Each year, the Lake Norman Home Builders Association awards the “Best of the Lake” titles to Lake Norman’s best designers and builders across a range of different projects and budgets. This year brings an especially stellar crop of spaces and homes, from full home renovations to new homes, stunning outdoor living to chef-quality kitchens.
We are thrilled to share with you each of these winners and their award-worthy work. To see more from our Best Of Issue, check out the digital version here.
Best In Show
Kingswood Custom Homes
Winner of Best in Show: Custom Waterfront Home—Over $3M
This masterpiece also won for best outdoor living space and now it’s time to look at the inside features. The high-end details throughout the home include coffered ceilings, spa bathrooms, windows everywhere to take in the lakeview, warm tones and a strategic use of amazing materials throughout. This is one of Lake Norman’s most incredible homes.
kingswoodhomes.com | Photo: Emily Followill Photography | Stylist: Eleanor Roper. Designer: Jackye Lanham. Architect: John Haley.
Best Kitchen Plan Design
Craft and Trade
Winner of Best Kitchen Plan Design—$100-$200K
This kitchen got a beautiful new update. The existing kitchen had a narrow footprint, dated tile floors, dated cabinets and a dysfunctional layout. The scope was to completely transform the space to match the beautiful home and neighborhood that it’s in. Craft and Trade’s team had the flexibility of reworking the layouts of adjacent rooms and removing walls to create something truly special.
craftandtradenc.com | photo courtesy of Craft and Trade
Best Kitchen Plan Design Kitchen Team
Freshwater Interior Design & Freshwater Custom Homes
Winner of Best Kitchen Plan Design Kitchen Team—Over $200k
The goal was to open the space and have a custom feel to fit the clients’ understated Southern aesthetic. Custom cabinetry was brought in to add functionality and beauty to the space. The dining room was not being used so part of that was allocated for what is now the scullery and bar sink, wine fridge, water dispenser, microwave and hidden storage pantry.
freshwaterinteriordesign.com | freshwatercustomhomes.com | Photo by Victoria Moon
Best Kitchen Remodel—Under $100k
Craft and Trade
Winner of Best Kitchen Remodel—Under $100k
This full kitchen remodel was for clients looking to remove a major structural wall dividing the kitchen and living room to make way for a larger island and create better flow and functionality in the home. Designing something that was modernized without straying from the traditional rich wood tones in the home was important for these homeowners.
craftandtradenc.com | Photo courtesy of Craft and Trade
Best Kitchen Remodel—$100-$200k
Cypress Builders & Homestyles Interior Design
Winner of Best Kitchen Remodel—$100-$200k
The project objectives were to redesign the kitchen layout by relocating the range to a wall and creating a new island with counter-height seating for four. Additionally, the existing pantry was to be converted into a wet bar with storage, featuring a new open connection to the casual dining, living room, and kitchen.
cypress-builders.com | homestylesinteriordesign.com | Photo by Patrick Hood Photography
Best Plan Design Specialty Construction—$25-$50k
Closet Niche
Winner of Best Plan Design Specialty Construction—$25-$50k
It’s truly all in the details with these jaw-dropping custom closet units. Bringing full functionality and space allowed for the owners to never have the need to switch out seasonal clothing again. The custom lighting takes this custom closet to the next level.
theclosetniche.com | Photo by Cameron Glenn – Skyvisions USA
Best Plan Design Specialty Construction—Over $100k
Craft and Trade
Winner of Best Plan Design Specialty Construction—Over $100k
This large 3500 square foot basement was a blank canvas that the client wanted to turn into a multi-room space. Elegance and functionality was of the utmost importance, and the scope of the project included adding an entertaining space with a small kitchen, full swing golf simulator, pantry, wine room, private power room, lakeside bistro, art gallery, gym and bath with sauna. Phase three of the project is to include a conservatory.
craftandtradenc.com | Photo courtesy of Craft and Trade
Best Plan Design Full Home Remodel—$750k-$1M
Pippin Home Designs & A.R Richter Construction
Winner of Best Plan Design Full Home Remodel—$750k-$1M
This Lily of the Valley renovation transformed an oddly angled footprint and awkward floor plan into a functional and accessible forever home for a couple caring for an elderly mother. Privacy and cozy spaces were goals that were achieved while maximizing their lake views. The clients were elated to move into a home that supports their unique requirements while maximizing their enjoyment of the lake.
