The Apollo Group Design & Build Named "NARI 2010 Contractor of the Year"

Great room fireplace shown before (top photo) and after (above). Kitchen remodel shown before (top photo) and after (above).

Scottsdale, Ariz. (March 29, 2010) — The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recently named Scottsdale, Arizona’s, The Apollo Group Design & Build, “2010 Contractor of the Year (CotY)” in the Residential Interiors $100,000+ Budget Southwest Region category of its annual state and regional awards competition. The award-winning remodel was the result of a successful collaboration between The Apollo Group Design & Build and the talented interior design team from Tempe, Arizona’s Pillars of Design, LLC. Together, the two companies transformed an older home into an exceptionally functional work of art for the homeowners. 
The Apollo Group Design & Build and Pillars of Design’s moditional (modern flair to a traditional design) remodel of the 4,500 sq. ft. home focused primarily on the kitchen, wet bar, floor, two fireplaces, three bathrooms and a powder room. Among other details, it included 66 different stone, tile, mosaic and trim pieces used in 25 different tile design installations, 65 updated light fixtures, 208 feet of custom cabinetry, and one very unusual gold leaf toilet. “Transforming a mundane powder room to a queen’s gold leaf throne, renovating a cold fireplace into a warm extraordinary piece of architecture, and redesigning a dated master bath into a luxurious haven are a few of the many features we incorporated to make this home not only a work of art but also an incredible, enjoyable place to live,” said Pillars of Design’s co-owner and principal designer Theresa Jilek.
In most of the remodeled spaces, using the existing footprint was a requirement. Through some magic of the designer’s and remodeler’s alchemy, however, all of the spaces seem somehow larger and much more open. The master bedroom fireplace, for example, is a unique, original design that incorporates curves, glass, onyx, fire & ice and liquid glass. It was transformed from a staid, formal design composed primarily of straight lines and white plaster into a sleek, contemporary-traditional, grand piece of art. Placed in a corner on a diagonal with a radius that expands into the bedroom, its opening spans the fireplace’s entire width, allowing the fire’s ambience to be seen from all areas of the room. Mirroring that shape, the fireplace face soars to the ceiling. It is covered in an exciting blend of red onyx with an accenting band in five different colors of glass tile. Even the firebox design repeats the glass deco design in the band. Each remodeled area is equally spectacular. “The client’s highest standards for meticulous details, exclusive product and dramatic finishes all contributed to the final WOW factor integrated throughout each room,” commented Ms. Jilek. 
“This remodel project was a wonderful experience for The Apollo Group,” said Tyler Kestner, president of The Apollo Group Design & Build. “Collaborating with both designers and homeowners provided an amazing environment for Apollo to demonstrate our passion for creativity and craftsmanship. Through meeting, and in many cases exceeding, our client’s expectations we made this homeowner’s dreams a reality and that is our greatest satisfaction. Receiving the NARI award is an honor as well as icing on the cake.”
Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards each year and all regional winners are eligible for National CotY Awards. Trophies will be awarded and National CotY Winners and Achievement Award Winners will be announced at NARI’s Evening of ExcellenceSM on April 10 at the Wyndham Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. The Evening of ExcellenceSM is widely considered to be the premier event of the year in the remodeling industry. It will be attended by more than 350 of the industry’s professionals. 

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About the Apollo Group Design & Build
Award-winning builder, The Apollo Group Design & Build, was founded in Northern Virginia by Tyler Kestner in 1988. The business grew and expanded to the Southwest region in 2005. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Apollo Group continues their tradition of providing a high level of excellence in constructing new builds and remodels for homeowners and business owners in Arizona. As an active member of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), Tyler Kestner is inspired by his passion for design and construction excellence, and is dedicated to enduring craftsmanship and extraordinary service. The Apollo Group seeks to surpass their clients’ and the community’s expectations by providing the most professional, trustworthy and aesthetically inspiring results imaginable.
About Pillars of Design LLC
Pillars of Design, LLC is an award-winning interior design firm founded in 1998 by sisters Maria Larkin and Theresa Jilek. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the creative studio provides professional interior design services for residential remodels and new-build environments. Ms. Larkin has more than 35 years of experience in the field of construction and project management, while Ms. Jilek’s credentials include a BA from the University of Michigan, a design degree from The American Institute of Interior Design (AIID) and professional certification from the Feng Shui Institute of America (FSIA). The design studio is actively involved in the forward progress of the industry through memberships in the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) and the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI).
About the NARI CotY Awards:
To be considered for a CotY Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing. NARI members represent the best of the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as remodelers.
Competing projects were completed between July 1 of 2008 and November 30 of 2009 (a 17-month time period) and were not submitted in prior NARI National contests. New construction projects were not eligible. Judging for regional awards took place at the Association’s national headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois in early January. An impartial panel of judges who are experts within the industry and associated fields selected winners based on each entrant’s “before and after” photography and project description. Judging was based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.

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