The Maryland National-Capital Building Industry Association consists of 750 design and residential construction companies in and around Washington DC who all strive to provide the space for some to call home and others to call masterpieces. The MNCBIA’s Custom Builder Awards acknowledge the best in the region, awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze in each of several categories. ChesapeakeHome is proud to feature a selection of the top winners in categories for custom homes, renovations, kitchens, and additions.
Photo by H. T. Easton
JEFFCO DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Excellence in Craftsmanship
This home by Jeffco replicates an 800-year-old Tuscan village. With the exception of the concrete foundation, all of the materials for the home were handpicked by the homeowners during their many trips abroad. With one-of-a-kind artifacts, authentic Italian tiles and marble, handcrafted cabinetry, and more, it seems not an inch of the home lacks exclusive touches or authenticity.
Photo By Stu Estler
STUDIO Z DESIGN CONCEPTS, LLC
Speculative Traditional Home
Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC is recognized for their notable ability to unite tradition with innovation. This English Tudor style home recalls traditional style with stonework, wood paneling and columns, a copper roof, and a terra cotta chimney pot, among other things. Still, the traditional style is infused with such contemporary touches as a chimney that centers the front of the house but is subtle enough to not dominate the overall design of the exterior. The home exudes a modern aesthetic by way of Old English inspiration.
Photo by Kenneth Wyner
BLOCK BUILDERS
Custom Home Under 3,500 Square Feet
More impressive than making a client’s dream home a reality is doing the same with their second dream home while ensuring continuity with their first. This guesthouse was designed as a secondary space for hosting parties and housing visitors. The main level of the house is a large great room, which can convert into just the right setting for any size party. Home exterior, interior, and landscaping all work together to form a functioning space that serves as an attractive accent to the client’s primary abode.
Photo by Stu Estler
ROSENTHAL HOMES
Custom Home 3,500 to 5,000 Square Feet
For their retirement, these clients had dreamed of an elegant yet manageable home less than five minutes from their grandchildren and just right for entertaining family members. Aside from being low maintenance and conducive to aging, the home is luxurious as well as an active space for grandchildren to play and swim in the pool. Rosenthal successfully carries out the client’s home aspirations with just enough space and just enough elegance to function for entertainment as well as retirement.
Photo by Stu Estler
SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, LLC
Custom Home 7,500 to 12,500 Square Feet
The marriage of a traditional European man and a modern-minded American woman called for the marriage of two very different home styles. Sandy Spring found just the balance of formal and informal when they created this award winning home. Both stunning and spacious, the house celebrates the heritage of both sides of the family and offers the family’s three boys plenty of opportunity to let loose. With deliberately executed design elements, both grand and subtle, this Bethesda, Maryland residence proves different styles and tastes can blend and complement each other when scrupulous planning has built a framework for construction.
Photo by MBK+Associates
SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, LLC
Whole House Renovation
Perseverance is the name of the game in this whole house renovation. Not only did Sandy Spring revive an entire home while preserving its historic feel, but the clients also conflicted with the neighborhood regulations, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the town itself for nearly three years for the opportunity to pursue their vision of remodeling the home. Every corner of this four-floor, 12,000-plus square foot home has been strikingly refurbished while remaining true to character, with stucco patterns from artisans, historic windows from a home in Canada, walnut floors, cut glass mosaic, and even a hidden, underground grotto. Unyielding efforts from both the clients and designers resulted in a rare home the owners felt was well worth the challenge.
Photo by Gerald W. Buckler
CHESAPEAKE LIVING TREASURES, INC.
New or Remodeled Kitchen
Owners of this 1970s rambler saw the need for a facelift in their apparently fatigued kitchen. Once Chesapeake Living Treasures stepped in, not a feature was left to sag and not a color was left dull. After a demolition and the installation of a raised ceiling, custom cabinets, slate flooring, deep-grained hardwood, black countertops, intricate tile work, and all new fixtures and appliances, the kitchen that once existed for mere function has evolved into a charming space suited for entertaining.
STEVENS BUILDERS
Contemporary Custom Home
While many custom homes begin as a collaboration between an architect, a builder, and a speculative or actual client, there was a time when “custom” only ever developed directly from the imagination of individuals looking for truly unique home exactly suited to their needs. This residence in Gaithersburg, Maryland brings custom back to its roots as Stevens Builders started from scratch with the owner’s binder of ideas for the home. From careful planning to execution, Stevens worked closely with the owner every step of the way to take this dream from paper and bring it to life, with such distinguished design details as a two-story deck, stone and stucco exterior, large glass windows, limestone tile, Italian wine room, eight-foot doors, and more.
Photo by Bob Narod
BOWA BUILDERS
Custom Addition
BOWA Builders not only showcased their mastery of design but also their problem solving skills with the construction of this three-level, L-shaped addition that wraps around two sides of the house. More than the successful implementation of a meticulously designed addition, BOWA Builders brought new flare to the design of the home. Most notable is the eagle’s nest, a nautical-themed room adjacent to the new master suite with access provided by a ship’s ladder. This room functions as a boat-trip-planning room for the owner. The addition also made way for a kitchen expansion, family room, breakfast room, sunroom, wine cellar, home gym, and garage.
