NAHB design awards
The Best in American Living Awards at the NAHB International Builders Show just named winners from nearly 650 submissions — 66 Gold and 159 Silver projects recognized for 2026 (mybluesagehome.com). Judges flagged trends like smaller footprints, multifunctional spaces, indoor-outdoor connections and smart material choices as direct responses to affordability pressures ( ).
NAHB announced the BALA winners during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando on Feb. 23, 2026, with the program’s awards sponsored by Smeg. (nahb.org) The program’s Home of the Year was the El Milagro Residence in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., credited to Landry Design Group Inc. with Sweig General Contracting as builder and Martyn Lawrence Bullard as interior designer. (woodandpanel.us) NAHB named Summerlin West in Las Vegas Best Single-Family Community, a project delivered by Howard Hughes, and Ocean 17 in Carlsbad took the award for Best Multifamily Condominium (built-for-sale, five stories or less). (woodandpanel.us) The Emory in Nashville won Best Multifamily Condominium for buildings six stories or more, a project credited to StreetLights Creative Studio and Clark Construction Group. (woodandpanel.us) Specialty winners included Teton View Residence for log-home design and Fanfol Remodel in Paradise Valley for Remodel of an Entire Home over $750,000, while Robert Wood of Mountainwood Homes was named Remodeler of the Year. (woodandpanel.us) Jim Sattler, chair of the 2025 BALA Subcommittee and president of Jim Sattler Custom Homes, highlighted a shift away from “stark white” toward more accent jewel tones inside homes and darker exterior hues among this year’s winners. (nahb.org) The BALA program, now in its 40th year, recognizes projects across categories including design, multifamily housing, offsite construction and remodeling and publishes a full winners list and project portfolios on the NAHB awards site. (nahb.org)
