Cimarron Homes Honored with National Design Award

DURHAM, N.C. - Feb. 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Cimarron Homes President Craig Morrison is pleased to announce the company was recently recognized with a Silver Award for Restoration/Historic Preservation in the 2014 Best in American Living^TM Awards (BALA) by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The winning entry was for work Cimarron Homes completed in 2014 on the massive whole house remodel/renovation in the Franklin – Rosemary Historic District of Chapel Hill: 115 Battle Lane. The company goal in this project was to preserve, protect, and restore this magnificent historic property; by all accounts, the goal was quite successfully achieved. Only footsteps away from Franklin Street and the UNC – Chapel Hill campus, Edward Kidder Graham built this home of Colonial Revival architecture in 1908 when he moved to Chapel Hill to become an English professor. He went on to teach the first journalism class at the university, and eventually became the ninth UNC president in 1913. Graham nicknamed the home “The Bulrushes,” referring to the forest of bamboo in the backyard of the property. He enjoyed living in the home until his untimely death in 1918. His cousin, Frank Porter Graham, also a past UNC – CH president (1930 – 1949) and United States Senator (1949 – 1950), lived in the house as well.

The original 3,200 square foot home had six bedrooms and one bath. Cimarron re-purposed the bedrooms as needed in response to requests by the owners; the home now consists of 3,674 square feet with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. The foundation, framing, and exterior walls of the home are the originals, with new shakes of authentic character, very similar to those used when the house was initially built. The renovation included all new insulation, structural renovation to 80% of the sub-floor, and all new windows, lighting, appliances, and mechanical systems. Cimarron preserved as many original elements as possible. If original items couldn’t be utilized, Cimarron worked with local artisans to have them salvaged or replicated, in keeping with sustainable practices. Cimarron obtained Silver Certification for the home under the 2012 National Green Building Standards Remodeling Certification Program, with an estimated 40.3% reduction in energy use and a 59% increase in water efficiency based on the renovations. The current owners are enjoying low utility bills as well as the satisfaction of knowing that they are making a minimal impact on the environment. In honor of the bamboo for which the house was nicknamed, a small stand of “Bulrushes” is currently housed in the backyard.

“The Best in American Living Awards are the most prestigious awards of their kind, setting the benchmark for innovations in residential home design,” said 2014 BALA Chairman Stephen C. Moore, senior partner – marketing at BSB Design Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. “We are proud to have a long history of honoring those who set the bar high by encouraging creativity, originality and imagination in our industry.”

The Best in American Living Awards program recognizes outstanding achievement by builders and design professionals in all sectors of the residential housing industry including single-family production, custom, rental, affordable, interiors, remodeling, community and international, based on the principle that good design is not, and should not be, limited to high-priced and/or custom homes.  Even the simplest, most affordable homes can receive an award if they showcase good design.

Award winners were announced during the annual NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas in January 2015.

Additional Information about the awards program can be found at bestinamericanliving.com including a review of design trends and an extensive archive.

Cimarron Homes is a Durham, North Carolina-based company committed to building and remodeling homes that are beautiful, functional, energy efficient, and environmentally responsible. Originating in 1982, Cimarron has built over 3,000 homes throughout Durham, Orange, Chatham, and Alamance Counties. As the company continuously strives to be ecologically accountable, it has been instrumental in bringing “Green” to the mainstream. Cimarron builds each and every home meeting or exceeding the specifications of the NAHB Research Center National Green Building Certification as well as Energy Star-Certification. Third party verifiers confirm, upon each home’s completion, that the guidelines of these programs have been met, resulting in one of the highest numbers of Green-Certified and Energy Star-Certified homes in the Triangle and Triad area, exceeding those of many other Triangle and Triad builders. Cimarron Green-Certified and Energy Star-Certified homes consume less energy and other resources, facilitate better indoor air quality, and provide a durable product requiring less maintenance. Customers not only spend less money upon purchase; they also enjoy long-term savings due to the Green/energy efficient/healthy systems included in each home.

To learn more about Cimarron, visit www.cimarronhomes.com or call 919-880-4183.