Asimple request for "a really neat" front door by a client snowballed into a one-of-a-kind theme home that stole the night at the recent Vancouver Island Canadian Home Builders' Association CARE (Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence) awards.
Music by the Sea, a music-inspired project by Qualicum Beach-based Camelot Homes and C.A. Design, was the judges' favourite, winning seven Gold CARE Awards, including Project of the Year. It was the public's top pick as well, walking away with the coveted People's Choice Award.
The door of the seaside house features a carving of a violin, just a taste of what's inside. Finely crafted musical instruments, including a harp built into the home's staircase, are found throughout this unusual home, reflecting the love of music by the residents.
"It was a true labour of love," says Dan McLeod, president of Camelot Homes. "The pictures don't do it justice. They only show a quarter of what is in the house. It goes on and on and on."
The 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bath house won for Best Home Design, Best Single-family Detached Home over $2 million, Best Kitchen 175 to 200 square feet, Best Interior - Residential 4,000 to 6,000 square feet, Best Custom Millwork 2,500 to 5,500 square feet, Best Media Room, and Project of the Year.
In the 52 categories for outstanding residential and commercial projects on Vancouver Island, there were 10 of multiple award winners - Coastal Construction, Jenny Martin Design, M. Knight Construction, Maximilian Huxley Construction, Method Built Homes, Palladian Developments, Small Modern Living and Westco Construction, Terry Johal Developments, T.S. Williams Construction, and Westhills Land Corp.
Lee MacFarlane, chairman of the 2012 CARE Awards, said it's the 21st year for the awards on Vancouver Island, which celebrate exceptional craftsmanship and energy efficiency.
The Gold CARE Award winners are judged by an independent panel of industry professionals. To win, projects need to incorporate specific criteria, including unique design, function, creative use of space, compatibility with the environment, energy efficiency, effective land use and cost.
Starting Oct. 1, the winning projects can be viewed at careawards.com. For more information on the organization, go to chbavictoria.com and chbacvi.com.
