If you think it sounds crazy to spend more than $500,000 to remodel one home in Alabama, a spectacular house on the Black Warrior River just might change your mind.

This property, which overlooks the river in a secluded spot, was updated, upgraded and given a new lease on life by the Taylor Burton Company of Hoover. The extensive project, called “Watching the Warrior,” won best in show on Saturday, April 15, at the 2023 Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards organized by the Home Builders Association of Alabama. It also won the top prize for a whole house remodel over $500,000.

(See photos of the house in the gallery at the top of this post.)

“Nestled in the curve of the Black Warrior River, this location gives its owners their own secluded paradise, but the home was in dire need of upgrades due to years of neglect,” the Taylor Burton Company says in its project description. “Warm tones of stained sapele wood paired with absolute black stone highlight the new front exterior. Stucco and wall to wall glass surround the perimeter of the home.

“To make the 18-foot tall, 1,100 square-foot addition feel as if it were original to the existing structure, the front entryway was reconstructed into an elegant opening with an accent art wall serving as the focal point. This created an inviting transition area seamlessly merging the old with the new. The dining room features an accent wall composed of tropical island stone and surrounded by white oak tambour cabinetry.

“The 70s-style kitchen was expanded, and now includes a bronze coated range hood, quartz countertops and a seamless hidden pantry. The renovated modern design throughout the home is characterized by clean lines, bold shapes and a minimal color palette that is complemented by the natural beauty of the river. Unique features abound, such as in the guest room, which has two large openings on either side of its entrance to provide an infinity view effect from either side of the main living area.

“To provide privacy when the guest room is in use, two hand-crafted mahogany doors, weighing over 400 pounds each, were installed on a concealed roller system. Outside, the clients wanted to cover the new rear patio and outdoor kitchen, so a cantilever roof system with 45-foot clear spans was installed to provide protection from the elements without obscuring the sensational riverbend and mountain views.”

An exterior photo of the river house, provided by the remodeling company, gives a sense of how gloomy it appeared before remodeling.

The home builders’ association didn’t provide information on the exact location of the river house, or who the owners are. That’s typical for these awards, which focus on remodeling projects and the companies who do them.

“Watching the Warrior” took the top spot at the 2023 awards ceremony, but winners and runners-up in 22 categories were announced on Saturday. Projects ranged from kitchen and bathroom remodels to basement upgrades to custom houses that cost more than $1 million to build. (See the full list of winners and runners-up here. Photos and information on the projects also are featured in the video below.)

To qualify for this year’s competition, projects had to be completed in Alabama between June 30, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022. More than 100 projects representing 13 local home builders associations were submitted. A panel of judges, made up of builders and remodelers from around the state, reviewed and scored the entries.

One award is pending — a People’s Choice Award — and interested folks can vote for their favorite projects via the Alabama Home Builders Association website. Voting closes at midnight on Thursday, April 20. Winners will be announced on Friday, April 21.