2025 YMC Design Award Winners
It’s time to reveal the top design projects from this year’s 2025 Your Modern Cottage Design Awards Competition.
The 2025 Your Modern Cottage Design Awards celebrates exceptional custom residential home designs from across the United States that embody our three core principles of great residential design: Homes designed for the uniqueness of the clients; Homes built for today and the future; and Homes that are a retreat from the complexities of our world. We also embrace the idea that modern is less about a specific style and more about a way of living — which is why submissions of all design styles were encouraged and welcomed.
This year, judging took place internally with the expertise of Nick Uccello of Uccello Fine Homes, LLC. Winners were selected in three categories: New Modern Cottages, Additions and Renovations, and Small Modern Cottages. The winning projects are showcased below, with upcoming posts offering a deeper dive into each of the designs.
Winner, New Modern Cottage: Opal Architects; Photo Credit: Trent Bell Photography
1. New Modern Cottages
Houses designed to take us away from the modern rush. These homes provide a retreat for the families that gather there and provide a place where they can reconnect with each other. Size of homes can range but should be no more than 4,800 square feet.
Winner: The Roost, Opal Architects
2. Additions and Renovations
Houses specifically altered, adapted, and renovated for the families living within them. These designs transform a mundane house and turn it into something special.
Winner: Old Lawley Toll, Amy A. Alper Architect
Honorable Mention: Lil’ Shingle, Best Practice
Winner, Additions & Renovations: Amy A. Alper Architect; Photo Credit: Adam Potts Photography
Honorable Mention, Additions & Renovations: Best Practice; Photo Credit: Rafael Soldi
3. Small Modern Cottages
This category celebrates new modern cottages that are small and efficient, but still accommodate a very comfortable, modern lifestyle. Cottages in this category were capped at 1,600 square feet.
Winner: Icicle House, Syndicate Smith
Honorable Mention: Keystone, DeForest Architects
Winner, Small Modern Cottage: Syndicate Smith; Photo Credit: Will Austin Photography
Honorable Mention, Small Modern Cottage: DeForest Architects; Photo Credit: Andrew Giammarco
