Shutze Splendor

One of the region’s most stringent design competitions yields stellar results when the annual Shutze Awards are presented. The application process is as exacting and precise as the projects, and only the most accomplished professionals compete at this level. 

Founded in 2002, the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) is a national organization committed to preserving and promoting classical design. The Philip Trammell Shutze Awards were created in 2007 to honor the most esteemed projects in the categories of architecture, interior design, landscape design and craftsmanship. Each year, three renowned industry peers serve as judges wherein projects are submitted without any names and judged blindly solely on merit. This year Mona Hajj, Donald Ruggles and Mario Nievera were the judges. 

The prestigious event is held at Atlanta’s Piedmont Driving Club where medals of honor are given to each winner during the black-tie dinner affair. Los Angeles-based designer Madeline Stuart hosted the event that was as rich in talent as she is. 

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles is thrilled to share the award-winning projects with you.

Residential Renovation Under 5,000 Square Feet

Brandon Ingram, C. Brandon Ingram Design

An Atlanta Ranch Renovation, Atlanta, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “This renovation is brilliant. The transformation is remarkable and beautiful. A wonderful expression of Classicism reinterpreted.”

Words from the Winner: “Being recognized among the amazing depth of talent in the Southeast design community makes the Shutze award even more humbling. This project is a perfect example of what can happen when clients fully trust their design team to see their home’s potential in ways even they themselves could never envision.”

Residential Architecture Over 5,000 Square Feet

Historical Concepts

Precedent Redefined, Coastal South Carolina

What the Jurors Say: “Beautifully inventive. It does not break the rules, but twists the rules on their side to tell the story of two houses. Classical detailing with a twist.” 

Words from the Winner: “Reinterpreting the classic form of the historic single houses found in nearby Charleston, we were able to design an imaginative marsh-front home that honors the region’s architectural traditions while celebrating the client’s eclectic, contemporary tastes and creative vision.”

Residential Interior Design Over 5,000 Square Feet

Barbara Westbrook, Westbrook Interiors

Lowcountry Manor, Green Pond, South Carolina

What the Jurors Say: “The details give an elegant, timeless appeal to the home, yet there’s a relaxed, intimate and casual feel within each interior space. Beautiful sensitivity overall.” 

Words from the Winner: “This was a wonderful project to work on, and the clients are incredible stewards of the property. We want our homes to feel personal and to have a soul so this project feels historically accurate, but not stiff. In total, it was the perfect combination of all a designer’s wishes: absolutely wonderful clients, talented architects at Historical Concepts, a terrific builder and incorporating Bob Christian’s trompe l’oeil magic.”

Residential Renovation Over 5,000 Square Feet

Norman Davenport Askins Architect 

Peachtree Heights Tudor, Atlanta, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “The addition looks seamless. The home feels new and refreshed while at the same time honest and authentic. Amazing sensitivity to remodeling and restoring a historic structure.”

Word from the Winner: “We assembled the most compatible design team ever and added our favorite clients into the mix, and there you have it. Our challenge was to put a fresh face on a century-old grand Atlanta lady.”  

Landscape Design – Residential Estate Over 1 Acre

Carson McElheney, Carson McElheney Landscape Architecture & Design

Hunt Country Garden, Atlanta, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “There’s a wonderful marriage of horticulture and site design that makes this garden feel like it will live forever. The rhythms of the plantings and hardscape create a resonance that’s beautiful to behold.” 

Words from the Winner: “We invested significant research into the 18th-century landscapes surrounding the James River. From the entrance gates and other hardscape elements to the plantings, the entire property was carefully considered to be historically accurate yet appropriate for today’s lifestyle. Our clients are passionate about preservation, so this project was incredibly important to all of us, and we are deeply honored to receive this award from the ICAA.” 

Residential Interior Design Under 5,000 Square Feet

Tammy Connor, Tammy Connor Interior Design

Blackberry Farm Guesthouse, Walland, Tennessee 

What the Jurors Say: “This home is comfort for the soul. Materials at peace with the forest beyond and tied to the earth. An inviting interior beautifully situated within the landscape. What an amazing place to come home to.”

