Categories
In an effort to feature more amazing local projects and devote more space to be featured in print, we have split the 417 Home Design Awards contest into two sections: General Excellence and Innovation & Creativity.
General Excellence
General Excellence category winners will be featured in the Summer issue of 417 Home. Innovation & Creativity category winners will be recognized in the Summer issue of 417 Home, but featured in a later issue.
Category 1: Whole House Interior Design
Show us how the design flows throughout the home; how materials coordinate; and how function, personality and comfort come together in your whole home design.
Must submit images of: exterior, kitchen, dining, living, at least one bedroom and at least one bath.
Total number of photos submitted must be a minimum of 8.
Projects entered into Category 1: Whole House Interior Design may not be entered into ANY other/additional categories, without exception.
Category 2: Best Bathroom
Show us your primary or guest bath with inventive fixtures, attractive personal touches, appealing color schemes and intelligent design.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 3: Best Kitchen
We’re looking for main house kitchens, guest house kitchens or outdoor kitchens that have effective work triangles, out-of-the-box cabinetry, show-stopping backsplashes and clever hacks.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 4: Best Living Space
Enter living rooms, family rooms and even outdoor living spaces where purpose and personality shine.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 5: Best Bedroom
We’re looking for bedrooms of all sizes and types that pay attention to comfort, lighting, flooring, window treatments and color.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 6: Best Dining Area
Submit formal or casual spaces made for gathering around the table. Show us how all your design elements and accessories have been perfectly curated and placed for optimal functionality and style.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Innovation & Creativity
Each category will have its own judging sheet based on interior design fundamentals, creativity and functionality.Featured in
Fall 417 Home 2023
Category 7: Best Outdoor Space
We want to see your stylish patios, decks, sun porches, tree houses, gardens, pools and more!
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 8: Best Use of Color
Show us your rooms with carefully curated color palettes, pops of pigments or big hue statements.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 9: Best Mudroom or Laundry Room
Show us how you added personality and creative solutions to a utilitarian space.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Featured in
Winter 417 Home 2023
Category 10: Best Fireplace
Did you design or redesign a fireplace that can’t be overlooked? Submit your fireplace focal point here.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 11: Best Use of Space
Did you create a playroom, media room, wine cellar, home office, entryway, bar, closet or something else entirely in an awkward or leftover space? Then enter it here!
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 12: Most Creative Lighting Throughout
Show us how you used creative lighting techniques throughout the whole home to define space, create different scenes, showcase focal points, and aid in the functionality of a space.
Featured in
Spring 417 Home 2024
Category 13: Best Rendering Come to Life
Show us how you executed your design plan by submitting a rendering of a space and then the final finished product.
Projects submitted to this category may not be entered into any other category UNLESS the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.
Category 14: Best Flooring Throughout
We’re looking for spaces that pay special attention to flooring throughout the whole home. Whether it’s an eclectic mix of wood, tile and rugs or a new take on a classic style we want to see them.
Category 15: Best Use of Technology
Submit a space with cutting-edge innovation that makes life easier or more enjoyable.
Interested in entering a Commercial Design project? Enter the Biz 417 Commercial Design Awards here.
Rules & Guidelines
TIMELINE
November 30: Entry period opens
January 27 at 5 p.m.: Submission and entry fee deadline.
February 29–March 4: Finalists notified.
March 4: Winners notified by phone. Non-winners are notified by email.
June: General Excellence winners are featured and Innovation & Creativity winners are recognized in Summer 2023 issue of 417 Home.
September and November 2023, March 2024: Innovation & Creativity winners are featured in the Fall 2023, Winter 2023 and Spring 2024 issues of 417 Home.
GENERAL INFORMATION
As always, the 417 Home Design Awards is a juried competition established to recognize exceptional interior design projects. All entries will be viewed and scored by a panel of out-of-market ASID judges, and all winners will be honored at the Design Awards Reception in July.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• Submit all entries online at 417mag.com/designawards beginning November 30, 2022.
• As you are preparing your entries, please take time to submit quality professional photographs and write a thorough description of the project, as this is what the judges use for scoring.
