Contractor of the Year | Knight Construction Design Inc.

NARI names Knight MN Contractor of the Year

Knight Construction Design has earned two more Minnesota Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The 2016 honors span both indoor and exterior projects and follow Knight’s 2015 National Contractor of the Year recognition.

Photo of Gary Knight and Kristen Peck

Knight won the Gold CotY for Residential Exterior under $200,000 and the Silver CotY for Residential Bath Over $75,000.

The exterior project added curb appeal and accessibility to a home with a daughter who has been confined to a wheelchair most of her life. It featured a covered entry and ramp with decorative metal railing. A tall, side garage addition on the corner lot suits the family's handicap van. And the new roofline enhances curb appeal.

The winning master suite his/hers luxury baths delivered the clients' desired floor plan and quality fixtures despite demanding site challenges (such as demolishing the poured concrete, rebar-reinforced sunken spa tub to make room for the new drop-in air bubble bath. Special care was taken to salvage and match custom millwork and preserve the former fixtures for resale.

“We enter these industry award competitions as much for our clients as for ourselves,” Gary Knight said. “Our projects are a team effort. Our clients are willing to invest in good design, superior craftsmanship and quality materials. We owe these awards to their continued support.”

Gary commended Designer Kristen Peck and Project Manager Jeff Harrison for their award-winning work. Gary and Kristen accepted the awards at the NARI MN CotY Awards Gala attended by more than 300 remodeling industry colleagues at International Market Square on Nov. 17, 2016. Minnesota remodelers entered 89 projects in 26 categories this year. Knight Construction Design won the national CotY title for best entire house remodeling $250,000-$500,000 last year. Read More

Knight captures Triple Crown of 2015 NARI CotY Awards for Outstanding Edina Project

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Knight Construction Design 2015 National Contractor of the Year last weekend for its outstanding work at a Mirror Lake Drive, Edina, home. The Chanhassen remodeler won in the entire house remodeling $250,000-500,000 category. Seven other NARI MN members won in smaller categories. This is the fourth National Contractor of the Year Award Knight Construction Design has won since joining NARI in 2000. It also holds dozens of Minnesota and regional homebuilding and remodeling awards.

Gary Knight had received NARI Minnesota Contractor of the Year gold honors last fall and then took top prize in the NARI North Central Region 3 CotY Awards in the same category earlier this year to qualify for national consideration.

The triple award-winning project features a 17x32-foot addition, dual-sided Montana stone fireplace, large Marvin windows and doors, expanded mudroom, and enhanced master suite and office.

“The addition modernized the flow of the main level and connected the kitchen and living room to the new sitting/dining room. This made the space much brighter and more comfortable,” explained designer Kristen Peck.

By adding just three feet to the home’s front elevation, Knight was able to match the rear addition roofline and make the whole house look new and appealing.

Gary and Kelley Knight are pictured above after receiving the award at the NARI National Evening of Excellence event. Some 160 entries vied for national honors in 36 categories. Judges evaluated the projects on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and presentation without knowing who submitted the entries. Read More

Knight Poised for Fourth COTY Award

Knight Construction Design will learn in April if it will be named a NARI National Contractor of the Year (CotY) for a stunning whole house remodeling it completed in Edina. However, its National Association of the Remodeling Industry peers already have recognized the Chanhassen remodeler in recent months at the state and regional levels.

Knight Construction Design earned two first-place/gold Minnesota CotY awards in the Entire House $250,000 to $500,000 category and the Kitchens Under $60,000 category last November. Then, in February, the whole-house project took first place in the Region 3 (North Central) 2015 CotY competition. With the regional win, the project automatically advanced to the national competition. National winners will be revealed at the NARI National Evening of Excellence in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on April 17.

“While we focus on pleasing our clients, it’s gratifying to see our designs, craftsmanship and customer satisfaction recognized by top contractors, architects and designers, said Gary Knight.

Edina Remodeling up for Third Award

The Minnesota and Regional winner that’s up for national recognition is on Mirror Lake Drive in Edina. It features a 17x32-foot addition, dual-sided Montana stone fireplace, large Marvin windows and doors, expanded mudroom, and enhanced master suite and office.

“The addition modernized the flow of the main level and connected the kitchen and living room to the new sitting/dining room. This made the space much brighter and more comfortable,” explained designer Kristen Peck.

By adding just three feet to the home’s front elevation, Knight was able to match the rear addition roofline and make the whole house look new and appealing.

CotY judges wrote: Addition has seamless transition. Took cookie cutter home and made it unique. Great details. Open floor plan yet definition of individual spaces. Marriage between indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces.

Award-winning Chanhassen Kitchen

Knight built the award-winning kitchen at a Highover Court home in Chanhassen. Five out of seven judges gave it a perfect 60-point score.

While well built with good materials, the home's existing honey maple cabinets, floor and woodwork looked dated and the design didn’t suit the homeowner’s cooking style.

Knight refinished the cabinets with glazed enamel, rebuilt the kitchen hood, and gave the center island a furniture look with beautiful legs, decorative grapes and large base molding to appeal to Jenny's Tuscan tastes. They also modified the little used kitchen desk cabinet to accommodate a beverage fridge.

Knight replaced the granite center island top with walnut plank and reused the stone at the beverage fridge and nearby powder room. With refinished floors, updated lighting and a new backsplash, the space went from drab to fab.

Judges commented: “Excellent and clever use of salvaged materials. Extremely innovative: keeping existing cabinet but making all seem new. Fabulous transformation.” Read More