Meadowlark Receives Silver in Qualified Remodeler's 2026 Master Design Awards

Now in its 48th year, the Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards recognize outstanding remodeling projects from across the country. The 2026 awards featured 65 winning projects across 22 categories, highlighting remodeling work that demonstrates thoughtful design, creative problem-solving, and technical skill.

Qualified Remodeler described the winning projects as more than attractive spaces, calling them "solutions” – projects that demonstrate what can happen when remodeling professionals understand their clients, respect the existing home, and bring creativity and technical skill to the assignment.

A Kitchen Designed Around Real Life

For this Ann Arbor remodeling project, the goal was to transform an underperforming kitchen and dining nook into a space that was more functional, organized, and reflective of the homeowners' lifestyle.

The 184-square-foot kitchen was redesigned with semi-custom cabinetry that significantly increased storage and organization. An existing pony wall was removed and replaced with a semi-peninsula that provides seating for three, creating a more useful spot for casual meals and entertaining.

But some of the most meaningful design solutions are the ones that respond to everyday life.

One example is a custom rolling gate designed to contain the family dog when needed. Rather than relying on a temporary barrier, the gate integrates into the cabinetry and disappears when it isn't being used. It is a small detail, but one that makes the kitchen work better for the people-and pets-who use it every day.

Good Design Is About More Than How a Space Looks

This award is especially meaningful to Meadowlark because it recognizes an approach we bring to every project: thoughtful design should solve problems, support how people live, and make the most of the space and resources available.

As a design-build firm, our designers and builders work together from the beginning of a project. That collaboration lets us consider design, construction, budget, materials, and functionality together, rather than treating them as separate parts of the process.

In this kitchen, that meant looking beyond the obvious aesthetic updates to find opportunities to improve storage, circulation, seating, and everyday functionality-all within a defined budget.

We're honored to have this work recognized alongside remodeling projects from across the country and grateful to our clients and project team who helped bring this kitchen to life.

Thank you to Qualified Remodeler for recognizing this project with a 2026 Master Design Award.

View the project and full award coverage on Qualified Remodeler → https://www.qualifiedremodeler.com/2026-master-design-awards-kitchen-less-than-100000-silver/