The 2025 Great American Living Awards recognize the best in home design and community-planning in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards.
Award Winners
The 2025 jury reviewed 249 entries; the following list includes winners and awards of merit in residential design, architecture, and custom-building. Arnon Meadow—James McDonald Associate Architects | Gulick Group won CUSTOM HOME OF THE YEAR, GRAND. Château de Rêve—The Building Group, Inc. | James McDonald Associate Architects won HOME OF THE YEAR, GRAND.
Under 100 Home Sites: District Towns at St. Elizabeths East—The Knutson Companies | Wiles Mensch | Lessard Design won COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR, GRAND. The awards also recognized detached homes, attached homes, and multi-family homes in various price ranges.
Related: Personalizing Your Permanent Holiday Lighting
Design and Architecture
In the detached home category, The Stavanger III at Hazel Run Glen—K. Hovnanian Homes won in the $700,000 to $849,999 price range. Konni at Parkside Village—Toll Brothers won in the $1,000,000 to $1,499,999 price range. Rouse at the Grove at Dominion Hills—Toll Brothers won in the $1,500,000+ price range.
For detached homes on lots 7,000 square feet and over, The Quincy II at Heritage Shores—Brookfield Residential | Devereaux & Associates won in the $400,000 to $499,999 price range. The Canterbury at Estates of Tuscarora—K. Hovnanian Homes won in the $500,000 to $599,999 price range.
Attached Homes and Multi-Family
In the attached home category, The Skyline at Snowden Bridge—Brookfield Residential | Pinnacle Design & Consulting, Inc. won in the under $400,000 price range. The Hemingway at Hiatt Pointe at Snowden Bridge—Brookfield Residential | Devereaux & Associates, P.C. won in the $400,000 to $499,999 price range.
For multi-family homes, The Lowell—Lessard Design | Winthrop | McWilliams Ballard won in the new construction, mid-rise category. The Iris—CBG Building Company | MRP Realty | Moya Design Partners | Greystar won in the new construction, high-rise category.
Related: Swimming Pool Repair Checklist: Preparing for the Summer Season
These award-winning designs will influence future home building and design trends, as they showcase a range of styles and approaches to residential architecture.
Outstanding Living Space or Architectural Feature
The Torrey at Hampstead—Atlantic Builders | KTGY won in the under $2,000,000 category for outstanding living space or architectural feature. The Pool at Château de Rêve—The Building Group, Inc. | Grow Settings won in the over $2,000,000 category.
The awards also recognized custom homes, single lots, and renovations or additions in various price ranges. 1617 Woodmoor Lane—Classic Homes won in the 3,501 to 5,000 square feet category for custom home, single lot.
