Recently, the national competition of the Dream Home Awards were held to present honors to the companies and individuals who assist in creating America’s dream homes and have set new standards of excellence in the building industry.

  

Twenty-two thousand firms from all 50 states were invited to compete in custom home products, interior design, commercial and mixed-use projects as well as the prestigious Community of the Year, Home of the Year, Community Service of the Year. The Dream Home Awards offer 64 categories including Best Historic Renovation, Best Custom Contemporary Home of the Year, Best Multi-Family Living, Best Exterior Makeover, Best Condo & Loft, Best Bathroom Make-over.

  

One local builder, Morning Star Builders, whose unique and creative designs have set new standards across Texas, won the silver award in the national Best New Home Kitchen of the Year competition. The gold award winner for Best New Home Kitchen of the Year was Michelangelo Homes, LLC in Bonita, Florida.

  

“Receiving this award in a competition with builders from all over the country is a real honor, especially for our kitchen. Our kitchens have always been one of our signatures. The award means our uniqueness in our kitchen designs work,” said Ted Cummins, chief creative officer, Morning Star Builders LTD.

  

The kitchen, which drew the spotlight at the competition, has very unique features, including the ceiling which is the main focal point.

  

“The ceiling, is all brick and is arranged in a herring-bone pattern. It is also a barrel style with a vault, followed by another barrel,” Cummins said.

  

Another feature which impressed the judges is the symmetry of the design. The lighting, cabinetry, built-in family table, and doors are in line with the centers.

  

Also the built-in refrigerator is centered on the vault. Immediately across from the refrigerator is the double-door French pantry, which again, is centered.

  

“It is the detailed symmetry which really brings this room together,” Cummins said. The kitchen also boost dual temperature wine coolers, wine storage, double pull-out trash cans, under counter seven inch flip television, cook-top which matches the cabinetry, pull-out spice rack and microwave.

  

“The microwave by Sharp, is also a much loved feature. The microwave is in a drawer underneath the counter top, like a DVD player. The tray slides out, you put your dish in and with the slightest touch it retracts,” Cummins said.

  

Most women have difficulty checking food in the microwave due to the high placement of the built-in. But in Morning Star’s kitchen, you look down inside the microwave, which is a much-loved feature for all who have visited the winning kitchen.

Another feature which continues to awe visitors is the kitchen island with a built in table and seats six. The 48″ Thermodore stainless, dual-fuel range offers two gas cook-tops, and two electric ovens and a griddle. This has also been a popular detail,” Cummins said.

  

The recently completed 4,447 square foot home with the award-winning kitchen is located at 15035 Hidden Valley Waters Drive, Cypress, Texas, which is minutes from FM 249 and Louetta. According to Cummins the home will be entered in the Greater Houston Builders Association’s Parade of Homes August 1-9, 2009.

  

The awards were created to host an independent award program for the nation’s building industry. It is a non-exclusive program open to all trades and professionals in the industry. There are no membership fees to compete. Dream Home Awards has 64 categories. The competition was open to interior designers, architects, builders, re-modelers, communities and trade contractors.

  

For more information on the Dream Home Awards please visit www.dreamhomeawards.com