New Hampshire Home Design Awards Category Overview

New Hampshire Home Staff,

2026 Design Awards Guidelines and Rules

  • There is a $150 per project submission fee.
  • Please choose up to two categories per submission.
  • Entries must be residential projects (commercial projects will be disqualified).
  • The competition is open to projects by New Hampshire-based architects, designers, contractors and builders. In addition to New Hampshire-based projects, businesses may submit projects completed within 25 miles outside of the New Hampshire border.
  • Submissions will also be accepted by architects, designers, contractors and builders located within 25 miles of the New Hampshire border provided that more than 50% of their sub-contractors were New Hampshire-based professionals.
  • All projects must have been completed within the last 10 years.
  • All entries must be submitted digitally through the online form.
  • All entries must be submitted by Sunday, January 18, 2026.

Category overviews

Architectural Design: Traditional

This award recognizes outstanding design by an architect or design/builder who most creatively achieves the homeowner’s goals of emphasizing their home’s special character. Submissions may include either a portion of a home or an entire home, and consideration will be given to projects in a variety of styles.

Architectural Design: Modern

This award recognizes outstanding design by an architect or design/builder of a new or renovated modern home that best achieves the homeowner’s goals in a creative and functional way, using new and innovative construction technologies. Submissions may include either a portion of a home or an entire home, and consideration will be given to projects in a variety of styles.

Green Design: Energy Efficient Home

Green Design: Net Zero/Net Zero Ready

These awards recognizes the homes that best integrates high-performance energy systems with the building’s architecture and site design.  Consideration will be given to all certified projects including LEED, Build Green, Passive House and Energy Star, as well as to independent projects that can provide evidence of the building’s energy performance.
Judging will take into account the following factors:

  1. High-energy efficiency through conservation and renewable energy sources.
  2. Integration of the energy systems with the overall design of the building and site. Traditional and contemporary architectural styles will be given equal consideration.
  3. The quality and sustainability of the overall project.

Historic Restoration

This award recognizes the restoration of a home 50 years or older in a way that preserves the building’s original design. Consideration will be given to the successful integration of new materials to:

  1. Make the home more energy efficient, such as new energy systems, new windows or insulation;
  2. Reduce or eliminate toxic materials, such as asbestos or lead paint; and
  3. Update the building systems.

Interior Design

This award recognizes outstanding work by an interior designer on a new or renovated home. Submissions, judged on concept and creativity, may include either a portion of a home (see categories below) or an entire home, and consideration will be given to projects in a variety of styles.

  • Whole House Design
  • Specialty Small Space (entry, mudroom, laundry, etc.)
  • Home Office
  • Primary Suite or Bedroom
  • Living Space

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Kitchen Design

This award recognizes a kitchen in each of the three categories below whose design creates a beautiful and functional space in which the workspace, storage and traffic flow meet the homeowner’s needs. Further consideration will be given to the materials (tile, stone, glass, etc.), cabinetry and other millwork, fixtures, furnishings and accessories that are used in a creative, aesthetically pleasing way.

  • Traditional
  • Contemporary
  • Transitional – A comfortable balance between Traditional and Contemporary, designed for everyday living and timeless appeal.

Bath Design

This award recognizes baths that go beyond function to become beautiful rooms in the home. Consideration will be given to bathrooms that use materials (tile, stone, glass, etc.), cabinetry and other millwork, fixtures, furnishings and accessories in a creative, aesthetically pleasing way.

Outdoor Design

This award recognizes well-designed and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces. Submissions are invited for the following categories;

  • Outdoor Living Space (including patios, decks, pools, kitchens and dining areas, along with their hardscape (site work and stone work), furnishings, and other decorative items and accessories.
  • Landscape With Pool
  • Landscape Without Pool
  • Garden Design/Best use of plant materials

Remodeling/Renovation Design

This award recognizes outstanding remodel or redesign by an architect or builder of a home or portion of a home. Consideration will be given to projects that have achieved a noteworthy measure of transformation in order to help clients achieve their goals and make “before” spaces more functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Small Home Design (Not ADU)

This award recognizes outstanding design of homes with fewer than 2,500 square feet of finished living space, including kitchen, full bathroom and bedroom(s), and excluding porches. This category also includes very small homes (fewer than 1,000 square feet) and tiny homes (fewer than 400 square feet). Consideration will be given to overall design that helps clients achieve their goals, as well as to projects that use materials in creative, aesthetically pleasing ways.

ADU Design

This award recognizes outstanding design of an Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU)—a living space located on a property or attached to a home that’s separate from the primary living space. The ADU must include a bathroom, kitchen and separate spaces for living and sleeping. It also must have an entrance of its own, separate from that of the main house. The ADU must comply with the size restrictions set by the town where it’s located.

One to Watch: Up and coming talent under 40


New Hampshire Home will recognize an individual within the architecture, design and landscaping community that excels in their industry and shows dynamic leadership. There is no fee for this nomination. To nominate an emerging talent under 40 years of age, please use the submission form here.

Home of the Year


Submissions are not taken for this award. Rather judges evaluate all the submissions to determine the winner based on overall excellence in residential design, considering the architecture of the building as well as its interior design and landscape design. Homes built or renovated within the last five years in a variety of styles will be considered.

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