Extraordinary Excellence

Ray Bouley can't believe what he sees when he visits Southwest Florida. The president and CEO of Full Circle Productions, an Atlanta marketing and advertising firm specializing in the real estate industry, Bouley judges real estate competitions throughout the country. And Southwest Florida, he says, never fails to impress with levels of luxury and creativity that surpass metropolitan areas 10 times its size.

"We have 53,000 housing starts in Atlanta a year and we do not consistently build the volume of luxury you do in Naples," says Bouley, who was in Naples earlier this year to judge entries for the Collier Building Industry Association's Sand Dollar Awards. "It amazes me when you think of the total population in Naples and the dollars being spent on community planning. It has reached the level of a destination resort."

Bouley need only point to the beach club and new golf clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club in Estero. The beach club, set on an inland lake with one of the largest pools in Florida, and the clubhouse, an oversized Mediterranean-style villa with elegant landscaping, were named Collier County's best clubhouse. "Nothing competes with that," he says. "Too often these amenities are over the top. But this is beautiful and understated and gives the feeling of old money."

Jacksonville interior designer Rita Williams looks forward to her yearly trek to Southwest Florida just to see where the level of creativity has reached in the past year. This year she wasn't disappointed, pointing to the Old-Florida-estate/California-style homes created by London Bay Homes and California architect Mark Scheurer. "The judges loved the charm coming back into the homes," says Williams, another Sand Dollar judge. "Naples is definitely the starting point for all of us. The people in your area surpass anything California can do."

Villas and single-family homes built by London Bay Homes in Mediterra and the Estuary, respectively, also received accolades. "We were seeing the same type of homes every year, but this year they've started to change," says Bill Strawn, a residential designer with Virginia-based Mark Bradley Associates. "Everything is not laid out right there when you come through the front door. They're offering discovery around every corner."

ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS

AM Johnson Architects

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Pelican Landing, single-family product design $1,250,001-$1,750,000; Residences of Old Naples, multifamily product design $1,000,001-$1,750,000.

Apple Development Corp.

Sand Dollar: Private residence on Fort Myers Beach, Gulf access/one-of-a-kind product design $4,500,001-$6,000,000, master suite single-family home over $2,500,000.

Boran Craig Barber Homes

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Mediterra, single-family product design under $4,500,000.

Bordeaux Homes by Vision Builders

Sand Dollar: The Bordeaux II in The Brooks, master suite single-family home under $2,500,000, outdoor living under $2,500,000.

Centex Homes

Pinnacle: The Almeria, multifamily product design $400,000-$499,999.

Coastal Breeze Homes

Sand Dollar: The Sirocco I in Wildcat Run, single-family $900,001-$1,250,000.

Colonial Homes

Sand Dollar: The Saratoga in Laurel Lakes, unfurnished spec house product design under $1,000,000.

Cornerstone Developers

Sand Dollar: The Santa Anna in Miromar Lakes, single-family product design $1,250,001-$1,750,000; the San Raphael in Miromar Lakes, unfurnished spec home product design $1,500,000-$3,000,000.

Damon Custom Structures

Pinnacle: Private residence, single-family product design $1,500,000-$1,999,999; private residence, single-family product design $2,000,000-$2,699,999.

DeAngelis Diamond Homes

Pinnacle: The Belize, single-family product design $800,000-$999,999.

Sand Dollar: The Belize in Indigo Lakes, single-family product design $700,001-$900,000.

Engle Homes

Pinnacle: The Key Biscayne, multifamily product design $300,000-$399,999.

Erickson Associate

Sand Dollar: Private residence, Gulf access/one-of-a-kind product design over $6,000,000.

Gulfstream Homes

Pinnacle: Development Company of the Year, Judge's Award for exemplary corporate philosophy.

Harwick Homes

Sand Dollar: The Mugello in Mediterra, single-family product design $5,500,001-$6,500,000, kitchen single-family home over $5,000,000.

HR Stanley Construction

Sand Dollar: Private residence on Barefoot Beach, Gulf access/one-of-a-kind product design under $4,500,000.

Jamison-Hinsdale

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Spanish Wells, single-family product design $500,001-$700,000.

Keevan Homes

Pinnacle: The Cayman, single-family product design $400,000-$499,999; the Santa Maria, single-family product design $650,000-$799,999; the Grand Abaco, single-family product design $1,000,000-$1,499,999.

Sand Dollar: The Santa Maria in The Brooks, single-family product design $700,001-$900,000.

Kingon Homes

Aurora: Private residence in Bonita Springs, custom single-family product design $2,000,000-$3,000,000.

Landmark Development Group

Aurora: The Vittoria at Mediterra, single-family product design over $3,000,000.

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Quail West, single-family product design $5,500,001-$6,500,000, kitchen single-family over $5,000,000, Grand Award for perfect score; the Vittoria at Mediterra, kitchen single-family $3,000,001-$5,000,000, master suite single-family over $2,500,000.

