All That Glitters: Celebrating the 2026 Gold Nugget Award Winners

“All that glitters isn’t gold” may be a familiar phrase, but the industry’s Gold Nugget Awards offer a different perspective. The annual competition shines a light on projects that go beyond surface appeal, recognizing the ideas, strategies, and design decisions that create meaningful places to live.

The program, which has recognized top innovators in design, planning, and development for the past 60-plus years, announced its 2026 grand honorees at an awards ceremony on July 29 during PCBC, the Pacific Coast’s regional conference and trade show for real estate development.

This year’s competition drew 800 entries in over 60 categories, including single-family production, interior design, custom homes, site planning, multifamily, mixed-use, affordable, commercial, and renovations. Jurors selected several merit winners in each grouping and elevated one project to become the grand winner.

Below are the homes and communities of the year as well as a selection of grand winners in residential design:

Home of the Year: SayeBrook – Barrington QW, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Builder: Saussy Burbank; Architect: Cooper Carry

Residential Detached Collection of the Year: The Edge at Joy Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona
Builder: Camelot Homes; Architect: Hannouche Architects

Master-Planned Community of the Year: Nexton, Summerville, South Carolina
Builder: Brookfield Residential; Architect: Hart Howerton

Best Single-Family Detached Home, Under 2,000 Square Feet: The Sussex at Muirfield, Bellingham, Washington
Builder/Architect: The Lones Group / New Home Strategists

Best Single-Family Detached Home, 2,500 to 3,000 Square Feet: Picasso, Park City, Utah
Builder: Promontory Homes; Architect: BSB Designs

Best Single-Family Detached Home, 3,001 to 3,499 Square Feet: Carlisle Ridge – Plan Two, Las Vegas
Builder: Tri Pointe Homes; Architect: Woodley Architectural Group

Best Single-Family Detached Home, 3,500 to 4,000 Square Feet: The Santa Barbara Polo Residences – Plan 8, Carpinteria, California
Builder: The Chadmar Group; Architect: Robert Hidey Architects

Best Single-Family Detached Home, Over 4,000 Square Feet: The Edge at Joy Ranch – Plan 9523B, Scottsdale, Arizona
Builder: Camelot Homes; Architect: Hannouche Architects

Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Production Home: The Edge at Joy Ranch – Plan 9522A, Scottsdale, Arizona
Builder: Camelot Homes; Landscape Design: Creative Environments

Best Kitchen Design for a Production Home: Jasmine at Francis Ranch – Plan 1 Townhome, Dublin, California
Builder: Trumark Homes; Architect: KTGY

Best Primary Suite for a Production Home: Sereno Canyon – The Windgate, Scottsdale, Arizona
Builder: Toll Brothers; Architect: SDK Design Group

Best Specialty Room for a Production Home: The Edge at Joy Ranch – Plan 9523B Whiskey Room, Scottsdale, Arizona
Builder: Camelot Homes; Interior Design: Pacific Dimensions