• General Excellence winners are featured and Innovation & Creativity winners are recognized in the Summer 2023 issue of 417 Home. Innovation & Creativity winners are featured in the Fall 2023, Winter 2023 and Spring 2023 issues of 417 Home. See category descriptions above.
ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• All designers, builders and architects, as well as the homeowners must be notified and agree to the home being entered.
• Competition is open to both firms and individuals who have completed work in the 417 area code in Missouri.
• All design work, installation and/or construction must have been completed within the past three years.
• Projects may not have been previously featured in 417 Magazine, 417 Home or other local or regional publications.
• A space cannot be entered into more than one category. (Exception: You may only enter one space into more than one category if the additional category is Most Creative Use of Lighting Throughout, Best Flooring Throughout or Best Use of Technology.)
• Each entry must include a completed online form, project statement, professional photographs and entry fee.
PHOTOGRAPHY REQUIREMENTS
• For categories #2–15, upload a maximum of five (5) horizontal and/or vertical photos (.jpg or .png)
• For category #1: Whole House Interior Design, please submit a minimum of 8 photos via the form provided. For additional photos, share a zipped folder of clearly labeled imagery with Jo Jolliff (jo@417mag.com, 417-427-2417 ext. 1010, 2111 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield, MO 65804). Photos submitted in Microsoft Word or Powerpoint documents will not be accepted.
• For category #10, you must include images of the space the fireplace is in as well as closeups of the fireplace.
• For category #13, you must include a rendering of the project.
• Please name each file to identify the image. Please make sure all photos are rotated and right-side-up.
• Photography should be shot by a professional photographer, as these photos are what the judges use to score the space. High-resolution images should be taken with professional lighting and edited with no excessive filtering. Photographer must agree to release rights to allow submitted photos to be printed in 417 Home and/or Biz 417.
• NOTE: If you need professional photographer references, 417 Home can connect you with professional freelance photographers (i.e. not on staff at 417) who are familiar with the contest. Any freelance fees incurred are the responsibility of the contest entrant, and 417 Home is not involved in the transaction. Contact Sarah Patton (sarah@417mag.com, 417-427-2428 ext. 1015) for photographer recommendations.
• If you are chosen as a winner, 417 Home will reach out to obtain high-res, print-quality versions of any lower-res images submitted online.
• If you are chosen as a winner, you cannot use the same photos in your ad that are running in editorial in that same issue.
PROJECT STATEMENT GUIDELINES
• Please upload a brief overview in paragraph form (300-word maximum) detailing the significant aspects of the project. The statement should discuss the projects design concept and the client’s goals, and it should also describe how the designer met those goals and any design challenges they overcame. Please submit this in text format (.txt), as a Microsoft Word (.doc) file or as a Portable Document Format (.pdf).
• NOTE: If you need help with your write-up, 417 Home can connect you with professional freelance writers (i.e. not on staff at 417) who are familiar with the contest. Any freelance fees incurred are the responsibility of the contest entrant, and 417 Home is not involved in the transaction. For writer recommendations, contact Colin Shea Denniston (colin@417mag.com, 417-427-2417 ext. 1014).
MULTIPLE ENTRIES
If submitting multiple entries, complete and submit an online entry form and all accompanying entry requirements for each one. Entries cannot be combined. (But entry payments can be processed one time for the total of all entries to simplify payment.)
FEE (NON-REFUNDABLE)
• Entry fee is $45 each for the first three entries. Each additional submission is $25.
• Entry fees may be paid by credit card over the phone by calling 417-427-2413 ext. 1002. Visa©, MasterCard© or Discover© or by clicking the "Pay Online" link included in your invoice, which can be emailed to you.
• Entry fees will also be accepted by mailing or dropping off a check to the 417 Magazine office (417-883-7417, 2111 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield, MO 65804). Make checks payable to 417 Magazine.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
Entry materials will not be returned due to the high volume of submissions received. Failure to comply fully with contest rules may result in disqualification. Entry fee is non-refundable. 417 Home is not responsible for lost, stolen, ineligible, misdirected, damaged, mutilated or postage-due entries. Winning submissions become the property of 417 Home. Entrants should not submit photographs they do not own outright. NOTE: The property owner must agree to allow 417 Home to photograph their home.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Heather Kane at heather@417mag.com or 561-246-9664.