London Bay Homes

Aurora: The Barbera, single-family product design $1,500,000-$2,000,000; the Dolcetto, single-family product design $1,500,000-$2,000,000; the Bacara II, single-family product design over $3,000,000; the Chianti III, single-family product design over $3,000,000.

Sand Dollar: The Capriano in Mediterra, single-family product design $1,750,001-$2,500,000; the Bacara II in Estuary at Grey Oaks, single-family product design $4,500,001-$5,500,00; The Granada I in Estuary, outdoor living area single-family home $3,000,000-$5,000,000, Grand Award for perfect score/outdoor living.

The Lutgert Co.

Sand Dollar: Alamanda villa in Estuary, kitchen single-family under $3,000,000, outdoor living area under $2,500,000.

Lyons Housing Corp.

Pinnacle: The Bellagio in Miromar Lakes, single-family product design $2,700,000-$3,499,999.

Sand Dollar: The Bellagio in Miromar Lakes, single-family product design $2,500,001-$3,500,000.

Sheeley Architects

Pinnacle: The Sanctuary, multifamily product design under $199,999.

Stock Construction

Pinnacle: Development Company of the Year; the Valencia, single-family product design $500,000-$649,999, The News-Press Grand Award.

Sand Dollar: Salerno in Grandezza, single-family product design $500,001-$700,000; Ponte Vedra in Grandezza, single-family product design $900,001-$1,250,000.

Taylor Woodrow

Pinnacle: The Bella Verde II, multifamily product design $650,000-$799,999, multifamily interior design $800,000-$999,999.

Sand Dollar: Brendisi in Mediterra, multifamily product design $500,001-$1,000,000.

Vanguard Development

Aurora: Villa Venezia on Marco Island, custom single-family product design over $3,000,000, bath over $3,000,000.

Grand Aurora: Villa Venezia on Marco Island, best single-family landscape/pool design, best interior detailing over $2,000,000.

WCI Communities

Aurora: La Scala penthouse 1903, multifamily product design over $500,000; the Casara at Tiburon, single-family product design over $3,000,000.

Grand Aurora: Tuscany Reserve, best landscape/pool design residential community.

Pinnacle: Palermo Penthouse 2002, multifamily product design $2,700,000-$3,499,999; La Scala Penthouse 1903, multifamily product design over $3,500,000.

Sand Dollar: The Verrocchio in Tuscany Reserve, single-family product design $3,500,001-$4,500,000; the Casara in Tiburon, single-family product design $5,500,001-$6,500,000; La Scala Penthouse 1903 in The Colony, multifamily product design over $2,000,000.

Weber Design Group

Sand Dollar: Private residence on Marco Island, single-family product design $6,500,001-$8,000,000; private residence in Port Royal, unfurnished spec single-family product design over $3,000,000.

COMMUNITIES

The Colony Golf & Bay Club

Developer: WCI Communities

Aurora: Best residential development over 501 acres.

Pinnacle: Community of the year 501-plus acres, best clubhouse or town center.

The Dunes

Interior design: Crawford & Associates Interior Design

Sand Dollar: The Floridian, best clubhouse under 15,000 square feet.

Forest Park

Developer: Charter Communities

Sand Dollar: Community of the Year under 100 acres.

Mastique

Developer: Jack Parker Homes

Pinnacle: Community of the Year 50-100 acres.

Mediterra

Developer: The Bonita Bay Group

Sand Dollar: Community of the Year over 500 acres.

Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club

Developer: Miromar Development Corp.

Sand Dollar: Best clubhouse, 15,000-25,000 square feet.

Paseo

Developer: Stock Development

Pinnacle: Best sales center.

Pelican Preserve

Developer: WCI Communities

Pinnacle: Best clubhouse or town center.

Renaissance

Developer: Worthington Communities

Pinnacle: Community of the year 101-500 acres.

Vasari Country Club

Developer: Taylor Woodrow

Sand Dollar: Community of the year 100-500 acres.

Verandah

Developer: The Bonita Bay Group

Pinnacle: Community of the Year 501-plus acres; The River House, best clubhouse or town center.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Accessories Etc.

Sand Dollar: Portofino in Mediterra, single-family media room/custom home theater, single-family outdoor living area over $5,000,000.

Agostino's Design Group

Aurora: Private residence in Naples, custom single-family product design over $3,000,000.

Beasley & Henley Interior Design

Sand Dollar: Emilia GI in Estuary, single-family interior merchandising $1,250,001-$1,750,000; La Scala Penthouse 1903 in The Colony, single-family interior merchandising over $3,500,000.

Crawford & Associates Interior Design

Sand Dollar: The Floridian at The Dunes, clubhouse under 15,000 square feet; Meritage at Bayfront, residential remodeling project by an interior design firm.

Design Group West

Sand Dollar: Allesandria in Mediterra, multifamily interior merchandising $500,001-$750,000; Corsini in Vasari Country Club (with Taylor Woodrow), single-family interior merchandising $700,001-$900,000.

DesignWorks of Southwest Florida

Pinnacle: The River House at Verandah, best clubhouse or town center.