pippinhomedesigns.com | Photo by Jim Schmid Photography
Best Specialty Outdoor Living Space Remodel—Over $100k
Simonini Homes
Winner of Best Specialty Outdoor Living Space Remodel—Over $100k
This backyard oasis was elevated with a pool cabana, garage bay addition with a pool bath and lanai update. The cooking amenities include everything and the kitchen sink in the cabana. A golf simulator was the clients’ perfect finish to the garage bay.
simonini.com | Photo by Kevin Young – The 5 And 2 Project
Best Plan Design Full Home Remodel — Over $1M
Pippin Home Designs & Henderson Building Group
Winner of Best Plan Design Full Home Remodel — Over $1M
This Lake Forest lodge underwent a heartfelt renovation, taking an inherited family cabin and turning it into a forever home. Preserving memories was paramount. The charming cabin, originally created by the homeowners’ father, exuded a timeless appeal. Preserving the crisscrossed corners of the original cabin demanded a creative approach. This log cabin renovation and expansion successfully balanced tradition with modern amenities, creating a harmonious living space that honored the past while embracing the future.
pippinhomedesigns.com | hendersonbuildinggroup.com | Photo by Barry Gardner
Best Fire Damage Restoration — $750k-$1M
Building Company No. 7
Winner of Best Fire Damage Restoration $750k-$1M
This complete restoration, due to fire damage, transformed this beautiful home into a stunning, modern space. Jeremy reimagined the layout for an open concept house with flowing spaces, functionality and aesthetic appeal enhancements were brought to reality. The result is a residence that feels brand new, with a modern and inviting atmosphere that reflects the quality craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail invested in every aspect of the project. This home now stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful restoration, turning a tragic event into an opportunity for renewal and refinement.
buildingco7.com | Photo by B&B Partners – Scott Bruton
Best Full Home Remodel Under $500k
McMillan Builders
Winner of Best Full Home Remodel Under $500k
This authentic 100-year-old farm house was designed with barrier-free entries in mind, only adding 200 feet of additional building structure. McMillan created two primary suites and some much needed updates to enjoy the views and comfort available. Now, there’s much more livable usable space and the clients love the authentic, untrendy designs that pay respect to the original 1900’s look.
mcmillanbuilders.com | Photo courtesy of McMillan Builders
Best Full Home Remodel — $500-$750k
Alair Homes Lake Norman
Winner of Best Full Home Remodel — $500-$750k
Alair’s client found the perfect lakefront lot with a large home to accommodate their family and visitors. The inside was choppy and the exterior was in serious need of a makeover. Both clients are cooks so a chef’s kitchen was mandatory. Now, they have an open, airy living space that connects inside and out. Alair also added a big, beautiful screen porch, opened up space for bigger lakefront views and created a single level living space to accommodate aging-in-place.
alairhomes.com/lake-norman | Photo by Ascendant Imaging
Best Full Home Remodel—$750-$1M
Freshwater Interior Design & Freshwater Custom Homes
Winner of Best Full Home Remodel—$750-$1M
Freshwater’s goal for this project was to update the home throughout, making every room more functional for the client and installing a consistent style and livable, luxe feel throughout. Rooms were elevated for comfort and warmth, and a bonus room was even added. Staying true to the client’s aesthetic, the home has a timeless design that will be enjoyed for years to come.
freshwaterinteriordesign.com | freshwatercustomhomes.com | Photo by Victoria Moon
Best Outdoor Living Space—$300k-$500k
Lakemist Homes
Winner of Best Outdoor Living Space—$300k-$500k
This outdoor space has it all: a spacious pool, waterfalls, water slides and a full grotto. The rock features, boulders brought from Tennessee, allow for jumping and all kinds of fun. The artificial turf areas give the owners plenty of opportunity for lawn games like bocce or cornhole. A state-of-the art audio system has zoning capability, too. The outdoor bar is connected to the indoor bar along with quad sliders that create a smooth transition for the home.
