AUSTIN, Texas, July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Among seven
entrants in a recent Austin tour
of homes, one builder's entry beat the odds by earning a surprising
10 out of 15 possible awards in a blind judging process, including
Best of Show and the People's Choice award, which recognizes the
overall favorite among tour attendees.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150729/248594
The builder, Curt Sexton, owner
of Laurel Haven Homes (www.laurelhavenhomes.com), said he was both
surprised and humbled with the results of the 2015 Luxury Home
Magazine Tour of Homes. "We were thrilled to have won so many
awards, because there were many prestigious builders involved in
the tour. We all started with a blank slate and a goal to create
something special, and my vision was to bring forth an inviting
lakeside lodge that created an experience in every room."
Sexton's vision worked well enough to impress both judges and
attendees. To implement the Hill Country theme, he created a
Texas-style lodge, incorporating big timbers, native stone and
textures, warm colors, and several natural elements, including a
nearly one-ton master tub carved out of a single block of
granite.
"I think the result is a warm, comfortable, family home, and
that seems to have made a big impact on the judges," Sexton said.
"But to me, the ultimate compliment was hearing people walk in and
say, 'Wow, this is what I was waiting for. I could live here.'"
Christina Martinez owns the
Austin and San Antonio markets for Luxury Home
Magazine, which hosted the tour, held at The Reserve at
Lake Travis, 30 miles west of
Austin. Martinez said, "It's very
unusual to see one builder sweep most of the awards, but apparently
his home resonated most with the judges. The judging process was
completely blind across the board."
Regina Cotroneo, the designer for
Laurel Haven Homes, said the home
was conceived not only to showcase a Hill Country feel, but also
something extra. "We designed this home to relate to the natural
environment of The Reserve and the lake, but we also gave it a
cutting-edge feel that Austinites want," she said. "The attention
to detail was rigorous, and we meticulously considered every
decision to ensure a cohesive vision."
Combinations of Hill Country stone, water, metal, and massive
timbers are prevalent throughout the house. Entering the home, you
immediately see the "swimming hole" pool and rock waterfall in the
backyard, and you simultaneously hear an indoor waterfall feature
in the foyer. The flex room upstairs is nestled among a canopy of
trees, and the upstairs bunk beds were hand-made on site in the
spirit of a treehouse. There are porcelain tiles that emulate
leather, and the patina on metal panels in the kitchen has the
appearance of animal hide. Even the cork flooring looks like tree
bark.
"We did well because we had something different and our home fit
what people were looking for in a lakeside setting," Sexton said.
"I chose a design that I thought was perfect for the neighborhood
and the lot, and I think we made the people and the judges feel
right at home."
FACT SHEET
- See the Dropbox folder with images of the winning house:
http://bit.ly/LaurelHavenHomesPhotos
- Builder Curt Sexton, owner of
Laurel Haven Homes, has overseen construction of hundreds of luxury
homes in the Austin area. He holds
a degree in construction management.
- Designer Regina Cotroneo has
worked with Laurel Haven Homes for
nearly 10 years.
- The 2015 Luxury Home Magazine Tour of Homes was held
June 13-14, and June 20-21 at The Reserve at Lake Travis.
(www.reserveatlaketravis.com/tour-of-homes)
- Laurel Haven Homes won 10 out of
15 available awards:
- Best Front Elevation
- Best Floorplan
- Best Landscaping
- Best Master Suite & Bath
- Best Outdoor Space
- Best Special Feature
- Best Pool
- Best in Show
- People's Choice Award (the only award presented based on a
blind vote of attendees)
- For the 10th award, Laurel
Haven Homes also received the prestigious Stolle Award,
honoring the late Debbie Stolle, a
home designer known for her dedication, passion and leadership in
the luxury home industry. The Stolle is among the highest honors
awarded by Luxury Home Magazine and only has been presented
three times.
- The People's Choice Award was chosen by tour attendees, each of
whom were provided with a single token with which to vote. Numbered
and labeled voting boxes were placed near the exit of the
tour.
- The granite tub in the master bath was carved from a single
piece of granite over a period of three months. Guiding the
1800-pound tub into place for installation was a slow and laborious
process that required a special crane and 10 men.
- Every attempt was made to ensure the judging process was
completely blind and unbiased. The three Tour of Homes judges –
from Houston, Dallas and Chicago – are knowledgeable in the luxury
homes industry but did not have any connections with any of the
builders on the tour.
- Prior to judging, all builder signage was removed from the
houses and judges referenced each house only by its number. The
only person accompanying the judge was an ambassador, who was
assigned to help each judge with paperwork and guide them to each
home on the tour.
- After each house was judged, the results were sealed in a
packet. All results were tallied in a closed room by four
independent persons not related to the builders or the
development.
CONTACT INFO
Laurel Haven Homes:
- Curt Sexton, owner and
builder
curt@laurelhavenhomes.com
(512) 261-HOME
- Regina Cotroneo, designer
regina@laurelhavenhomes.com
(512) 261-HOME
- www.laurelhavenhomes.com
Luxury Home Magazine (Austin and San
Antonio):
- Christina Martinez, owner,
Luxury Home Magazine, host of the 2015 Tour of Homes at The
Reserve at Lake Travis
christina@lhmsat.com
(512) 655-9795
www.luxuryhomemagazine.com/austin/online/
www.reserveatlaketravis.com/tour-of-homes
Media Contact: Regina
Cotroneo, Laurel Haven Homes,
512-261-4663, regina@laurelhavenhomes.com
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SOURCE Laurel Haven Homes