Kitchen renovations, bathroom remodels, additions and outdoor living spaces were among the entries in Virginia's first Contractor of the Year (CoTY) Awards. Sponsored by the Central Virginia Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), this contest drew 19 entries from the local remodeling community, which includes Richmond and the surrounding 60-mile radius...

First Place: Mason Hearn, HomeMasons
Category: Residential kitchen
Cost: $100,000 (kitchen)

Judges' comments: “This kitchen definitely has the contemporary look and ‘wow’ factor so many people are seeking in this important room today. But it is also very functional and well designed.”

With a client who loves to cook and who wanted to encourage family gathering in the kitchen, Mason Hearn with HomeMasons set about making the transformation from an outdated, dark kitchen to a bright and cheerful room with the latest appliances and a stimulating design.

Challenges included the exposure of the kitchen to the entry hall, which allowed light and views through while screening the kitchen from the entry. This was solved through the invention of an open, screening storage tower with glass shelving that provides a visual transition from entry to kitchen.

The working area of the kitchen now occupies the area that was formerly the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room and work spaces. The new layout accommodates all of those functions and includes a new breakfast area.

The look and feel of the kitchen was updated with custom recessed-panel maple cabinetry and granite contertops. Patterned backsplashes were crafted by cutting ceramic tiles of varied colors. Under-cabinet low-voltage xenon lighting provides task lighting. Warm, light maple wood is mixed with dark-colored granite tops and long, curving walnut tops on the buffet and desk. Vibrant color offsets the warmer tones, with lime-green walls and cobalt-blue pendant lights.