Photo by Lydia Cutter
LAURENCE CAFRITZ
Speculative Luxury 5,000 to 7,500 Square Feet
When Laurence Cafritz’s neighbors wanted to sell their 1930s rambler, he anxiously purchased the home and with the goal of redesigning it for the market. The result was a 7,000-plus square foot home with stunning features including six bedrooms, a breakfast room, a loft space with a home office, a custom stone fireplace, bay windows, a screened porch, an open Brazilian walnut deck overlooking the yard and swimming pool, and more. In the early stages of construction, the lot went under contract to a family who was able to customize finishes on the home. The complete turn-around of the home was both noteworthy for Laurence Cafritz and satisfying for the market, neighbors, and new owners.
Photo by Anne Gummerson
BELL BUILDERS
Traditional Custom Home & Custom Home 5,000 to 7,500 Square Feet
In addition to winning two awards, it seems fitting this home receive a double take due to its special circumstance. The home was designed by and for Bell Builders’ owner, Frank Bell. One can attribute the warm, charming feel to the traditional inspiration that Bell found in Maryland’s grand old country estates and farm homes. Just the same, one can attribute the master details and remarkable sophistication to Bell’s 35 years of design and building experience. From ceilings to walls, floors to furnishings, not one part of the home lacks intricate design, including its hand-painted murals found even in the garage. Photos by Anne Gummerson
Erica George is a student at Mount St. Mary’s University and an Editorial Intern with ChesapeakeHome. To learn more about the MNCBIA and this year’s winners visit mncbia.org.
AWARD WINNERS
TRADITIONAL CUSTOM HOMES
Gold Bell Builders, Inc. bellbuilders.com or 301-320-0850
Silver Paramount Construction, Inc. paramountconstruction.net or 301-330-9880
Bronze Chuck Sullivan Homes chucksullivanhomes.com or 301-718-9116
TRANSITIONAL CUSTOM HOMES
Gold Chuck Sullivan Homes chucksullivanhomes.com or 301-718-9116
CONTEMPORARY CUSTOM HOMES
Gold Stevens Builders, Inc. stevensbuilders.com or 410-531-2100
CUSTOM HOMES UNDER 3,500 SQUARE FEET
Gold Block Builders blockbuilders.com or 301-652-8566
CUSTOM HOMES 3,500 AND 5,000 SQUARE FEET
Gold Rosenthal Homes rosenthalhomes.com or 301-762-7024
Silver Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC studiozdc.com or 301-951-4391
Bronze Meridian Homes Inc. meridianhomesinc.com or 301-652-4440
CUSTOM HOMES 5,000 AND 7,500 SQUARE FEET
Gold Block Builders blockbuilders.com or 301-652-8566
Gold Bell Builders, Inc. bellbuilders.com or 301-320-0850
Silver Whittington Design/Build whittingtondesignbuild.com or 301-657-5518
CUSTOM HOMES 7,500 TO 12,500 SQUARE FEET
Gold Sandy Spring Builders, LLC sandyspringbuilders.com or 301-913-5995
SPECULATIVE LUXURY TRADITIONAL HOMES
Gold Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC studiozdc.com or 301-951-4391
Silver R.A.M. Investing, Ltd. raminvesting.com or 301-762-0775
Bronze Renovation Studio renovationstudio.biz or 240-374-2525
SPECULATIVE LUXURY TRANSITIONAL HOMES
Gold The Banks Development Co. banksdevco.com or 202-369-9558
SPECULATIVE LUXURY HOMES 3,500 AND 5,000 SQUARE FEET
Gold Studio Z Design Concepts LLC studiozdc.com or 301-951-4391
Silver Georgetown Development Corp. georgetowndevcorp.com or 240-876-3800
Bronze Studio Z Design Concepts LLC studiozdc.com or 301-951-4391
SPECULATIVE LUXURY HOMES 5,000 AND 7,500 SQUARE FEET
Gold Laurence Cafritz Builders cafritzbuilders.com or 301-320-0125
Silver The Banks Development Co. banksdevco.com or 202-369-9558
NEW OR REMODELED KITCHEN
Gold Chesapeake Living Treasures, Inc. chesapeakelivingtreasures.com or 410-586-0200
Silver Paramount Construction, Inc. paramountconstruction.net or 301-330-9880
NEW OR REMODELED BATHROOM
Gold Chrisler Homes, LLC 301-349-2155
CUSTOM ADDITION
Gold BOWA Builders, Inc. bowa.com or 703-734-9050
Silver P & P Construction pandpbuilders.com or 202-548-0404
WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION
Gold Sandy Spring Builders, LLC sandyspringbuilders.com or 301-913-5995
Silver Windsor Construction Group windsorconstructiongroup.com or 301-417-2700
Bronze Building Innovations, LLC 301-467-9283
Bronze Block Builders blockbuilders.com or 301-652-8566
UNIQUE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Gold Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship Jeffco Development Corp. jeffcocustomhomes.com or 301-564-5129
