Jersey City-based Dixon Projects celebrated a big night last month by winning in five categories at AIBD’s American Residential Design Awards (ARDA), a haul that included nabbing the ceremony’s top prize for the second year in a row.
The eleventh annual awards ceremony, put on by the nationally recognized American Institute of Building Design, took place on August 18 in Philadelphia. The winners were chosen from 144 finished and proposed projects submitted by 41 design firms from 18 states and the District of Columbia.
Dixon Projects officially launched in 2017 as an offshoot of Dixon Leasing, the biggest real estate investment trust in the New York metropolitan area. The company won 12 ARDA categories last year including the prestigious Global Choice category for a property at 272 Ogden Avenue, an ambitious project that saw a 134-year old home rehabilitated into a modern urban oasis with a ground-to-roof elevator, a home theater, and a one-of-a-kind roof deck experience complete with a pool and sweeping cliffside Manhattan views.
This year, Dixon took home five awards, and one of their Jersey City projects was again recognized. A brownstone first constructed in the early 1850s at 109 Sussex Street was acquired by the company in 2013, and a much-needed refurbishment soon followed. On the exterior, a wooden dentilled roofline cornice on the front of the home was restored, while inside, historic details like an original Greek Revival mantel and an artfully restored staircase were incorporated into the modern design.
Despite the plush interior, 109 Sussex Street’s roof and yard are what led to recognition at ARDA. The property won the award for Outdoor Living, and it’s easy to see why. A huge private deck on the top-level features tons of Ipe decking surrounding a relaxing hot tub, while and basement recreation room space opens out to the leafy backyard with sofa seating.
While a home in Jersey City Heights won Dixon the Global Choice award last year, a Brooklyn renovation at 272 Jefferson Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant took home the prize in 2018. The corner-lot brownstone sports a private elevator and saw the restoration of exposed brick accents, decorative fireplace mantels, original mirrors and expertly preserved millwork.
The property’s cellar spa is sure to impress, boasting a full-size lap pool, hot tub, and steam shower. Two large two private terraces off the modern kitchen and master suite add to the property, while a rooftop deck with a fully outfitted wet bar rounds out the 7-bedroom, 5-bathroom home.
Also in Brooklyn, a Dixon project at 48 Downing Street won awards for both Indoor Living and Best Renovation. The Cobble Hill property’s master suite boasts a private roof terrace off the bedroom, walk-in his-and-hers closets and a massive master bath with freestanding soaking tub, a custom double vanity and a standing glass-enclosed shower.
Every full-bath in this circa 1900-era home boasts radiant heated floors, and a large family room grants another opportunity for entertaining guests with a nearby wet bar and a walk-out to the back patio. 48 Downing sports an elevator from the garden level to the roof deck, plus a powder room in the hallway for convenience just off an inventive glass enclosure open to the outdoors.
48 Downing tied for Best Renovation at the ARDA ceremony with another Dixon property at 250 West 139th Street in Manhattan’s Harlem neighborhood. Located in the St. Nicholas Historic District, this late 19th century home features an open concept parlor level sporting a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling exposed brick.
The second-floor master bathroom comes complete with a custom double vanity featuring ceiling-mounted mirrors in front of a freestanding soaking tub, a glass-enclosed shower with bench seating, and a separate toilet room. A top level fully-opening Glazing Vision skybox and private rooftop deck overlooking what’s known as Striver’s Row round out the renovation.
Strong performances in back-to-back years at the American Residential Design Awards have made Dixon Projects a company to watch moving forward, especially considering their plethora of ongoing renovations throughout the New York region.
