Lakeside living in Alabama? We’re up for that. And we spotted an exceptional example of the concept among the houses honored at this year’s Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards.

The awards, organized by the Home Builders Association of Alabama, showcase new construction along with remodeling projects, and one of the top-tier categories is “Custom Home Over $1 Million.”

READ: What does a new $3.5 million house in Alabama look like? See one here

A spectacular lake house, a runner-up in this category, boasts amazing views, 22-foot ceilings and a spacious owner’s suite. Known as the “McCoy Project,” it was built by Cornerstone Construction of Arley, a member of the Cullman County Builders Association. Cornerstone Construction specializes in homes on Smith Lake, according to its website.

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

Winners and runners-up in 22 categories were announced on April 15, including “Watching the Warrior,” an extensive remodel of a house on the Black Warrior River. It won best of show and the top prize for a whole house remodel over $500,000.

READ: ‘Secluded paradise’ on Alabama’s Black Warrior River gets stunning $500,000+ update

Here’s how Cornerstone Construction described the “McCoy Project”:

“This lakeside home features expansive views from almost every room. The 22-foot ceilings in the living area allow for loads of natural light through the Windsor windows, showing off the natural stacked stone fireplace, cedar box beams and white oak flooring. The living area flows into the kitchen and dining area, which have their own spectacular water views.

“The kitchen features panel-ready appliances, white cabinets, a white brick backsplash, and a large island with plenty of room for food prep and seating. Just off the kitchen is a screened porch in a timber frame design with yellow pine roof decking and open rafters. The cable railings integrated into the screens allow for open, unobstructed views of the lake.

“The owners’ suite features a walk-in closet with custom shelving and a spacious bath with walk-in shower and soaker tub. The basement has its own living room and kitchen with custom white oak countertops and floating shelves, as well as custom made hanging beds. Metal underpinning on the basement porch ceiling creates a dry space for enjoying the outdoors even on rainy days. The steep backyard was tamed by installing retaining walls and stairs made from natural stone boulders to help create a cart path leading down to the boat dock and fun on the water.”

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

Other projects showcased in the Alabama Remodeling Excellence Awards ranged from kitchen and bathroom remodels to basement upgrades and historic preservation. (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.

A People’s Choice Award — determined by online voting — went to a project called “Elegant Stage for Everyday Living” by Pythoge Custom Homes & Renovations, a member of the Lee County Home Builders Association. It also won the top award for “Custom Home $500,000-$1 Million.”