Old meets new in this grand spacious kitchen.

Nadia Caron and Karl Dalery won ‘Best Overall House’ for their Quebec country home. In the kitchen, shaker-style cabinets, with soapstone countertops flanking the restaurant-worthy double range, and a reclaimed-wood island contribute to the “new old” look. Influenced by European kitchens, Nadia installed bracketed open shelves in place of upper cabinets to showcase her collection of burnished copper pots.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

Traditional furnishings with hits of youthful colour.

Toronto homeowner Angela Montgomery started her living room makeover by changing the wall colour from a lifeless cream to a pretty shade of celery — making her the winner for ‘Best Use Of Colour’. She splurged on a classic rolled-arm sofa but saved on ready-made drapes her mother customized with tassels and French pleats. She also opted for child-friendly fabrics: the canvas ticking on the sofa can be spot-cleaned, while the bergeres are covered in washable indoor-outdoor fabric.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

A 550-sq.-ft. rental apartment gets a glamorous makeover.

Ryan Townsend of Victoria, B.C. won for ‘Best Small Space’. His fearless more-is-more approach brought a luxe and layered old world energy to his tiny space. His spectacular living room is loaded with large-scale antiques that add a sense of grandeur instead of crowding the room. The baby grand piano was one of the only things that came from Ryan’s previous home.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

Balance, whimsy and elegance in a less-than-spacious area.

Ottawa’s Carrie Mitchell has sleek, unpretentious style that won her the top spot for our ‘Best Decorating’ category. Carrie, with help of her father, Bill, painted, wallpapered, tiled and furnished the entire condo, leaving only the hardwood floors untouched. The resulting look is a casual take on French country that feels unique to her taste and lifestyle.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

Inexpensive porcelain flooring allowed for a splurge on CaesarStone countertops.

Brother Brad and Shawn Hernden of Stratford, Ontario — winners of ‘Best Kitchen’ — achieved their goal to modernize the space while maintaining the warmth and charm of the 104-year-old house. The makeover wasn’t easy: to level the ceiling, Brad tore down years of old plaster, getting right down to the joists. Now, all the elements of a classic hardworking kitchen are integrated with stylish details, showcased against on-trend dark cabinetry and a wood ceiling.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

A big style upgrade without blowing the bank.

Jayne White of Toronto won ‘Best Budget Room’ for her bright bedroom makeover. Using affordable fabrics in bold prints, like an “exploded” houndstooth, Jayne whipped up pillows, seat cushions and drapes to add much-needed interest. A deep brown wall balances the dark closets on the opposite wall (right) and a poster over the bed ties together all the pillow colours. Crafty, inexpensive DIY projects, including the Goodwill chair under the window and the repainted big-box-store chandelier, inject loads of personality.

See more contest-winning spaces in our photo gallery.

A bold print makes this DIY headboard stand out.

Rebecca Domin and Chris Musina of Toronto won ‘Best Use Of Colour’ in our 2009 Design Contest for their budget-friendly apartment. In their minimalist bedroom, the couple hand-crafted the upholstered headboard and the wall-mounted side tables to suit their budget and needs. Vibrant colours in the headboard fabric and the cheerful throw pop against the backdrop of white and soft grey.

Want to see your space in the pages of House & Home? Enter the Design Contest today!

Minimalist decoration emphasizes the height of this two-storey space.

Lori Morgan and David Lank of Vancouver won ‘Best Small Space’ in our 2009 Design Contest for transforming a dark and dingy bachelor loft into a light, modern space that feels bigger than its 900-square-feet. By installing wide-plank zebrawood and bamboo flooring, painting everything white and creating an open, contemporary staircase, the pair have created a gallery-like space with plenty of room for entertaining.

Recreating history on an impressively low budget.

Tim Romanow and Gaétan Gariépy of Quebec City, winners of ‘Best Kitchen’ in our 2009 Design Contest, transformed a cramped, dysfunctional space into a historically-inspired French kitchen. Gaétan, a carpenter, hand-crafted all the cabinetry, countertops and millwork, disguising the strange angles and uneven surfaces common in an old house. He left a space between the glass-fronted upper cabinets and the coffered ceiling to create the illusion of greater height. To open the space further, the island was set on feet so it would look less bulky. The practical, wood-look ceramic tile flooring compliments the dark wood accents, and feels authentically French.

A soft palette, tailored furniture and crisp lines combine for a tranquil space.

Alia Nicola of South Langley, B.C. won ‘Best Decorating’ in our 2009 Design Contest for her chic, newly-built home. Alia choose all finishes, fabrics and furniture, both indoors and out, to bring her dream home to life. In the great room, a tiered chandelier emphasizes the dramatic vaulted ceiling, adding a touch of luxury. The mirror-fronted cabinets below the TV reflect light around the room, giving it a sense of airiness. A roomy L-shaped sofa keeps it cosy.