Evalutions by Aubuchon - A Design Group

Pinnacle: The Hallmark, single-family interior design $400,000-$499,999.

Ficarra Design Associates

Pinnacle: The Madrid for Florida Bay Communities, single-family interior design $1,500,000-$1,999,999.

Freestyle Interiors

Pinnacle: The Indigo for DeAngelis Diamond Homes, single-family interior design $800,000-$999,999; the Degas, single-family interior design $1,000,000-$1,499,999.

Holland Salley Interior Design

Sand Dollar: Private residence, single-family interior merchandising over $7,000,000.

Interior Design Associates

Aurora: The Belize at Cape Marco, interior detailing over $2,000,000, interior merchandising for commercial/business/public area.

Interior Elements by Valentine & Stone

Pinnacle: The Bordeaux II for Bordeaux Homes, single-family interior design $2,000,000-$2,699,999.

Jinx McDonald Designs

Pinnacle: The Allamanda for Taylor Woodrow Communities, single-family interior design $500,000-$649,999; the Porta Rosa for Taylor Woodrow Communities, single-family interior design $650,000-$799,999; Trieste 606 for WCI Communities, multifamily interior design $2,000,000-$2,699,999.

Sand Dollar: The Allamanda in Shadow Wood Preserve, single-family interior merchandising $500,001-$700,000; Trieste 606 in Bay Colony, multifamily interior merchandising $1,750,001-$2,500,000.

Landmark Design

Aurora: Private residence in Quail West, kitchen over $3,000,000, interior merchandising over $3,000,000; The Vittoria in Mediterra, kitchen over $3,000,000, bath over $3,000,000.

Sand Dollar: The Prestwick in TwinEagles, single-family interior merchandising $2,500,001-$3,500,000, Grand Award for perfect score; the Vittoria in Mediterra, single-family interior merchandising $3,500,001-$4,750,000, Grand Award for perfect score; private residence in Quail West, single-family interior merchandising $6,000,001-$7,000,000, Grand Award for perfect score.

Linda Holt Interior Design

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Pelican Marsh, outdoor living over $5,000,000, single-family interior merchandising $6,000,001-$7,000,000.

Marc-Michaels Interior Design

Sand Dollar: Driftwood in Fiddler's Creek, single-family interior merchandising $900,001-$1,250,000; the Mela in Fiddler's Creek, multi-family interior merchandising $750,001-$1,000,000.

Norris Furniture Interiors

Aurora: The Seasons 1701 in Naples Cay, interior merchandising over $3,000,000.

Pinnacle: Treviso 1504, multifamily interior design $1,500,000-$1,999,999.

Novakovich & Associates Inc.

Grand Aurora: Villa Venezia on Marco Island, bath over $3,000,000.

Sand Dollar: Toscana Piazza in Tuscany Reserve, multifamily interior merchandising $2,500,001-$3,500,000.

Odyssey Interior Design

Sand Dollar: Private residence in The Moorings, single-family interior merchandising $4,750,001-$6,000,000; private residence, residential remodeling project under $300,000.

Robb & Stucky Interiors

Pinnacle: Treviso 1001 for WCI Communities, multifamily interior design $1,000,000-$1,499,999; McGarvey Custom Homes 2004 Dream Home in TwinEagles, single-family interior design over $3,500,000.

Sand Dollar: Murano in Serrano, single-family interior merchandising $700,001-$900,000; Treviso 1001 in The Colony, multifamily interior merchandising $1,000,001-$1,750,000.

Romanza

Aurora: The Bacara II, kitchen over $3,000,000; the Dolcetto, interior merchandising $1,000,000-$1,500,000; private residence on Marco Island, interior detailing over $2,000,000.

Sand Dollar: The Asti in Mediterra, single-family interior merchandising $1,750,001-$2,500,000; the Bacara II in Estuary, single-family interior merchandising $3,500,001-$4,750,000, Grand Award for perfect score; the Chianti III in Estuary, single-family interior merchandising $4,750,001-$6,000,000.

Vanderbilts Fine Interiors

Sand Dollar: Private residence in Indigo Preserve, single-family interior merchandising $900,001-$1,250,000; Bridgewater Bay coach home, multifamily interior merchandising $250,001-$500,000.

Vogue Interiors

Pinnacle: The Bellagio, single-family interior design $2,700,000-$3,499,999.

REMODELING CONTRACTORS

A.K. Construction

Sand Dollar: Private residence, residential remodeling project/addition; private residence, bath remodeling project.

Henry Westforth Contracting

Sand Dollar: Private residence, condo residential remodeling project.

The Lykos Group

Sand Dollar: Private residence, single-family residential remodeling project over $300,000; private residence, kitchen remodeling project.

Renaissance Cabinets & Millwork

Sand Dollar: Private residence at The Seasons, residential remodeling project.

Robb & Stucky

Sand Dollar: Enclave Penthouse I, residential remodeling project.

Wm. J. Varian Construction

Sand Dollar: Private residence, residential remodeling project/addition.