A plethora of creativity and diversity flowed in from architects across the state, answering our call for examples of good home design for our Home of the Month project. The project, a collaboration with the N.C. State University College of Design's Home Environments Design Initiative, aims to educate, inspire and inform you about good home design. Along with our occasional Architectural Living series -- where we peek into the homes of area architects and residential designers -- this project gives readers a chance to look up close at the range of possibilities in residential architecture.

An expert panel -- Peter Chapman, senior editor for home design books at Taunton Press; Jean Rehkamp Larson, Minneapolis architect and author; and New York architect and author Dennis Wedlick -- selected the cream of the crop from 27 entries in our Home of the Month feature. The series will highlight a different design each month of 2006.

"We awarded recognition to those [designers who] accomplished their dream homes in well-crafted and, most importantly, innovative ways," Wedlick said in an e-mail message. "There were many homes not recognized that were larger and fancier, but lacked those qualities."

Taunton Press' Chapman said about the designs:

"I think we responded to houses that looked like they belong to North Carolina ... the ones that looked like they belong to the site.

"What we don't like, is when we look at a house that can be anywhere. They have no relationship to the place they were built. We responded to those that had a strong regional feeling."

All of the entries were designed and built by North Carolina architects in or after 2000. They included examples of Craftsman and contemporary styles, as well as transforming renovations and additions, and designs that embraced affordability and specific site characteristics. These topics are of particular interest as more homeowners build homes and renovate old ones in and around the Triangle.

Across the country, thanks to the onslaught of television, shelter magazines and books that focus on home living and creating usable living spaces, residential architecture is getting increasing attention. According to Chapman, that notice is well deserved.

"It's wonderful that people are acknowledging residential design," he said. "The focus usually is at the new museum or new library. But houses can be beautifully done, too."

Recognizing all of the architects' efforts and the impressive show of participation, we've chosen to give you a glimpse of the 27 submissions. (The winning Home of the Month designs are marked with an asterisk.) Look for the profile on the first winning design -- The House at Wood's Edge by Ellen Weinstein of Dixon Weinstein, Chapel Hill -- in February.

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