London Bay Homes earned six Aurora Awards – including three coveted Grand Auroras – during the 39th Annual Aurora Awards competition presented by the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) and the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA).
Honoring businesses in architectural design, interior design and planning, the Aurora Awards competition drew nearly 400 entries in 61 categories within the 12-state region stretching west to Texas and Louisiana, north to Virginia and also including the eastern Caribbean.
Two of London Bay Homes’ fully furnished custom estates near downtown Naples received Grand Aurora Awards for interior design elements.
The recently completed custom, single-family estate at 4395 Gordon Drive, was honored with a Grand Aurora for Best Bath Merchandising of a Home priced over $800,000. The home also received Silver Award honors for Best Interior Detailing for a Home priced over $2,000,000.
Romanza Interior Design’s Jennifer Stevens created all interiors for the Gordon Drive estate. The home features a sophisticated design that blends honed stone and wood plank flooring, accent panels of exotic woods like sapele, anigre and walnut, and distinctive reglet details on walls and door frames to create a uniquely contemporary style that unifies the foyer, great room, wine cellar and study.
“One of my most favorite aspects of this home is the master suite, which is located upstairs because it provides a wide pristine view of the water,” said Stevens.
The master suite boasts dual baths offering two spa-worthy retreats that create the feeling of a luxury resort – including one that brings the outside in as it showcases views of Cutlass Cove and the beautiful greens of mangroves on Keewaydin Island just across the water.
Boasting 4,648 square foot of living space and four en-suite bedrooms within two stories, the home also features a private dock – perfect for a 29-foot boat – that provides Gulf access through nearby Gordon Pass.
Nearby, the Watlington model located at 41 5th Street South in Old Naples, and also featuring a captivating interior design by Stevens, received Grand Aurora honors for Best Kitchen Merchandising of a Home priced over $800,000, as well as Silver Aurora honors for Best Interior Design of a Home priced from $1,000,001 to $2,000,000.
As part of the market’s desire for connectivity among living spaces, the clean lines of the Watlington’s kitchen blends seamlessly with the adjoining great room. Its open and efficient design makes staging large dinner parties a breeze, while a conveniently located butler’s pantry provides ample space for stocking essentials for impromptu gatherings. A large island features a cantilevered countertop and storage and offers an additional sink and casual seating. Color and accessories are kept to a minimum for a streamlined, clean look.
Within the home, Stevens played up the numerous entertaining destinations by incorporating backlit beams and the glimmer of metallic and reflective surfaces as well as ample upholstered furniture and casegoods for comfortable seating for entertaining and conversation. Memory points include a blue-flame glacier crystal linear fireplace in the dining room, rich ombre draperies in shades of blue, a large rustic oak and antique nickel table with seating for eight, as well as ash wood flooring and coastal-inspired palettes throughout the home.
London Bay’s custom model home in Mediterra, the Catalina, also received the top Grand Aurora Award honors for Best Single Family Detached Home over 4,000 square feet. The two-story, four-bedroom, five-bath estate suits homebuyers who appreciate the appeal of a maintenance-free lifestyle, along with a great room design that affords stylish flexibility.
Mediterra, which London Bay Homes oversees sales and marketing for, was also recognized at the builder conference with a Silver Aurora Award for Residential Community of the Year – Masterplan.
Mediterra offers intimate neighborhoods tucked into nature preserves, parks, lakes, a formal European garden, and the community’s two Tom Fazio-designed championship golf courses. In addition to a private Beach Club on the Gulf of Mexico, Mediterra offers eight miles of walking and jogging trails; a fitness complex with eight Har-Tru tennis courts, bocce courts, swimming pool and spa services; and a 32,000-square-foot clubhouse featuring formal and casual dining.
