Marnie Oursler Wins Delaware’s Designer of the Year, Two Years Running
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2026
Marnie Oursler Wins Delaware’s Designer of the Year, Two Years Running
About the Award
The Regal Awards, presented annually by the Home Builders Association of Delaware, honor the finest professionals in the state’s building industry. The Designer of the Year award recognizes an individual whose creative vision, technical mastery, and design leadership have set an extraordinary standard. Marnie Oursler has been named Designer of the Year for two consecutive years; 2025 and 2026, a distinction that reflects both the breadth of her creative output and the national impact of her work.
The Honoree
Marnie Oursler is the founder, president, and creative force behind Marnie Custom Homes and the most decorated custom home designer in Delaware. A fifth-generation builder with over 25 years of experience and an MBA from Duke University, Marnie has personally designed every interior space across more than 154 custom homes, including 37 oceanfront residences. Her scope encompasses full interior architecture, custom kitchens, millwork, built-ins, bunk systems, ceiling designs, cabinetry, material palettes, and spatial flow, over 80,000 square feet of design annually. In 2025, MCH completed 14 custom homes and currently leads 13 active builds with a backlog of 19 projects.
In 2023, Marnie became the first woman and the first Delaware-based builder to receive the NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year award, the highest honor in the national home building industry. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Southern Living, The Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and Mansion Global. She served as host of DIY Network’s Big Beach Builds and HGTV Dream Home 2018. She built Delaware’s first LEED-certified home and continues to advance sustainable coastal design. Beyond design, Marnie serves on the Board of Advisors for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and gives back through Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, Dewey Goes Pink, and the Bethany Beach & Bay Cottage Tour.
“From the very first design meeting, we felt Marnie completely understood our vision and was able to give our house shape on paper. Her amazing creativity guided us every step of the way. Every home Marnie designs is a true labor of love.”
— MCH Homeowners, ‘Kan’t Beat The View’ — North Bethany Beach, Delaware
Looking Ahead
Marnie Oursler’s back-to-back Designer of the Year recognitions from the Home Builders Association of Delaware confirm what her clients and peers have long known: she is the defining voice in coastal custom home design. In 2026, Marnie Custom Homes swept every major ‘Of the Year’ category at the Regal Awards, earning 16 total wins, the most in company history and a milestone that reflects Marnie’s uncompromising design standard and the exceptional team she has built around her vision.
About Marnie Custom Homes
Based in Bethany Beach, DE, Marnie Custom Homes specializes in building custom beach homes using sustainable and locally sourced materials. The team at Marnie Custom Homes builds an average of 12-15 custom homes per year, with 37 oceanfront home and 150 built to date. President Marnie Oursler became the first female to receive the National Association of Home Builder’s Custom Home Builder of the Year Award—the highest distinction in the industry. Each one of Marnie Custom Homes showcases innovative use of materials, impeccable craftsmanship, brilliant design sense, and unparalleled work ethic. The brand continues to revolutionize the industry with a fresh approach to established building practices and processes. More info at www.marniehomes.com or follow along on Instagram @marnieoursler.
Media Contact:
Celeste Henry
Marketing Director, Marnie Custom Homes
celeste@marniehomes.com