Category Insights,  Entry Tips and Formatting Suggestions
 
1. Kitchen Remodel: Understand that the kitchen is all the judges will look at. While other rooms adjacent to the kitchen may be in the photos, the kitchen itself is what matters.
2. Bath Remodel: This is a straightforward category. Our only format suggestion would be to have your photography show as much of the room as possible in as few shots as possible. Small rooms are tough to photograph due to size and lighting issues, so consider this as you put your entry together.
3. Addition: Additions can be either horizontal add-ons or second story additions. They can also be sunrooms.
4. Residential Interior: A project that is done within the existing walls of the original structure.
5. Residential Exterior: Alterations to the exterior of a residential building that do not include the addition of heated or cooled livable space to the home.
6. Detached Outbuilding: Structures that are not attached to the main home. It can include pool houses, detached garage, potting shed, guest house, and we've even had a dog house win this category.
7. Outdoor Living: This category can include porches, decks, outdoor kitchens, hardscape, pools, or any combination of things that create a beautiful and practical outdoor living environment.
8. Residential Specialty Item: This includes any project, or part of a project, that is not included in it's own Chrysalis category. Examples would be: entryways, cupolas, wine racks, fireplaces, stairways, cabinetry or shelving.
9. Whole House Remodel: This can include either or both exterior and interior remodeling. Involving multiple rooms. Our suggestion is that it should include at least one key room such as a kitchen or bath, but that is not a requirement.
10. Residential Historic Renovation: Typically, the entries in this category represent the remodeling of a home built before 1930 to update it for 21st century living.
11. Residential Universal Design: A key element of this category is to show a project that combines great design with Universal Design principles.
12. Best Green Remodeling Project: This entry should address energy efficiency, healthy indoor air quality, durable construction and sustainable material use. It should also include any certifications or test results that support the project.
13. Residential Insurance Restoration: In addition to the "before and after" photography, you should include information on adhering to time and budget schedules, and highlight the challenges of the project.
14. Commercial Insurance Restoration:  In addition to the "before and after" photography, you should include information on adhering to time and budget schedules, and highlight the challenges of the project.
15. Commercial Remodel: This is a very broad category. Keep in mind that our judges are not influenced by the sheer size of a project, but by the creativity displayed.
16. Basement Remodel
 
FORMAT SUGGESTIONS
 
PHOTOGRAPHY: Please submit printed photographs only. No transparencies, slides or digital images can be used in the judging.  Photographs should not be larger than 8' X 10'. Try to avoid printing text directly on the photographs themselves. YOU MAY USE AS MANY PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS NECESSARY TO BEST REFLECT THE PROJECT.

DIGITAL IMAGES: While Chrysalis does not require that you send a CD with digital images, it is suggested. Winning entries that provide digital images along with the photography will have more photos on the website than entries for which we need to scan the photography.

FLOORPLANS, DIAGRAMS, DRAWINGS: Any floorplans, diagrams and drawings that will assist the judges in understanding the project should be included.
 
RETAIL PRICE: Projects on property that you or your company own should reflect the retail price available to a client.

SAMPLE FORMAT
Chrysalis does not disqualify entries due to format, but for those of you who would like a suggestion about how to present your materials, here is one idea.
 
After the cover page, insert a large format photo of the best "after" shot on the first right-hand page, just to lead off with a "wow" photo.
 
After that, insert the pages with your text about the project. The text should be as concise as possible to be sure the judges will read it all.
 
After the text, begin your "before" and "after" photos.  If the photos are large, put the "before" on the left page and the corresponding "after" on the right. If they are smaller format, put the "before" on the left side of the page and the "after" on the right. If you're going vertical, put the "after" on top and the "before" on the bottom.
 
You can place text next to, or below, the photos if you wish. Please do not place text ON the photo. That can distract the judges from the image you want them to see.
 
If you are including floorplans (which never hurts), put them at the end of the entry.
 
Keep the number of photos reasonable. For instance, if you're addressing multiple rooms in a Whole House entry, focus the photography on the most dramatic rooms. Rooms not impacted dramatically should not receive equal space to the ones that were. "During" construction photos do not receive a lot of attention unless they display a significant challenge that was overcome. "Before" photos serve to help the judges understand the scope of the project, but you do not need one "before" for every "after".
 
ASK US FOR HELP: We are always available to answer questions. We are happy to provide suggestions about category selection or entry format. If you submit your entries early, we can even look them over to see if there is anything we would suggest related to format. Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible. Call me, Ken Kanline, at 888-263-5687, or you can email me at info@chrysalisawards.com.