Awards & Recognition

Earl Williams & Associates promotes energy efficiency and environmental responsibility within the constraints of marketable and affordable building technology. We focus on a home’s environment and the safety it affords our clients realizing that each client has special needs and each home has its own individual challenges.

ARC Awards Building Excellence

Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas ARC Award for Best Kitchen Remodel under $35,000Earl Williams & Associates was awarded first place in 2011 by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas for his Mossy Oak kitchent renovation. The challenge was to open up the area and lose the feeling you were trying to get through a maze. The family wanted more space for entertain friends and business associates, while providing a safe and healthy area for Mom and daughter to spend time together in the kitchen. Since the cabinet frames were in good condition, we decided to replace only the doors and draws to the cabinets. Several interior shelves were made into roller shelves to provide greateraccessibility. The bar sink was removed and the cabinet re-worked into additional storage. All the draws were converted to full extensions with soft close.Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas ARC Award for Best Kitchen Remodel under $35,000

  • The original Island was a small cabinet with an oversize countertop. It had poor storage and was located in a very inconvenient place. The new island was moved to a better location; storage was improved and the 3” butcher-block top not only improves the work space, but adds focal point to the kitchen when entertaining.
  • The double doors leading into the dining room were replaced with a “pocket” door. This design allows for privacy when needed for special occasions, but also allowed us to change the hinge placement for the pantry door. The new design provides not only greater ease in opening the pantry but allowed for a better opening of the pantry away from the oven which meant less chance of some being burnt during an open transfer.
  • The raised front counter separating the kitchen and dining area was removed. This makes these two smaller areas feel more spacious and connected.
    • Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas ARC Award for Best Kitchen Remodel under $35,000
  • The old, free-standing bookcase was replaced with a new built-in cabinet under the front counter. Very early young Ret let it be known that these shelves and draws are for her. It made a great area for her to keep her special books and helper tools for working with Mom.
  • When entertaining, the new counter design provides tons of extra space often needed for hot dishes and large trays.
  • The pass thru “window” counter connecting the kitchen and family room was redesigned to provide greater functionality for entertaining and greater connectivity between the two areas.

Going Green :

  • The kitchen area is nearly 100% LED lighting – remainder being supplied by CFL’s when necessary. With just a little luck, they will sell the home before it is necessary to change any light bulbs.
  • The countertop material is made by Cosentino. It is their ECO line which has 75% recycled content. The color is Riverbed.
  • All paint was either Zero or low VOC coatings
  • All used cabinets were saved and donated to various charities.
  • 2011 Winner – Best Kitchen under $35,000
  • 2011 Finalist – Best Whole House Renovation

Earl Williams & Associates was awarded first place in 2010 by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas for his CAPS project. His Trinity Court remodel for a person with MD demonstrates his expertise as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). The outstanding and unique design, built for a wheelchair patient, brought recognition from his colleagues as well as a grateful and delighted client. He also was a finalist in bathroom designs under $35,000.

  • 2010 Winner – Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)
  • 2010 Finalist – Best Bath
  • 2010 Finalist – Best Website
  • 2009 Winner – Best Kitchen under $35,000
  • 2009 Finalist – Best Bath under $35,000
  • 2009 Finalist – Best Whole House Renovation under $250,000

The Star Awards “Project of the Year – Remodeler”

Earl Williams and Associates Star Award

The Star Awards “Project of the Year – Remodeler” involves a total home remodel in Colleyville, Texas. The client wanted an older home in an established neighborhood with trees and sidewalks but also the newest in home amenities. We presented to him the idea of making this a total green project. It would get the owner the best in resale value, the newest products and the most efficient environment for the health of his family and his pocketbook.

We needed to focus on every system in the house. We inventoried the heat and air conditioning system, with special emphasis on the duct work; the plumbing, with an eye toward water efficiency; and the home’s energy use, particularly with the plug load. The only things we did not change were the windows and the walls. The rest was fair game.

First stop: HVAC. The air conditioning in the home ran constantly, but it never felt cool. There were a number of duct issues and the air returns were very sloppy and inefficient. We put returns every place we put a duct and we divided the downstairs into three separate [HVAC] zones — the kitchen, the living areas, the bedrooms. Each one is set independently during the course of the day as there need for heating or cooling throughout the day or night. We upgraded their original 10 seer units to duel speed 16 seer units. In addition to making the HVAC system more efficient, it also improved the indoor environmental quality of the house.

Next stop: the kitchen. The original countertops were granite, which remain a popular choice in many high-end kitchen remodels, but not appropriate for this clients. This is a very active family with a teenage daughter and middle-school son. Granite was not the choice. Instead, engineered stone was used because it’s “more forgiving, easier to maintain and repair, and it’s quite elegant.” The owners chose a quartz countertop from the DuPont Zodiaq line for the kitchen and as well as the bathrooms.

The kitchen appliances were replaced with new, more efficient models that carry Energy Star® certification, and the light fixtures – both in the kitchen and throughout the house — were refitted with compact fluorescent bulbs

Water efficiency is integral to green building practices, and especially important to these homeowners, who had lived with water restrictions in San Antonio. We replaced the faucets with low-flow fixtures, switched out the toilets with dual-flush models, and the traditional water heaters with the new efficient Tank-less styles.

We also made a point of including safety features in the bathrooms, something we pay closer attention to as an NAHB CAPS professional. New walk-in showers will help prevent slipping and falls, and the toilets are comfort height. They look good, they look elegant, and they are much better for use and efficiency.