2021 READERS’ FAVORITES
THE RESULTS ARE IN! Earlier this spring, HOME magazine readers cast thousands of votes for their favorite home and garden-related businesses in the area in our annual Readers’ Favorites Awards. Here, we are delighted to share the winners, many of whom won multiple awards in various categories. If you need goods or services for your home, these pages may be a great place to start to find your favorite.
CONTRACTORS, REMODELERS AND HOME BUILDERS
ARCHITECTS
Platinum: Dominion Seven Architects
Gold: Scott Glass Architect
Silver: Architectural Partners
ELECTRICAL
Platinum: Wired Up Electrical
Gold: Maddox Air & Electrical
Silver: Wooldridge Heating, Air & Electrical
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Platinum: F&S Building Innovations
Gold: Lilly Construction
Silver: Collins Custom Builders
Silver: L.G. Flint
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
Platinum: Maddox Air & Electrical
Gold: Terrell E Mosley, Inc
Gold: Brown’s Heating & Air
Silver: Southern Air
HOME BUILDER
Platinum: Lilly Construction
Gold: Frank Good Builders Inc
Silver: Collins Custom Builders
HOME REMODELING/RENOVATION
Platinum: Collins Custom Builders
Gold: F&S Building Innovations
Silver: Wright Choice Construction
PLATINUM Home Remolding/ Renovation
GOLD Roofing Porches and Decks Gutters Windows and Doors
SILVER General Contractor Home Builder
Collins Siding and Windows has been serving the Lynchburg area since 1989. Starting with siding, windows and guttering services, Collins has grown and expanded to sunrooms, decks, screened porches and more. At age 21, President Chris Collins established the company on the principles of quality, hard work and great customer service. After years of watching his parents run their family business in West Virginia, Collins wanted to continue the work in the Lynchburg area.
With unmatched customer service, Collins says that he never gets tired of hearing how professional and talented his crew is. “Our customers are always really impressed because we always call them back, we show up when we say we are going to show up, and we do what we say we are going to do,” he says.
Many of Collins’ employees have been with the company for decades and, as a result, have been able develop their talents and skills. With two separate crews for carpentry and siding work and window and gutter work, the company provides expert and professional care no matter the job.
IRON WORKS/WELDER
Platinum: James River Ironworks
Gold: Bailey Spencer Hardware
Silver: Iron Gate Welding Co. LLC
PAINTING
Platinum: Love Painting
Gold: Harris Painting
Silver: Raglands Painting
PLUMBING
Platinum: Gibson Plumbing
Gold: Plumb Care Plumbing, Inc
Silver: Peaksview Plumbing
Silver: Tyree Plumbing
ROOFING
Platinum: Cenvar Roofing
Gold: Collins Siding & Windows Inc
Silver: Rempfer Construction
PLATINUM Fence and Railings
PLATINUM: Garage Doors
SILVER: Porches and Decks
The Vinyl Porch Rail Company is a locally owned and operated business that has specialized in creating custom railing and fencing since 1996. According to the official site, In 2019, the company expanded to include DoorTek, which provides garage door installations and maintenance. Both companies are dedicated to meeting client needs by using the highest quality materials and being able to find creative solutions for every job.
Owner Jason Nuckols entered the business as a dealer for vinyl railing and fencing almost 25 years ago, but, through the years, added equipment to fabricate the materials. Now, the company can create any materials needed to make sure that any job is the best it can be. “We can recreate most any job and it gives us a lot of flex,” Nuckols says. “We have pretty much anything and everything and, if we don’t have it, we will make it.”
In the midst of the pandemic, Vinyl Porch Rail Company and DoorTek experienced challenges such as cost increases, material shortages and a high demand for services. Nuckols says that he saw a network of small businesses working together to make it through and that everybody wanted everybody to succeed.
“I did see a lot of, what would theoretically be, competitors work together,” Nuckols says. “It was heartwarming to see that comradery come into play.
PLATINUM Electrical
Wired Up Electrical is a family-owned local business offering residential, commercial and industrial electrical services for almost 10 years. The company’s goal is to provide quality service to their customers at a reasonable price while being responsive to their projects.
With the majority of their work focusing on residential services, Wired Up Electrical specializes in working on new homes, additions, renovations and more. Working in the Lynchburg area keeps Wired Up Electrical busy, but the community’s continued support over the years has helped the company grow and be able to work on a variety of projects.
