A 琉璃神社-based custom home builder cleaned up a national contest for housing excellence earlier this month for its homes in Vernon and 琉璃神社.

Frame Custom Homes, established in 2006, won top prize at the Canadian Home Builders鈥� Association鈥檚 digital gala on May 7, winning the Design Excellence Award 鈥� based on cumulative results in the new home and home-spaces categories.

鈥淥bviously, we鈥檙e pretty ecstatic,鈥� owner Bill Frame said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be recognized by your peers for the work you do.鈥�

Frame and his team also won the Best Detached Custom Home 4,001 to 5,000 square feet for the Overlook in 琉璃神社 and Best Detached Custom Home over 5,000 square feet for Lakeside Haven in Vernon.

The win is even sweeter, Frame said, as a smaller Okanagan builder beat out the likes of national competitors in major city centres.

鈥淚t really reflects on what we鈥檙e doing in the Okanagan,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e leading edge. We鈥檝e got a lot of opportunities here that lend to the Okanagan lifestyle and it seems that, for everyone I build for, for sure, wants to incorporate that design philosophy.鈥�

That鈥檚 exactly what the Foots wanted in their lakeside retreat on Okanagan Landing Road.

Ray and Kathy Foot said they鈥檙e thrilled with the national recognition of Lakeside Haven, the four-bed, six-bath home complete with an elevator, pool and putting green.

鈥淲e are very happy for our builder,鈥� Kathy said. 鈥淲e think very highly of him.鈥�

This wasn鈥檛 the Foot family鈥檚 first time building a custom home. The family has lived in and built in Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary.

And while the new Vernon masterpiece overlooking Okanagan Lake isn鈥檛 their primary residence yet, it is their forever home.

鈥淲e built this house for our family,鈥� Kathy said, noting her children live in Vancouver and her 91-year-old mother resides in Calgary. 鈥淭his is a real meeting place for our family.鈥�

Vernon was an easy choice for the family who spent many summers in the area.

鈥淲hen we talked to our kids about where to build there was no hesitation: Vernon,鈥� Ray said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 our history, that鈥檚 what we love. That鈥檚 where we focused our attention.鈥�

The duo brought a lot of their successes from their Arizona home to the design table, specifically the outdoor living area, which was recognized in a provincial competition.

鈥淥ne thing we really appreciated about Bill is his attention to detail,鈥� Kathy said. 鈥淚f we wanted something, he made it happen.鈥�

That鈥檚 one of the perks of being a smaller builder, Frame said, noting the size allows staff to build a more intimate building relationship with clients.

鈥淚n doing so, we get to know them, understand them and help them to ultimately build out their dream,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you turn a house over to people and they鈥檙e speechless and emotional, you get to share in that.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 ultimately the most important thing: the relationships we build with our clients.鈥�

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