Design award programs not only offer recognition and marketing opportunities, they also highlight some of the emerging trends and the types of remodeling projects homeowners are requesting beyond closets, especially specialty rooms: mud rooms, laundry rooms, craft rooms and wine cellars.

This year’s top designers were recognized in some of the industry’s prominent competitions, highlighting their best designs and craftsmanship.

The year kicked off with the announcement of the 20th Custom Woodworking Business Design Portfolio Award winners featuring winners in a variety of categories, including Zepsa Industries, located in Charlotte, NC. The company won the architectural millwork category with the entry “Carpe Diem,” a private mega-yacht interior featuring an art deco style with high gloss lacquer finishes for much of the cabinetry. Enter yourself at WoodworkingNetwork.com/awards.

The 2013 Closets Top Shelf awards were announced in February at the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo and designer DeVoe Martin of Affordable Closets Plus, Bangor, PA, took home four awards for closet remodels in wood and melamine; specialty for a custom bar and was named overall winner. Submit entries starting Nov. 1.

In April NARI announced its 2013 National CotY Award winners naming 26 contractors nationally, including McCutcheon Construction Inc., located in Berkeley, CA. The company won the Residential Addition over $250,000 category with the remodel of a 1920s-style home updating the kitchen, laundry room, powder room and a 228-square-foot addition to the family room and mudroom, and a 300-square-foot underground wine cellar.

At AWFS 2013 winners in both Veneer Tech’s Craftsman’s Challenge and Cabinet Makers Association’s (CMA) Wood Diamond awards were announced.

Among the awardees, Savante Wine Cellars, Denver, CO, won Veneer Tech’s Architectural Woodworking category as well as a CMA Wood Diamond for the category Wine Cellar Over $25K with its “Promenade Wine Room.”

These types of award programs offer designers a opportunities to showcase their projects to a broader audience. When leveraged with marketing, including press releases to local media, can lend credibility as well as increase business opportunities.