“Small businesses really live and breathe and help to make the community thrive,” President Misty Hook says. “We have a really good mix of businesses in this area. It is nice to see that the businesses rely on each other for services, and word-of-mouth makes a big difference.”
Wired Up Electrical prides themselves on being quality-focused and upholding a respectable reputation with their clients, other businesses and the community. Despite facing struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic, Hook says that they are confident they are here to stay and will continue to put their customers’ projects and needs above all.
“We love being able to meet our clients’ goals and, in the end, make sure that they are happy with what they have received,” Hook says. “We are here for our clients and their projects, whether it be small or large. We will figure out a way to fit them in and we really appreciate our customers and their business.”
SERVICE PROVIDERS
CARPET AND RUG CLEANING
Platinum: Kidd’s Services
Gold: Steamway
Silver: Stanley Steamer
DRIVEWAY REPAIR AND SEALING
Platinum: Mr. Pave
Gold: Lynchburg Sealcoating & Lawn Care
Silver: Young’s Sealcoating
DUCT CLEANING
Platinum: Duct Dusters of Virginia Inc
Gold: Dusty Ducks Inc
Silver: Stanley Steamer
ESTATE SALES
Platinum: Elizabeth Gladwell & Associates
Gold: High Cotton Fine Furnishings
Silver: Estates & Consignments
EXTERIOR HOME CLEANING SERVICES
Platinum: All Washed Up
Gold: Hill City Pro Wash
Silver: BP’s Mobile Wash
FENCE AND RAILINGS
Platinum: The Vinyl Porch Rail Company
Gold: R.R. Mann Fencing Company
Silver: Lynchburg Fence & Railing Company
GARAGE DOORS
Platinum: DoorTek Garage Door Service
Gold: Overhead Door Company
Silver: Lynchburg Garage Door
GUTTERS
Platinum: Brothers That Just Do Gutters
Gold: Collins Siding and Windows
Silver: K-Guard
HANDYMAN
Platinum: JMK Construction
Gold: Wright Choice Construction
Silver: Ken’s Handyman & Home Improvement
HOME AUTOMATION AND SECURITY
Platinum: Audiotronics
Gold: TechdHome Smart Home Services
Gold: Virginia Sentinel Security
Silver: Central Home Systems
HOME CLEANING SERVICES
Platinum: Pink Ladies Cleaning Services
Gold: Executive Maintenance
Silver: Cold Coffee Cleaning
HOME FUEL COMPANIES
Platinum: Foster Fuels
Gold: Watts Petroleum
Silver: Francis Oil & Propane, Inc
HOME INSULATING
Platinum: Toler Insulating
Gold: Nelligan Insulation
Silver: Virginia Foam Insulators, LLC
MOVING COMPANIES
Platinum: American Moving & Storage
Gold: Lynchburg Movers
Silver: Rogers Moving and Transport
PEST CONTROL
Platinum: Dodson Pest Control
Gold: Specialty Exterminating
Silver: Bedford Pest Control
SOLAR ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Platinum: Affordable Energy Concepts
Gold: Earth Right Mid-Atlantic
WATER AND FIRE RESTORATION AND CLEAN-UP
Platinum: Serv Pro
Gold: Kidd’s Restoration and Cleaning Services
Silver: Steamway of Central VA
WINDOWS AND DOORS
Platinum: Capps Home Building Center
Gold: Collins Siding and Windows
Silver: Rempfer Construction
HOME LIVING OPTIONS
APARTMENT LIVING
Platinum: City Market Lofts
Gold: The Gables of Spring Creek
Silver: Walden Pond
HOME HEALTH PROVIDERS
Platinum: Generation Solutions
Gold: Centra Home Health
Silver: Visiting Angels
RETIREMENT LIVING COMMUNITIES
Platinum: Westminster Canterbury
Gold: McGurk House
Silver: The Summit
Silver: Runk & Pratt, Inc.
