Luxury home tour underway

COURTESY PHOTO The Renoir model by Distinctive Communities. The newest and brightest ideas in home design and construction from Southwest Florida's best custom home builders will be on display through Feb. 17 courtesy of the Luxury Home Tour.

During the weekends of Feb. 8-10 and 15-17, passport ticket-holders can tour the area's most prestigious communities - including Lely Resort, Mediterra, Renaissance, Tarpon Point, Tiburon, Twin Eagles and more - to explore the area's most exciting custom-built homes, each carrying a price tag of more than $1.5 million.

The tour, now in its fourth year, is a popular event for people who are looking for just the right luxury homebuilder to create their dream home, want to preview the latest design trends, or simply are seeking ideas to invigorate their present living space.

The tour has grown to 25 unique models this year and promises to be more informative and fun than ever before. Two communities, Renaissance and Lely Resort will host hospitality areas during the Luxury Home Tour with refreshments in a relaxing setting where ticket-holders can learn more about the communities and the custom builders participating in the tour. Worthington Group, developers of Renaissance, will be serving refreshments including Starbucks coffee, soft drinks and snacks at the Worthington Sales Center all three weekends while at Lely Resort, Stock Development will welcome visitors at the Players Club with fresh baked cookies, snacks and bottled water.

COURTESY PHOTO The Bellini Model by The Vintage Group. What's new

One notable trend is the added emphasis on luxurious outdoor living with ever larger areas given over to covered outdoor kitchens and wet bars complete with "chimneyed" gas grilles, stainless steel storage cabinets, fireplaces and everything needed to host large alfresco parties. Some homes with corner-pocketing sliding glass walls open completely, eliminating the boundary between indoors and outdoors. Another is the addition of separate guest quarters, casitas and poolside cabanas away from the main living areas for out-of-town visitors and purpose-built studios and studies as opposed to converting bedrooms to such uses.

Green Building and energy conservation are on everyone's mind these days and the new models show many improvements in both materials and building techniques. Renewable, safer and stronger materials such as metal studs in interior walls, paperless mold-resistant sheetrock and formaldehyde-free adhesives contribute to a healthier home environment, while built-in pest control systems for both the interior and surrounding grounds keep creepy-crawlies away.

Technology favorites this year include Lutron Pathway lighting systems that can light your passage all the way from the garage to the master suite (or anywhere else you are bound) with the press of a single switch and pool management systems that incorporate controls for the pool heater, cleaner, lights, a filter timer and alerts that warn pool owners of any potential problems.

About the Tour

The self-guided tour is open to the public from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Feb. 8-10 and 15-17, 2008. Passport tickets may be purchased at participating model homes for $25, or $5 for single-site access. For more information, visit www.luxuryhometour.net.