An art wall adds pops of colour to a white bedroom.

A wall of personal photos introduces a subtle hint of green to a white palette. An upholstered bed frame and layered, silk-trimmed bedding also lend a luxurious feel to the room.

You’d never know this charming bathroom was once filled with avocado-green fixtures.

Emma Doucet and Sébastien Labelle of Ottawa won ‘Best Budget’ in the 2009 Design Contest for their dramatic bathroom renovation. The homeowners stripped the original bathroom down to the studs and refloored, retiled, restored and redecorated. Vintage style is imbued through unfitted fixtures, polished chrome hardware and a classic black and white tiled floor. An old brick chimney was exposed in the corner and echoes the texture of the new subway tile installed behind the bathtub.

Mix classic furniture with contemporary touches for a modern family home.

Tracey Lebedovich and Josh Fehr of North Vancouver won ‘Best House’ in our 2009 Design Contest for turning a dated, wood-panelled ranch house into a stylish, functional home. In the living room, natural light pours through two walls of windows, keeping the main level open and bright all year round. A retro colour scheme and mid-century Eames chairs nod to the original style of the house.

A dresser is transformed into a vanity, using a Carrara marble top and a square vessel sink.

Ryan MacMillan of Toronto won “Best top-to-toe house reno” in our 2008 design contest for turning his poky 1886 Victorian rowhouse into an open, tailored space. In this bathroom, a new clawfoot tub suits the home’s roots, while sleek sconces and subway tile add a modern touch.

See more of Ryan’s polished home in the April 2009 issue.

Bold floral damask wallpaper adds personality to an otherwise sleek space.

In Ryan's bedroom, dark tones are offset by simple bedding, white shutters and a panelled wall that Ryan installed himself in a hour with pieces of MDF.

Carrara marble counters give this small space high-end polish.

Alayne Spafford of Edmonton won “Best Bathroom Makeover” in H&H’s 2008 design contest for this glamorous bathroom makeover. The cabinetry’s centre panel is a mirrored door; the other sections are fitted with wired glass that blurs the view. Wainscotting was created with one-inch square tiles, while moody grey walls tie in with the marble.

See more of Alayne’s pretty bathroom in the April 2009 issue.

Glossy, horizontal white and frosted-glass cabinets give this kitchen contemporary appeal.

Sonali and Himalaya Jain of Oakville, Ont. won “Best Do-It-Yourself Project” in our 2008 design contest for designing and building this kitchen. Green-tinted glass subway tiles on the backsplash add a hit of colour and sparkle. The custom island boasts plenty of storage space and a white quartz countertop, while the dark Shaker-style Ikea cabinets behind it ground the space.

See more of the Jain family’s modern kitchen in the April 2009 issue.

The white fireplace and accents pop against walls painted a warm shade of dark brown.

Erika Federspiel of Toronto won “Best Living Room Transformation” in our 2008 design contest for this character-filled space. Erika had the Danish chair and ottoman refinished and reupholstered to work with the room’s black, grey and brown palette.

See more of Erika’s dramatic living room in the April 2009 issue.

Mini pebble-coloured subway tiles offer a cool counterpoint to warm wood floors.

Custom Shaker-style doors, oversize brushed-nickel hardware and a marble countertop are just a few of the finishes that earned Rhonda Short of Toronto first prize in our 2007 design contest. New windows and an open floor plan make it a bright, practical kitchen for cooking and baking.

See more of Rhonda’s charming kitchen and dining room in the April 2008 issue.

Travel finds mix with inexpensive pieces in a dramatic library display.

Karyn Gordon and Brent Penner of Toronto won second prize in our 2007 design contest for this chic library, built by Brent for a mere $800. Gallery-like black and white photos and a classic colour scheme unify the tiny room. “Built-ins are key when living in a small space,” adds Karyn.

See more of Karyn and Brent’s classic home in the April 2008 issue.

Oversize mirrors and glittery chandeliers flank a restaurant-style stainless steel range and hood.

Chris Williams of Sechelt, B.C. won first place in our 2006 design contest for this dramatic kitchen renovation. The mirrors were strategically placed to offer vistas of the shoreline even while cooking. Counters and subway-tile backsplash in Carrara marble enhance the sophistication.

See more of Chris’ glamorous kitchen in the April 2007 issue.

Clean-lined furniture, wood side tables and cotton and velvet bedding combine in this contemporary design.

A moody blue-grey wall colour sets the tone in this serene and sophisticated retreat. The upholstered leather headboard with nailhead trim complements the refined, masculine look of the room.