lakemisthomes.com | Photo by Dustin Sims of Sims Media
Best Outdoor Living Space—$500k
Kingswood Custom Homes
Winner of Best Outdoor Living Space—$500k
Kingswood’s mission with this project was to embrace the home’s phenomenal views while creating multiple comfort areas for the clients. Kingswood’s team left as many trees in place as possible, resulting in a house that blends seamlessly into its surroundings and feels nestled into the cliff—The view from the infinity pool is unmatched. The exterior features New York & Connecticut fieldstone, bluestone, dark siding to tie in with the trees and copper accents which will continue to patina over time.
kingswoodhomes.com | Photo by Emily Followill Photography
Best Single Family Home—$750k-$1M
McMillan Builders
Winner of Best Single Family Home—$750k-$1M
Nordic design inspired this forest setting, creating a harmonious blend of comfort and nature. This five-year project incorporated innovative and cost-effective building methods. This home showcases an authentic aesthetic throughout the use of structural steel components, concrete, metal and glass. The client sought barrier-free living, healthy indoor quality and comfort, and sustainable building assemblies. The drainage system offers drainage to a small erosion control pond. The NAHB certified program of CAPS Universal Design incorporation ensures safe and accessible comfort for all abilities and generations.
mcmillanbuilders.com | Photo courtesy of McMillan Builders
Best Single Family Home—$1M-$1.5M
Titan Custom Builders
Winner of Best Single Family Home—$1M-$1.5M
This coastal oasis comes to life with a stunning home designed for ultimate comfort and effortless entertaining. The home, blending bohemian charm with contemporary luxury, features an expansive living area bathed in natural light. The masterpiece chef’s kitchen showcases custom cabinetry and the oversized scullery ensures ample storage and prep space, making entertaining a breeze. The Caribbean blue pool and hot tub are a personal paradise while the upstairs boasts a primary suite sanctuary, three bedrooms, an office and a media room with wet bar and fridge. With its blend of luxurious finishes, practical amenities and a breathtaking location, this gem is the ultimate retreat for those who value both comfort and style.
titancustombuilders.com | Photo by Skyvisions USA
Best Single Family Home—$1.5-$2M
AR Homes – Monterey Bay Construction
Winner of Best Single Family Home—$1.5-$2M
This spectacular and timeless 5,100-plus square foot custom home featured a stunning open concept living space with versatile play areas, a unique entertainment zone with a golf simulator and enhanced family conveniences. Many challenges were in the mix: infrastructure delays, municipality strict regulations regarding the garage, and an absence of essential utilities and even roadways severely impacted the construction timeline. From top to bottom, the whole home and the seamless outdoor living extension met the clients’ objectives.
arhomes.com | Photo courtesy of AR Homes – Monterey Bay Construction
Best Single Family Home—Over $2M
AR Homes – Monterey Bay Construction
Winner of Best Single Family Home—Over $2M
This 5,700-plus square foot modern home showcases exceptional design and meticulous craftsmanship. The result is a luxurious, functional home that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living, providing a harmonious balance of style and comfort for a multi-generational family. The floating staircase is a show-stopper and the crucial framing alignment of the window specifications is a “hidden” feature that only other craftspeople would appreciate. The stunning home includes five bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms and three ensuite bedrooms upstairs.
arhomes.com/builder/monterey-bay-construction-charlotte-llc | Photo by Diana Todorova Photography
Best Plan Design Custom Waterfront—$1.5M-$2M
Pippin Home Designs
Winner of Best Plan Design Custom Waterfront—$1.5M-$2M
This gorgeous home is donned with walls of windows, inside and out, that display outstanding views of the lake. It’s a single-level forever home that Pippin Home Designs added ease and functional flow to for maximum enjoyment of lakeside living. Two-story ceilings adorned in glass give a bright voluminous feel to all main living spaces, and there is also a four-bay garage, pool, hot tub and his/her work from home spaces. Outdoor features make this an irresistible home year-round, and the personality of this home is second to none.
pippinhomedesigns.com | Photo by Jim Schmid Photography
Best Plan Design Custom Waterfront—$2.5M-$3M
Simonini Homes
Winner of Best Plan Design Custom Waterfront—$2.5M-$3M
The clients, a retired couple, wanted the perfect home to entertain family on the lake. Five bedrooms, five and a half baths, a pool and so many “easy living” features were incorporated. The serene oasis must-haves included a main floor guest room with access to outdoor amenities and the elevation consideration and pool deck level was important so the homeowners can have guests of all ages. The feature that the homeowners perhaps love most is the lakeview from every common space in the home.
