Minnetonka, Minnesota --- The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation, Inc. its 2009 Regional CotY Winner in the Residential Exterior Under $100,000 category of its annual awards competition.

DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation is a husband and wife, design/build company with over 20 years experience remaking homes throughout the Twin Cities. Their award-wining “urban retreat” project – built for a young family in South Minneapolis – features a Tudor-style, 2.5-car detached garage, outdoor entertaining space, wood burning fireplace, terraced vegetable gardens, trellis with built-in swing set, and several cutting-edge water retention systems to prevent run-off and capture rainwater for use in the homeowners’ garden. Materials used for the project included FSC-certified framing lumber, Hardi-Plank siding and trim, as well as permeable pavers and locally-fashioned exterior lighting. This exterior project was also awarded two local COTY awards in November 2007 including one for “Sustainable Remodeling.”

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis, and all regional winners will now be eligible for National CotY Awards at NARI’s Evening of ExcellenceSM on March 28 at the Atlanta Sheraton in downtown Atlanta Georgia. Most projects submitted for judging were an improvement or an addition to an existing structure, with the exception of one category, “Residential Exterior Specialty.” New construction projects were not eligible. Competing projects were completed between July 1, 2007 and November 30, 2008 (a 17-month time period) and were not submitted in prior NARI National contests. Judging for regional awards took place at the Association’s national headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois, in mid-January. An impartial panel of judges who are experts within the industry and associated fields selected winners based on each entrant’s “before and after” photography and project description. Judging was based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.

To be considered for a CotY Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing. NARI members represent an elite group from the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as remodelers.

To view before and after photos from this award winning project, visit DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation: www.dghomesandrenovation.com/GALLERY_urban-retreat-garage.htm