California-based Landry Design Group (LDG) took home multiple awards, including two Golds and five Silvers, from the 40th annual Best in American Living Awards™ (BALA) gala at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida. One of the firm’s Gold winners, the El Milagro Residence, was also named Home of the Year, the competition’s most prestigious recognition. The judges favored this home for its design continuity, inviting spaces, and successful integration of modern elements with a historic structure — noting that it addressed significant design challenges while maintaining architectural character.
Presented by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) — and sponsored this year by SMEG — BALA spotlights the most creative and innovative residential construction projects that redefine excellence for homes and communities around the world.
The award-winning homes by LDG could not be more different, highlighting the firm’s versatility in working with disparate environments, employing diverse design objectives, and overcoming unique site challenges. What each of them shares is an elegant sense of drama that makes every Landry-designed home memorable, both in terms of aesthetics and spatial experience. Take a look at the top winners below:
El Milagro Residence
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
HOME OF THE YEAR and Gold Award: Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home Over 10,000 SF
Located in a prestigious community near San Diego, where the hilltop site’s 270-degree views dictated many design decisions, LDG reworked the floor plan of this original Italian-style residence to complement a casual family-oriented, indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Incorporating limestone columns, terracotta balconies and wood rafters, LDG created an Andalusian-style villa with a central interior courtyard. Every room opens either onto the courtyard or to surrounding gardens offering mountain or garden views. A covered loggia overlooking an expansive lawn and pool enhances entertainment without intruding into private spaces and provides a transition between the formal entertaining spaces and the private family areas.
Brentwood Residence
Los Angeles, CA
Gold Award: Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home 8,000 to 10,000 SF
Inspired by the owners’ desire for a contemporary residence possessing the warmth of a traditional farmhouse, this design seamlessly harmonizes those disparate themes and is an excellent example of LDG’s innovative “transitional approach” that blends traditional and modern design elements. The language of tradition — with features reminiscent of an old country home — is reflected in simplified gable roofing, weathered wood siding, and the whitewashed brick façade. However, more modern aesthetics are revealed in a glass-ensconced outdoor foyer whose contemporary open-sky trellis is evocative of a grand coffered ceiling. Throughout the home’s interior, the integration of time-honored materials with clean, contemporary lines achieves both the warmth of traditional design and the drama of modernism.
Southern California Equestrian Pavilion
San Diego, CA
Special Award and Silver Award: Best Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
In an equestrian enclave outside of San Diego, LDG designed a nine-building compound that truly speaks to the casual indoor-outdoor lifestyle that defines the California Dream. Mediterranean-themed architecture and a sequence of gardens tie the project’s diverse functional centers together on 15 acres of rolling hills and vineyards.
Honored with a Special Award in its category, the horse stable on the property supports an equestrian program for eight horses while integrating seamlessly into the estate’s architecture. Its layout, developed with an equestrian consultant, prioritizes safety, circulation, and the well-being of the horses. High-quality natural materials — wood siding, flat terracotta roofing, and steel hardware — reinforce the building’s connection to the main residence and outbuildings, while reflecting the understated character of California Ranch design. Rubberized pavers provide comfort for the horses, and custom Dutch doors ensure functionality without compromising architectural integrity.
See the full list of winners here.
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