Words from the Winner: “Blackberry Farm is such a magical place and we loved designing this guesthouse for a creative, young family with our collaborator Stan Dixon. Using the woods and incredible mountain views as our inspiration, we filled the house with antiques and vintage fabrics that echo the textures and color palette of the natural surroundings. We are so grateful to the ICAA for this honor and to our trusting clients, with whom we have just started another project!”

Landscape Design – Residential Garden Under 1 Acre

Carson McElheney, Carson McElheney Landscape Architecture & Design 

Secret City Garden, Atlanta, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “Sublime spaces create confidence and beauty. Genuine mastery. It feels effortless, with a restrained design that’s respectful of the home, yet chic and contemporary. Absolutely beautiful.” 

Words from the Winner: “Though not large, this garden works perfectly as both an entertaining space and as a means of creating privacy on the hilltop setting. The antique Belgian trough adds character while the landscaping creates the atmosphere of a private garden room. Our clients love to entertain generations of family and friends in the garden, so knowing that the space is so important to them makes this award deeply meaningful to us.” 

Residential Architecture Under 5,000 Square Feet

Pursley Dixon Architecture 

Creekside Lodge, Brevard, North Carolina

What the Jurors Say: “Biophilic design is king here as the views connect to the forest allowing the owners to enjoy an environment that supports rest and relaxation. Each room is like a canvas within the landscape.” 

Words from the Winner: “Of all the houses we’ve designed, this North Carolina getaway is one that touched our hearts deeply. We wanted to create an environment that was like no place the owners had ever been, yet, paradoxically, they would feel they had always known. The earthy characteristics of the home such as the dark bronze roof and mossy-green exterior cladding give the house a chameleonlike quality, helping it meld quietly into its densely wooded backdrop.”

Commercial Interior Design / Historic Restoration and Renovation

Kelley Harris, Harris Interiors

Historic Restoration & Addition, Atlanta, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “This renovation has a warm residential feel that’s beautiful and inviting. The double mantels are beautiful, and the generously detailed interiors look luxurious, personal and welcoming.” 

Words from the Winner: “The interior architecture allowed us to create a luxurious residential feeling in the dining room where the traditional atmosphere is balanced by more contemporary seating. We’re fortunate to work with great clients, and we’re honored and thrilled to accept this award from the ICAA.”

Student / Emerging Professional

Andrew Seago 

Parliament House of Malta Counterproposal, Valletta, Malta

What the Jurors Say: “Showing great confidence and intuition, the superior renderings reflect a sensitivity and historic quality. A wonderful start for an emerging professional.” 

Words from the Winner: “This study of traditional Maltese architecture in the form of a new design for the Parliament House in Valletta was my architecture school thesis project. I’m so honored that it’s won this award.” 

Multifamily, Commercial, Civic, Institutional

HBRA Architects 

New Federal Building and Courthouse, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

What the Jurors Say: “A powerful design that reflects the importance of the functions that are protected. The beauty of the detailing is remarkable. Truly an exemplary public building.” 

Words from the Winner: “This project establishes a dignified presence for a federal building, and one that’s appropriate for the City of Tuscaloosa. The building’s exterior expression is a symbol of civic importance and its interior, a cultural resource with an atrium that integrates an artistic program for public viewing. We are honored to win this award, and thank the judges and the Southeast Chapter of the ICAA for bestowing this award to the firm.”

Artisanship / Craftsmanship

Jill Biskin, Jill Biskin Fine Arts

Classic Vistas, Athens, Georgia

What the Jurors Say: “The trompe l’oeil is lovely and the mere understanding and interpretation gives a well-thought application. This mural invites you to learn more and feel the story that the artist is telling. Beautifully done!”

Words from the Winner: “The Classic Vistas murals are a tribute to the landmarks of my hometown combined with elements of Italian Renaissance decoration that I cherish. I crafted them to embellish the bare walls of the cavernous civic center theater lobby with emblematic images both recognizable and symbolic of the city’s character.”