simonini.com | Photo by Kevin Young – The 5 And 2 Project
Best Custom Waterfront Home—$1M-$1.5M
Turner Design Build
Winner of Best Custom Waterfront Home—$1M-$1.5M
This tear-down new construction home is 3,100 square feet with 1,000 square feet of outdoor living space. The decision to tear down the prior home was the best decision to accommodate an aging-in-place flow for the elevated features the clients desired. The breathtaking waterfront views are the dominant design feature, and vaulted ceilings and wood beams added further sophistication. The homeowners’ favorite feature is the kitchen.
turnerdb.com | Photo courtesy of Turner Design Build
Best Custom Waterfront Home—$1.5M-$2M
T Whelan Homes
Winner of Best Custom Waterfront Home—$1.5M-$2M
This client wanted a lake house for their large family that would be capable of functioning as a vacation rental first and eventually become their permanent home. The craftsman style, open floor plan with pool and screened in porch were all accomplished to compliment the astounding view. The narrow lot created unique considerations but the result was that all client expectations were exceeded.
whelanhomes.net | Photo by Serena Apostal
Best Custom Waterfront Home—$1.5M-$2M
Lakemist Homes
Winner of Best Custom Waterfront Home—$2M-$2.5M
This unique home has many custom qualities. It’s a five bedroom, five and a half bathroom home with a three car oversized garage and clocks in at nearly 11,000 sq ft. Inside, there’s an outdoor and two indoor fireplaces, a movie theater, basement game area, fitness room and bar. They are all part of the family’s active lifestyle. The property line is fenced with an automatic gate for the owner’s privacy. The outdoor living space even won an award earlier for best outdoor living space.
lakemisthomes.com | Photo by Dustin Sims of Sims Media
Best Custom Waterfront Home—$2.5M-$3M
Kenneth Bealer Homes
Winner of Best Custom Waterfront Home—$2.5M-$3M
This modern, High Country craftsman home has 5,000 sq ft of indoor living space. The architect was elated to create a hovering living room over an open terrace below to expand the views down to the lake. A rooftop deck, hot tub, multiple outdoor fireplaces, screened in porch, outdoor kitchen and dock were all features the retired homeowner requested. A few indoor fun features include a game/theater room, a wet bar with a wine cellar, gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry and woodshop. The use of natural materials such as wood, stone and metal help bring this home to life.
kbhlakenorman.com | Photo by Red Oak Imaging
Best Best Bathroom Remodel—Over $50k
Turner Design Build
Winner of Best Best Bathroom Remodel—Over $50
Turner Design Build helped these clients create a spa retreat primary bathroom with a clean and simple finish without any distracting clutter or accessories. The space features a custom built storage by the tub and vanity and faux stone in the tub alcove.
turnerdb.com | Photo courtesy of Turner Design Build
Best Interior Design—$50K +
Michelle McKoy Designs
Winner of Best Interior Design—$50K +
This beautiful cottage-style kitchen was designed to bring a modern aesthetic alongside the charm one would expect to find in an old home. The focus was to add functionality and storage, and the new high end appliances, plumbing, countertops and cabinet hardware were in order for the remodel of the 60 year old home. Board and batten on the walls, shiplap and beams on the ceiling added the custom touch the homeowners sought.
michellemckoy.co | Photo courtesy of Michelle McKoy Designs
Best Interior Design—$25- $50k
Brenna Morgan Interiors
Winner of Best Interior Design—$25- $50k
This cozy, casual project from interior designer Brenna Morgan was planned to bring comfort and unique furnishings for a family gathering space that would be warm and inviting in this newly built home.
brennamorgan.com | Photo by Katy Perry – Ascendant Imaging
Shining Star Award
Tommy Parr, Production Manager for Lakemist Homes
Winner of Shining Star Award
This person has a lot on their plate with purchasing, estimating, customer selections, vendor relations and permitting. Beyond all this, the dedication shown to improve the company and community has not gone unrecognized. With nearly twenty years of experience in the home-building industry, Tommy provides a wealth of knowledge to the Lakemist team and homeowners. He has personally been involved with more than 250 projects ranging from $150k townhouses to $4 million custom homes, including an oceanfront restaurant in beautiful Southport, NC.
lakemisthomes.com | Photo courtesy of Tommy Parr
