
For the past four decades, NAHB’s Best in American Living Awards (BALA) have celebrated the value and importance of good home and community design.
Over the next several months, BALA will celebrate its significant 40-year milestone by showcasing memorable trends and award-winning projects, as well as celebrating its esteemed BALA Hall of Fame inductees who helped set the stage for today’s design creativity and innovation.
Although trends and best practices in home design have evolved through the years, NAHB’s commitment to driving innovation and improving the places where we live, work and play remains steadfast. NAHB is proud to once again recognize and honor the architects, builders and designers who have become part of the BALA community and made their mark in defining excellence in residential design.
Join us on our journey into the past, and celebrate the evolution of design!

40th Anniversary
Design in the 2010s: A Decade of Innovation and Individuality
The 2010s marked a transformative decade for interior design, witnessing the emergence of innovative concepts...
Unveiling the Iconic Interior Design Trends of the 2000s
The 2000s were an era marked by innovation and rapid technological advancements, which significantly influenced...
2001 Home of the Year: Craftsman-Style Home
Chosen by BALA judges for its simple elegance, impeccable execution of details and organic relationship...
1999 Home of the Year: The Leibovitz Residence
This 1999 Home of the Year is a classic New England shingle-style home in Bethesda,...
2010 Room of the Year: Spanish Oaks
Anchoring the Great Room, the kitchen is as much about aesthetics and overall good design...
2015 Home of the Year: Refined Desert Haven
The owners, who split their time between Arizona and Illinois, were ready to plant firm...
2012 Home of the Year: English Angel
This Arts and Crafts style house draws from the most influential English architects of the...
2014 Home of the Year: Rio Estancia
Taking cues from the panoramic vistas offered on the property, the main home, bedrooms and...