REAL ESTATE AND FINANCIAL
BANK
Platinum: Bank of the James
Gold: First National Bank
Silver: Select Bank
CREDIT UNION
Platinum: Central Virginia Federal Credit Union
Gold: Beacon Credit Union
Gold: Member One Federal Credit Union
Silver: Blue Eagle Credit Union
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Platinum: Scott & Stringfellow
Gold: BOTJ Investments (division of Bank of the James)
Silver: Ford Mays Wealth Management
HOME INSURANCE
Platinum: Blue Ridge Insurance
Gold: Baughman & Associates
Gold: Campbell Insurance
Silver: Nelles Insurance Solutions
MORTGAGE LENDING COMPANY
Platinum: Bank of the James Mortgage
Gold: Embrace Home Loans
Silver: Select Bank Mortgage
MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER
Platinum: Bianca Allison, Bank of the James
Gold: Andrew Shields, RoundPoint Mortgage
Silver: Joni Hamlett, Embrace Home Loans
REAL ESTATE CLOSING COMPANY
Platinum: Patel & Dalrymple
Gold: Seven Hills Settlement
Silver: Reliance Title & Settlement
REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Platinum: Century 21 All-Service
Gold: Lauren Bell Real Estate
Silver: Dawson, Ford Garbee & Co Realtors
REALTORS
Platinum: Nadine Blakely, Realtor
Gold: Lauren Bell, Realtor
Silver: Karl Miller, Realtor
PLATINUM Realtor
Having a true passion and dedication to her clients, Realtor Nadine Blakely has enjoyed serving the Lynchburg community for the past 15 years. Blakely focuses on going above and beyond, from staging a home to making sure it is priced well and being confident that it will sell.
From first-time buyers to clients who are downsizing, Blakely has built her own business around helping others achieve their home dreams. “The best part of what I do is finding real estate challenges that turn into opportunities because those situations help me find clients who become my friends,” Blakely says. “I love being able to serve their real estate needs and help them sell a home, buy a home, or both.”
Despite navigating a pandemic, Blakely was able to have her second-best year in real estate in 2020. Blakely says that being a Realtor is very challenging, but her clients make everything worth it and that is her biggest reward.
Blakely says that she cares deeply for her clients and makes giving back to the community a top priority. “That is my mission—to make sure that I take care of my clients, serve their needs, give to Children’s Miracle Network from every sale, and to continue to give back to my community.”
PLATINUM Home Accessories and Gifts
Since opening in July 1990, Accents has continued to provide the community with elements to beautify their homes from the inside out. Voted top provider for home accessories and gifts, Accents offers a variety of flags, home decor and more. Stocked with everything from birdfeeders to stationery, Accents has something to offer everyone.
Owner Deborah Fears Keely and her daughter Ashleigh Taylor enjoy everything about running a family business in Lynchburg, but they especially love the community. Keely recalls how many customers have now become family and how she never forgets customers that touch her heart. “The best thing about Lynchburg is the people,” Taylor says. “The people make this city what it is and it makes it so easy to serve people.”
Accents is best known for selling handmade American flags, and they have continued to build their business with a sense of patriotism. In September 2001, Keely placed her first order of 10,000 American flags, which she believed was going to take a long time to sell. “Two weeks after [the purchase], 9/11 hit,” Keely says. “I had people lined up all the way down Main Street and I sold all of the flags in one day. People’s patriotism just exploded.”
By helping others make their home beautiful, Keely and Taylor receive their own sense of satisfaction and happiness. “It is just a love and it never grows old,” Keely says.
HOME FURNISHINGS, DECOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN
ANTIQUES
Platinum: The White Brick House
Gold: Estates Revisited, Inc.
Silver: Enchanted
APPLIANCES
Platinum: Ferguson
Gold: Hailey’s Appliances
Silver: Lowe’s Home Improvement
ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE
Platinum: Bailey Spencer Hardware
Gold: Black Dog Salvage
Silver: Buzzards Roost
ART GALLERY/STUDIO
Platinum: Findings Art
Gold: Academy Center of the Arts
Silver: The Art Box
BLINDS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS
Platinum: Curtains, Blinds and Bath
Gold: Budget Blinds
Silver: Decorating Den Interiors
CABINETRY, KITCHEN AND BATH
Platinum: Piedmont Floor Show
Gold: Cornerstone Cabinets & Design, Inc.
Silver: Kitchen Crafters of VA
Silver: Ramsey Cabinets
CONSIGNMENT FURNITURE
Platinum: Next Time Consignment
Gold: On Second Thought Consignment
Silver: Estates Revisited, Inc.
PLATINUM Wallpaper
PLATINUM Paint and Painting Supplies
Since opening in 1936, James T. Davis has served as Lynchburg’s one-stop shop for home essentials including paint, wallpaper, DIY materials, spray equipment and so much more. James T. Davis has become a community favorite by offering expert service and ensuring that clients’ needs are always met.
