The weather may be cooling down, but sales at Norfolk’s East Beach community are heating up. Adding to the fire is this year’s Fall Homearama, which kicked off with Critics’ Choice awards presentations on Friday, Oct. 15, where custom home builders, interior designers and landscaping companies were recognized for their contributions to 2010 Fall Homearama.

This year’s Homearama, Oct. 16–31, features nine fully furnished and landscaped custom showcase homes, a condominium at The Villas at East Beach and an Idea Marketplace. The walkable community features parks, porches, sidewalks, beach access to the Chesapeake Bay and attention to architectural detail. The annual event, produced by Tidewater Builders Association, is designed to stimulate interest in new housing and homeownership.

The winner of the coveted Critics’ Choice Best Home in Show gold award was The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes. The Little Pink Cottage also won The Hampton Roads Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home, Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award, TBA Past Presidents’ Favorite Home, as well as awards for the Best Kitchen, Best Use of Technology, Best Craftsmanship, Best Home Furnishings, Best Curb Appeal and Best Floor Plan.

Judges came from as far away as Kentucky to determine the winners of the Critics’ Choice Awards competition. The complete list of the 2010 winners follows:

Best Home in Show
Gold – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes
Silver – Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods
Bronze – The Live Oak Cottage by Bill Ore LLC

Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

The Hampton Roads Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

Best Kitchen
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

Best Bath
Tie: Tribute to the Armed Forces by Richardson/Viridian Homes
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

Best Closet
The Live Oak Cottage by Bill Ore LLC. Closet by The Closet Factory.

Best Master Suite
Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods

Best Outdoor Living Area
Tie: The St. Mary by Crumley Group Inc.
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

Best Use of Technology
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes. Technology integration by Converge.

Best Family Room
Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods

Associates’ Choice for Coolest Feature
Twin Oaks by North Shore Construction Co. for its shuttered front porch

TBA Past Presidents’ Favorite Home
The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes

Best Floor Plan
Gold – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes
Silver – Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods
Bronze – Nicole Kathleen by L.R. Hill Custom Builders

Best Curb Appeal
Gold – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes, with landscaping by Robert Nye of Renaissance
Outdoor Contracting Inc.
Silver – Nicole Kathleen by L.R. Hill Custom Builders, with landscaping by Stuart’s Landscaping and Well
Drilling
Bronze – The Live Oak Cottage by Bill Ore LLC, with landscaping by Jamie Nisbet of Outdoor Impressions
Inc.

Best Home Furnishings
Gold – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes, with furnishings by Value City Furniture, Stein
Mart and Kirkland’s
Silver – Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods, with furnishings by La-Z-Boy
Furniture Gallery and Kettler
Bronze – Family Tides by Simpson Builders Inc., with furnishings by Willis Furniture

Most Creative
Gold – Twin Oaks by North Shore Construction Co.
Silver – The Live Oak Cottage by Bill Ore LLC
Bronze award – Tie:
Nicole Kathleen by L.R. Hill Custom Builders
Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods
Oktoberfest Haus by Simpson Builders Inc.

Best Interior Design
Gold – Blue River Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes & Neighborhoods, interior design by Susan Cox of
Goodwin Interiors
Silver – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes, interior design by Beth Gilbert of Gilbert Interiors
Bronze – The Villas at East Beach by East Beach Co., interior design by Kathy Browning of Design
Consultants

Best Landscaping
Gold – The Live Oak Cottage by Bill Ore LLC, landscaping by Jamie Nisbet of Outdoor Impressions Inc.
Silver – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes, landscaping by Robert Nye of Renaissance
Outdoor Contracting Inc.
Bronze – Family Tides by Simpson Builders Inc., landscaping by Jane Cantin, Landscape Architect, and
Carter Winn of Winn Nursery of Virginia

Best Craftsmanship
Gold – The Little Pink Cottage by ABT Custom Homes
Silver – Family Tides by Simpson Builders Inc.
Bronze – The St. Mary by Crumley Group Inc.

Best Exhibit
The Tile Shop

Best Exhibit Honorable Mention
B&T Kitchens Cabinets & Countertops

Homearama is open to the public Oct. 16-31, noon until 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Norfolk’s East Beach. Ticket sales will stop one hour before closing.

General admission is $10 for a one-day pass and $17 for a two-day pass. Active duty and retired military guests and seniors (62 or better) get a $1 discount Monday-Thursday. A $1 discount coupon good for Monday-Thursday will be available at homearama.tv. Only one discount applies. No discounts Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cox Communications customers who present a bill can purchase two tickets for the price of one on Tuesdays, Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. Children 12 and under and guests in wheelchairs are free.

Presenting sponsor is BB&T. Official sponsors are the city of Norfolk, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Dominion Virginia Power, Monarch Bank, JES, Phillips Automotive, Titan America, Virginia Natural Gas and TowneBank. Promotional co-sponsors are RSVP Publications, Cox Communications and Pilot Media.

More information and a discount coupon are available at www.homearama.tv or by calling (757) 420-2434.