Master Builder Awards

Purchased in a state of ruin, the Vantage & Co team were working with a blank canvas in this beautifully renovated Georgian villa in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

In their award-winning bathroom, they took things back to brickwork to completely fit out the room with new Adger black gloss brick tiles, a freestanding Winchester bath, high spec chrome fittings and a contemporary Crittal-style shower screen.

Impacted by the building materials shortage, fast moving market conditions meant soaring quotes added to the pressure to complete on time. Luckily, Vantage & Co’s experienced Project Manager was on hand to keep things moving and delivered the project on budget, thanks to clear communication between suppliers, client, architect and interior designers.

The judges commented that it was ‘an impressive project that proves a quality build company really will go over and above to achieve an amazing result on a period project.’

Find out more about Vantage & Co Group Limited.

For their winning project, Excel Home Design Ltd’s brief was to create a luxury family bathroom that’s practical and easy to maintain.

The challenge lay in the roof. Their clients had one 'must have' request, which was for plenty of natural light, but the existing space was only lit by one small roof window. To bring in light, Excel installed two large VELUX windows, complimented by an LED lighting system providing subtle downlighting. The judges commented that the roof space is ‘stunning and perfectly delivered’ adding that, ‘creating the vaulted ceiling (especially as a late change) would have been tough, but really added to the space’. Elsewhere, sleek, bespoke cabinetry and concealed plumbing keeps visual clutter at bay and provides a sense of space.

Excel have honed their project management processes over a number of years. A valuable part of that is building relationships with the communities in which they work, keeping neighbours updated, and demonstrating respect and courtesy to people who might be affected by their work, managing any issues like rubbish removal and the impact of deliveries.

Their clients commented that ‘every worker on the team showed respect, professionalism and above all, friendliness.’

Find out more about Excel Home Design Ltd.

Our winners in the Bathroom category, Pencil and Brick, carried out the design, project management and build work for this bold and characterful bathroom as part of a larger house renovation. Its quality of finish, along with the team's project management ability caught the judges' eye.

They were impressed that the team had stepped in to rectify a tiling issue made by a non-FMB member hired by the client. Pencil and Brick ensured that the end result was completed to a high standard of workmanship, much to the relief of their clients.

The judges also praised their ability to pay attention to everyone’s needs and concerns. The team fostered a good relationship with neighbours impacted by the work, even helping an elderly neighbour to re-plant the street’s verges.

Their clients had the final word, stating that Pencil and Brick's ‘professionalism and attention to detail has kept us inspired and meant that we constantly have a feeling that our project is as meaningful to this brilliant team as it obviously is to us.’

Find out more about Pencil and Brick Ltd.

After their living needs changed suddenly, the owners of this traditional farmhouse asked Marlfield Joinery and Construction Ltd to help them design and build a small extension to enable them to make the best use of their space and accommodate mobility aids and equipment. The result added a downstairs bedroom and ensuite bathroom, facilitating assisted living as well as an independent lifestyle.

A far cry from the clinical style associated with accessible bathrooms, the finished project is a bathroom that’s worthy of any interiors magazine. The shower area offers level access and is enclosed with a half-height wall that supports a shower seat and arm rests. The non-slip mosaic tiles in the shower were chosen to complement the encaustic-style flooring in the dry area of the room. Marlfield Joinery and Construction Ltd ensured that no detail was left out - sourcing an air body dryer to help the client have full independent use of the new facilities.

The judges praised the team’s ‘excellent collaboration’ with their clients – visiting showrooms together and consulting them at every stage. The result is a bathroom to be proud of, with the clients commending their work. ‘We would highly recommend anyone to use Marlfield Joinery and Construction Ltd for any of their building works but if you are looking for a dignified and discreet team striving for your needs, there is no other Master Builder that we could recommend apart from them.’

Find out more about Marlfield Joinery and Construction Ltd.

The team at I J Curry & Son Ltd had first worked with their clients on a bathroom refurbishment around 12 years ago and have collaborated once again on this winning bathroom project, which was part of a larger house renovation. 

The pandemic put a stop to work on site, but conversations continued over the phone and on video calls to keep the clients in the loop. The clients praised the team for making progress on the project during the early days when all work had to stop for a month and staff were furloughed: ‘They involved us through every aspect of the design and construction, offering advice, support combined with an amazing attention to detail.’ 

A large VELUX window has been installed in the vaulted ceiling, shedding light onto the simple lines of the free-standing bath. Natural stone has been used to lend a spa-like atmosphere to the room. The judges commented that it is a ‘stunning bathroom’ with a ‘beautiful finish’ and praised the company’s fantastic relationship with their client. 

Find out more about I J Curry & Son Ltd. 

It was Thistle Trade Group’s care and consideration for their clients that stood out for the judges, who also praised this calming loft-space bathroom for being ‘contemporary and luxurious, and filled with light’. 

Built as part of a larger home renovation, the bathroom was designed as an adult-only sanctuary, ticking all the boxes for both style and comfort – including an indulgent heated shower seat. 

The bathroom makes clever use of the space. After the challenge of manoeuvring the free-standing stone bath up to the first floor, the team positioned it away from the wall to allow room for two floor-to-ceiling windows. Useful built-in storage was added under the vaulted ceilings. 

Forming a trusting relationship with their clients contributed to the success of the build, helped by Trade Group Ltd’s easy and open approach to communication. To help guide this, they drew up a meeting matrix for all stakeholders, with weekly meetings on site and personal involvement from the directors. In fact, the homeowners were so pleased with the finished project that they took the team out for drinks to celebrate after completion. 

Find out more about Thistle Trade Group Ltd, which is also an FMB insurance customer. 

Part of a single-storey extension and refurbishment project, this stunning luxury bathroom from Bespoke Living Construction features a micro cement shower, bespoke sauna, vibrant living wall and a beautiful vanity unit with stylish vertical cladding. Bathed in natural light thanks to the fully vaulted ceilings and new gable glazing, the freestanding cast iron matte black bath serves as a fine centrepiece amidst the Lusso Stone sanitaryware.

This project was completed within a tight budget and challenging timeframe, with the client stating they would happily recommend the builder to family and friends. The judges loved the attention to detail and the well-considered integration with the rest of the property, stating that the bathroom would not be out of place in a luxury hotel.

Find out more about Bespoke Living Construction Ltd.

Our winners in the Bathroom category delivered a full renovation to a hunting lodge – parts of which date back to the 13^th century. The result was an 8-bedroom retreat space and hotel, with some impressive en-suite bathrooms.

They worked with local architects, structural engineers, ecologists, asbestos engineers and conservation officers to keep the project on track, using traditional building techniques – from lathe and plaster ceilings to lime render and hand-carved stone to replace lintels and window jams in the bathrooms. They also custom built all bathroom joinery to give a bespoke feel.

Judges were impressed that they had replaced the roof whilst maintaining the original structure, and noted the complex nature of this heritage build.

Find out more about AB Conduit Building.

Taking on the brief to produce a compact boutique-style ensuite bathroom in what was their client’s guest bedroom, Misura has worked hard to produce a unique result in this project.

The open plan layout is home to a basin, shower unit and heated towel rails, which work well with the bright aesthetic to create a welcoming space the homeowner can enjoy for years to come.

The team set up a Whatsapp group with the client and shared regular updates as work progressed, to ensure everything was tailored to their liking and customer satisfaction was achieved.

Find out more about Misura Ltd.