“James T. Davis has everything for your home, minus the wood,” says Katrina Morris, design and decor manager for James T. Davis. “We offer that small business feeling that is very personable, but the products are cutting-edge, quality, and always on trend.”
Since the coronavirus pandemic, James T. Davis has continued to grow, including adding two new interior designers to their team and expanding to include more online sales and shipping options. Seeing how the pandemic has affected many businesses, Morris is confident that James T. Davis will always be open and will continue to get products that the customers need.
“Come experience the JTD way,” Morris says. “Get expert advice, one-on-one time and see how we are different from a big box store.”
HOME FURNISHINGS, DECOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN
COUNTERTOPS
Platinum: Spectrum Stone Designs
Gold: Piedmont Floor Show
Silver: Rockfab
CUSTOM FURNITURE AND CABINET MAKER
Platinum: Ramsey Cabinets
Gold: Piedmont Floor Show
Gold: Woodmasters Cabinets
Silver: Bernie’s Custom Furniture and Cabinetry
FLOORING
Platinum: Piedmont Floor Show
Gold: Blue Ridge Floors
Silver: Central Virginia Flooring
FURNITURE
Platinum: Grand Home Furnishings
Gold: Lancaster Galleries
Gold: Virginia Furniture Market
Silver: Next Time Consignment
HOME ACCESSORIES AND GIFTS
Platinum: Accents
Gold: Farm Basket
Silver: High Cotton Fine Home Furnishings and Gifts
Silver: Paisley Gifts & Stationery
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Platinum: Decorating Den Interiors
Gold: Curtains, Blinds & Bath
Gold: Sarah Girten Interior Design
Silver: Bailey Grey Interiors
LIGHTING FIXTURES
Platinum: Timberlake Lighting of Lynchburg
Gold: Ferguson
Silver: Sweet Peas Lighting and Decor
PAINT AND PAINTING SUPPLIES
Platinum: James T. Davis
Gold: Benjamin Moore-Spectrum Paint
Silver: Sherwin Williams
PICTURE FRAMING
Platinum: The Framery
Gold: Royal County Arts
Silver: Michael’s
RUGS
Platinum: Persian Rugs & More
Gold: Green Front Furniture
Silver: Piedmont Floor Show
UPHOLSTERY
Platinum: Phil’s Upholstery Shop
Gold: David Michael Upholstery
Silver: Jeffrey Potter
WALLPAPER
Platinum: James T. Davis
Gold: Mahones Wallpaper
Silver: Kevin Saunders Wallcovering
WOODWORKING AND TRIM
Platinum: Grayson Ferguson Woodworking
Gold: Woodmasters
Silver: JMK Construction
GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE
GARDEN SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES
Platinum: Gary’s Garden Center
Gold: Rustic View Home & Gardens
Silver: Aylor’s Farm & Garden
Silver: Rainfrost Nursery
LANDSCAPE AND HARDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD
Platinum: Lynchburg Landscapes, Inc
Gold: Southern Landscape Group
Silver: A Plus Landscaping
LAWN AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
Platinum: Southern Landscape Group, Inc
Gold: A Plus Landscaping
Silver: Lynchburg Sealcoating & Lawn Care
Silver: Appalachian Lawn Care
NURSERIES
Platinum: Gary’s Garden Center
Gold: Rustic View Home and Gardens
Silver: Rainfrost Nursery
Silver: Aylor’s Farm & Garden
OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Platinum: Grand Home Furnishings
Gold: Rustic View Home and Gardens
Silver: National Pools
PORCHES AND DECKS
Platinum: Southern Landscape Group
Gold: Collins Siding and Windows
Silver: The Vinyl Porch Rail Company
SPA AND HOT TUBS SALES AND SERVICE
Platinum: Perry Pools & Spas
Gold: National Pools
Silver: Water by Design
SWIMMING POOLS
Platinum: Perry Pools
Gold: Southern Landscape Group
Gold: Land Tech Group
Silver: National Pools
TREE SERVICE
Platinum: Alto Tree Service
Gold: Bartlett Tree Service
Gold: New Hites
Silver: Blue Ridge Tree Company
2021 READERS’ FAVORITES, CONTRACTORS, DECOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE, home furnishings, HOME LIVING OPTIONS, REAL ESTATE AND FINANCIAL, SERVICE PROVIDERS