The competition was hot among the eight builders vying for the coveted Critics’ Choice awards at Tidewater Builders Association’s Spring Homearama; however, it was The Walnut Cottage: The Garden House by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC that caught the critics’ attention. Spring Homearama kicked off with awards presentations on Friday, May 27, in the Eagle’s Nest community in Virginia Beach. The awards recognize the custom home builders, interior designers and landscaping companies for their contributions.

Homearama, open through Sunday, June 12, features nine fully furnished and landscaped custom showcase homes and an Idea Marketplace. The homes range from 2,600 to 4,400 square feet and are priced from the low $500,000s.

Seven have already been sold. Eagle’s Nest is located at Indian River and West Neck roads in southern Virginia Beach and features brick and brick-accent homes along with trails, ponds and 50 acres of conservation area. The annual event, produced by TBA, 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 Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC. It also won the Hampton Roads Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home, Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award, and gold awards for the Best Bath, Best Closet, Best Outdoor Living Area, Best Family Room, Best Pool, Best Home Furnishings, Best Interior Design and Most Creative.

The out-of-town judges were tasked with determining the winners of the Critics’ Choice Awards competition. The complete list of the 2011 winners follows:

Best Home in Show
Gold – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC
Silver – The Cecilia by Ore Builders
Bronze – The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Pilot Media Excellence in Building Award
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC

The Hampton Roads Realtors Association’s Most Livable Home
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC

Best Kitchen
The Cecilia by Ore Builders

Best Bath
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC

Best Closet
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC

Best Master Suite
The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Best Outdoor Living Area
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC, landscaping by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc.

Best Use of Technology
The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Best Family Room
The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC

Associates’ Choice for Coolest Feature
Tie: The Rutherford by HD Watson Builders for its curved stairway and loft
The Rockwell by Ainslie Group/Cohen Homes for the overhead faucet in the master bathtub

TBA Past Presidents’ Favorite Home
The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Best Floor Plan
Gold – The Cecilia by Ore Builders
Silver – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC
Bronze –The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Best Curb Appeal
Gold – The Cameron Lea by TCI Inc., landscaping by Coastal Landscapes Inc.
Silver – The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes, landscaping by Askew Nurseries
Bronze – The Space Exploration House by Robert M. Letchworth, landscaping by Naturescapes

Best Pool/Patio
Gold – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC, pool by Aegean Pools Inc. and patio by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc.
Silver – The Cecilia by Ore Builders, pool by Blue Water Pools and patio by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc.
Bronze – The Celebration House by J.F. Schoch Building Corp., pool by Aegean Pools Inc. and patio by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc.

Best Home Furnishings
Gold – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC, with furnishings by Esprit Decor
Silver – The Cecilia by Ore Builders, with furnishings by Esprit Decor
Bronze – The Rockwell by Ainslie Group/Cohen Homes, with furnishings by Willis Wayside Furniture Co.

Most Creative
Gold – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC
Silver – The Cecilia by Ore Builders
Bronze award – The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes

Best Interior Design
Gold – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC, interior design by Goodwin Interiors
Silver – The Cecilia by Ore Builders, interior design by Complete Interiors
Bronze – The Rockwell by Ainslie Group/Cohen Homes, interior design by Willis Wayside Furniture Co. and Debbie Ainslie

Best Landscaping
Gold – The Cameron Lea by TCI Inc., landscaping by Coastal Landscapes Inc.
Silver – The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes, landscaping by Askew Nurseries
Bronze – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes, landscaping by Renaissance Outdoor Contracting Inc.

Best Craftsmanship
Gold – The Nathaniel Lee by ABT Custom Homes
Silver – The Walnut Cottage by Stephen Alexander Homes LLC
Bronze – The Cecilia by Ore Builders

The Homearama Extra Mile Award
Jeff Ainslie and John Outten of Ainslie Group

Homearama is open through June 12, noon until 9 p.m. Ticket sales will stop one hour before closing. General admission is $10. Active duty and retired military guests and seniors (62 or better) get a $2 discount Monday-Thursday. Children 12 and under and guests in wheelchairs are free. A $3 discount coupon is available at www.homearama.tv courtesy of Hometalk.com, the social home improvement network.

Official sponsors are the city of Virginia Beach, Dominion Virginia Power, Harrison’s Moving & Storage, Hometalk.com, Monarch Mortgage, Southern Hospitality Group, Virginia Natural Gas and Waste Management. Promotional co-sponsors are RSVP publications, ValPak and Pilot Media. More information is available at www.homearama.tv or by calling (757) 420-2434.