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Home and Design Trends: CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence

The 2020 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, powered by Avid Ratings Canada, received more than 700 entries across 39 categories this year! Nearly 200 judges volunteered their time to review the incredible entries. And now, the finalists have been announced! So, what home and design trends are we noticing in the finalist entries? Let’s look!

Bright and Bold Colours:

Homes By DeSantis and McOuat Partnership created signage and a logo for their CoMo project with contemporary imagery and a bold, limited colour palette. The finalists in the Signage and Logo category chose colours that contrast brightly in any placement and mimic the refreshing coastal breezes offered at CoMo by the lake. Situated in Hamilton’s picturesque Stoney Creek, CoMo condos offer close proximity to everything you could need, from unique shops to public transit.

Proximity is considered a “must-have” community feature, according to the 2019 CHBA Homebuyer Preference Survey, powered by Avid Ratings Canada.

A pink bike with a basket stands indoors in front of colorful “CoMo” posters, capturing the spirit of housing excellence celebrated by the National Awards for Housing Excellence. Next to it, four digital display screens are aligned in front of large windows, showcasing modern home trends.
Homes By DeSantis and McOuat Partnership, Stoney Creek, ON: “CoMO Coastal Modern Living by the Lake”, Finalists, Signage & Logo category

Dark and Moody Themes:

At the opposite end of the spectrum we’re seeing dark and moody themes steal the show. A finalist in the Interior Decorating category for their project Catania, Brookfield Residential designed this home with a Chicago/New York feel, but for the suburbs. Large black fixtures are bold and complement the theme well.

Side-by-side images: a modern kitchen with black marble island and glass cabinets on the left, showcasing the latest home trends, and a stylish office with wood accent wall, desk, and seating area on the right—both exemplifying housing excellence worthy of National Awards for Housing Excellence recognition.
Brookfield Residential, Calgary, AB: “Catania”, Finalist, Interior Decorating category

Wood, and Plenty of It:

In this home by McKinley Masters Custom Homes, a finalist in the Detached Home-Custom-under 2,500 sq. ft. category, the client wanted a “modern, welcoming and somewhat masculine vibe with materials that would be durable and high quality.” Walnut finishes run throughout the home. This includes a sliding walnut built-in to hide the TV in the great room and walnut paneling on the fridge and freezer (all of which were built on-site). The wooden elements are beautifully juxtaposed alongside a neutral, soft paint palette.

Split image: left side shows a modern dining room with a grand piano, right side shows a cozy living room with large windows, wood walls, fireplace, and contemporary furniture—a perfect showcase of housing excellence that highlights today’s leading home trends.
McKinley Masters Custom Homes, Calgary, AB: “The Bow”, Finalist, Detached Home – Custom – under 2,500 sq. ft. category

Supersized Showers:

Large, seamless showers are trending upwards, according to the 2019 CHBA Homebuyer Preference Survey. In fact, more than 32% of respondents considered it a must-have feature, and it ranked as the second-most desirable feature for the master suite in 2019.

ARTium Design Build, a Bathroom Renovation category finalist, created an oasis for one couple to wash away their stress, literally. A glass panel divides the space into a “shower zone” and “soaking zone”. The shower is curbless to maximize flow between the two. A low-voltage film was installed on the windows, providing the homeowners privacy with just the flip of a switch (turning the windows opaque).

Modern white bathroom with marble walls and floors, freestanding tub, glass shower divider, large windows, towel rack, potted plant, and a woven basket on the ledge—a stunning example of housing excellence inspired by today’s top home trends.
ARTium Design Build, Ottawa, ON: “Timeless for Two”, Finalist, Bathroom Renovation category

What designs, themes, architectural styles are you noticing this year? Tweet at us at @CHBANational!

Follow @chbanational on Instagram for daily photos from finalist entries. Winners of the 2020 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, powered by Avid Ratings Canada, will be announced during CHBA’s Home Building Week in Canada at the Awards Gala on April 3, 2020.

Feature image: McKinley Masters Custom Homes, Calgary Alberta: “The Bow”, Finalist, Detached Home – Custom – Under 2,500 sq. ft. category

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