Calling All Home & Design Professionals
We want to see your best work.
Architects, interior designers, renovation experts and landscapers: Enter your residential projects in Milwaukee Magazine's new design competition. All entries will be reviewed by a prestigious panel of judges, and the winning projects will appear in our October issue.
Categories:
ENTIRE HOME
Home: Custom Primary Residence
We’re looking for a custom, one-of-a-kind home (primary residences only) designed by an architect, architecture firm, architect/designer collaboration, or design-build firm. Please submit photos of the interior and exterior of the home.
Home: Vacation/Secondary Residence
Whether it’s on a lake or in the woods, these homes exemplify leisure living. We want to see projects that support and augment relaxation and recreation. These projects should be designed by an architect, architecture firm, architect/designer collaboration, or design-build firm This category is for secondary residences only. Please submit photos of the interior and exterior of the home.
Home: Builder-Produced (Production or Spec Home)
This category is for builders who deliver homes from a set of existing plans, whether for one client or for several new for-sale or for-rent homes within a community or neighborhood. We’re looking for homes that are on-trend in their styling, use of materials, layout, and livability, from entry-level to luxury, attached and detached.
Home: Historic Renovation
Whether you have renewed and refreshed a 100-year-old Tudor or a 1960s ranch, show how you’ve infused new life into a renovation project while preserving the house’s fundamental character. This category is open to professionals (architects/designers, builders, professional remodelers/renovators) as well as DIYers/enthusiasts. Please submit photos of the interior and exterior of the home.
DÉCOR
Décor: Living Room/Contemporary
Show us your best example of a contemporary or modern aesthetic. Explain the goals of the project and share details regarding how you created the look, including your selection of furniture, artwork, lighting and any accessories that help establish the style (and name the sources, if possible).
Décor: Living Room/Traditional or Transitional
Show us how you’ve reinterpreted traditional style for today’s lifestyle. Explain the goals of the project and share details regarding how you created the look, including your selection of furniture, artwork, lighting and any accessories that help establish the style (and name the sources, if possible).
Décor: Dining Room
This is where family traditions are established and memories are made, and where great design melds with functionality. Explain the goals of the project and share details regarding how you created the look, including your selection of furniture, artwork, lighting and any accessories that help establish the style (and name the sources, if possible).
Décor: Primary Bedroom Suite
For this space, a meeting of comfort and style are a must. We want to see your creativity in creating a sanctuary for rest and relaxation. Show us how you’ve melded the ensuite bathroom with the sleeping area. Explain the goals of the project and share details regarding how you created the look, including your selection of furniture, artwork, lighting and any accessories that help establish the style (and name the sources, if possible).
Décor: Basement
This can be a highly functional family room or a space where dreams run wild. We want to see how you fulfilled your client’s wishes with creativity.
KITCHEN
Kitchen: Small/Contemporary (Up to 200 square feet)
Attaining an uncluttered modern or contemporary look in a small footprint presents an extra challenge. Tell us what the goals were and how you achieved them. Include any insights that will help readers as they plan their own space.
Kitchen: Small/Traditional or Transitional (Up to 200 square feet)
Great design and function are even more important in small spaces. Show how you’ve incorporated storage, style, function and beauty into a smaller footprint, with traditional styling overtones.
Kitchen: Large/Contemporary (Larger than 200 square feet)
Tell us how you achieved the goals of the client while working within a modern or contemporary style.
Kitchen: Large/Traditional or Transitional (Larger than 200 square feet)
Tell us how you achieved the goals of the client while working within a traditional or transitional style.
Kitchen: Remodel
Readers love a good makeover! Give us your best transformation of a dated kitchen. Tell us how you reworked the floorplan and rethought the space. Walk us through the highlights of the project, including those little details that the client loves best. Please include before and after photographs, ideally with matching angles.
BATHROOM
Bathroom: Full
Function is primary in the bathroom, but achieving with beauty and flair can make this space exceptional. Walk us through the highlights of your design.
Bathroom: Half
When space is tight, a designer must work extra hard to make it appealing. Show us how you used creativity to overcome constraint in this project.
Bathroom: Remodel
Transforming an existing bathroom into something fresh, new and functional is the ultimate challenge. Show us how you aced this challenge. Please include before and after photographs, ideally with matching angles.
OUTDOORS
Outdoors: Deck/Patio/Pool
Outdoor living is gaining in popularity. Show us a project that enhances your client’s enjoyment of their yard, whether for entertaining or relaxation. Outdoor kitchens belong in this category.
Outdoors: Landscape
Whether the goal is to enhance the beauty of a home or to create a backyard oasis, we want to see your most outstanding project. Show us how you used greenery, plantings, shrubs and trees to fulfill your client’s desires.
DIYers & ENTHUSIASTS
Please note that category 4, Home: Historic Renovation, is also open to DIYers and Enthusiasts. DIY Categories are not open to profesionnals.
DIY: Living Room
Decorating your living room is a journey of self-expression. Lead us through the planning of your project and how you executed it. Give us the details regarding the paint, furniture, art and other items that you chose. Tell us about the obstacles that you faced and how you surmounted them.
DIY: Kitchen
For the DIY-er, tackling a kitchen is the ultimate challenge. Explain what your goals were, walk us through your planning process and then brag like crazy about the great results! Please include before and after photographs, ideally with matching angles.
DIY: Bath
We want to know how you took your ‘blah’ bathroom and transformed it into a thing of beauty. Describe the process, including what you wanted to accomplish with the renovation and how you achieved it. Please include before and after photographs, ideally with matching angles.
DIY: Kids’ Space
Whether it’s a playroom, nursery or bedroom, creating a space for kids is where you get to let your imagination fly. Give us all the details about how you created a space that delights your offspring. Include the details regarding the paint, furniture, art and other items that you chose. If there are before photos, please include them.
DIY: Basement
A basement is where dreams come to roost. Tell us what your vision was and how you attained it. Lead us through the process, including any obstacles you had to surmount. Let us know the details regarding the paint, furniture, art and other items that you chose. Please include before and after photographs, ideally with matching angles.
Cost per submission (processing fee): $40
Questions?
Check out these FAQs.
Dates to Remember
June 2, 2024: Submission Deadline
October 2024: Home & Design winners announced in the print edition of Milwaukee Magazine