Community members voted for their favorites in three categories: Art, Furniture & Home Decor, and Dwelling. A small panel of three judges selected the Best in Show project. Winners received a gift certificate to the Asheville Habitat ReStore.

Congratulations to the 2026 winners:

Best in Show – Julie Eldridge (Burnsville), “Quonset Hut from Hurricane Helene Destruction.” After Hurricane Helene carried their garage downstream, Eldridge and her son built a Quonset hut in its place to serve as a workshop. Teak doors found at the Weaverville ReStore became a distinctive feature of the new building. Iron bed rails were repurposed into solar-panel mounts and a lumber rack for the front porch. Many of the workshop’s tools, storage pieces, and light fixtures were sourced from the ReStore over the course of several years. “We are so grateful to Habitat for these gorgeous teak doors and other supplies at prices we could afford!” Eldridge wrote in her entry.

Art – Linda Pannullo (Asheville), “Everything But The Kitchen Sink.” Pannullo transformed materials accumulated in her studio and garage into a whimsical mosaic sculpture standing nearly three feet tall. She carved leftover insulation foam, covered it with mesh and concrete, and decorated the form with tile, mirror, glass embellishments, and china dishes. Even the drainage pipe and plant came from her home, with only grout and roofing nails purchased new.

Furniture & Home Decor – Laura Kearney (Asheville), “The Cactus Chair.” A wooden chair purchased at the Asheville Habitat ReStore became a distinctive storytime seat for the Enka-Candler Library. Commissioned by the Friends of the Enka-Candler Library, Kearney created the chair in honor of former Youth Services Librarian Kate Spratt, affectionately known as “Cactus Kate.” She refinished the wood, dyed the original upholstery, and added hand-painted cactus arms cut from poplar. Today, the chair is a beloved feature of the library’s Hora del Cuento bilingual storytime.

Dwelling – Susan Hayden (Burnsville), “Green house.” After collecting windows and doors for 14 years, Hayden brought her vision for an 8-by-10-foot backyard studio to life. Many of the materials survived Hurricane Helene and needed mud cleaned away before they could be reused. Hayden framed the windows and hung the door herself, incorporated hand-painted windows in the peaks, and used leftover stair risers and cedar fencing pieces. The finished space houses her collection of folk-art whirligigs, birdhouses, and vintage animal planters.

The judging panel was comprised of:

Chris Cutting – ReStore Volunteer

Mimi Drew – ReStore Volunteer

Kevin Campbell – ReStore Volunteer

Source: Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.