

By partnering with the Power Matters Alliance, DuPont is jumping on the wireless electronics train by embedding a line of Corian countertops with wireless chargers. This technology will allow you to charge your phone simply by placing it on the surface, which will increase the efficiency (and cool factor) of your daily routine. 

For more ideas to spice up your home/owner relationship, check out more News & Trends from Design and Construction Week 2014.

Happy Valentine's Day from Key Residential!

Key Residential | NARI 2014 Regional Contractor of the Year

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Key Residential, Ltd. 2014 South Central Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) in the Entire House $500,001-$1,000,000 category of its annual awards competition.

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis. National winners will be announced and honored at NARI’s Evening of Excellence^SM reception on Friday, March 28, 2014, at the New Orleans Marriott, in New Orleans. National winners will be announced via Webcast the evening of March 28, and the Webcast will be available for viewing for 30 days afterward on www.nari.org/eveningofexcellence.

Hollow Way Whole Home Remodel 2012
Project Manager: Evan Ratcliff

Click to see the entire Whole Home Remodel on Houzz

All projects submitted for judging were an improvement or an addition to an existing structure, with the exception of one category, “Residential Exterior Specialty.”  Otherwise, new construction projects were not eligible.

Competing projects were completed between July 1, 2012, and November 30, 2013, and were not submitted in previous NARI National contests. An impartial panel of judges, experts within the remodeling industry and associated fields, selected winners based on each entrant’s binders, which include “before and after” photography and project descriptions. Judging focused on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation and degree of difficulty.

To be considered for a CotY Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing. The entries of this year’s competition totaled more than $72 million worth of remodeling projects. NARI members represent an elite group of the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as remodelers.

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About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry.  The Association, which represents member companies nationwide—comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors— is “The Voice of the Remodeling Industry.”™ To learn more about membership, visit www.NARI.org or contact national headquarters, based in Des Plaines, Ill., at (847) 298-9200.

Homeowners are estimated to spend a total of $150 billion on home improvements in the U.S. through 2014, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. According to results from the 2012 Member Profile Study, NARI members outpace the industry norm in sales, production and employees, when compared to professionals represented in the Home Improvement Research Institute’s (HIRI) 2011 Remodeling Professional Study.   

Consumers may wish to search www.NARI.org to find a qualified professional who is a member of NARI or call NARI National at (847) 298-9200 and request a free copy of NARI’s brochure, “How to Select a Remodeling Professional.”

Key Residential Receives Best Of Houzz 2014 Award

Annual Survey and Analysis of 16 Million Monthly Users

Reveals Top-Rated Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals

Key Residential, Ltd. of Dallas, TX has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The full-service remodeler was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2014” badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz. 

Caruth Outdoor Dining & Sunroom   [Landscape Design: Jason Osterberger, Architectural Design: Becci Meier, Photogrpahy: Kay Lair]

“Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of a home improvement professional on the Web, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize Key Residential among our “Best Of” professionals for design as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Key Residential, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and reviewing their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

Follow Key Residential on Houzz [Click to see our full profile]