We know that Southwest Florida is home to many gorgeous, sprawling estates and spacious, elegant high-rise penthouses. And today, the design elements and innovative ideas found here are actually inspiring other designers and builders in cities along this coast.

"Naples is pretty progressive in setting the trends," says Lisa Nopper, head designer for Divine Interiors based in Bradenton, Fla. She has judged Collier County’s Sand Dollar Awards four times. "Our area catches up [with the trends] a year or two later."

Nopper says Collier’s award-winning homes are more contemporary and streamlined this year, using more natural materials and less Mediterranean influences.

What impressed her most was the planning and design of the developments she visited during judging. "They are so well-landscaped, and the gated entryways are so lush and rich," Nopper says. "It just makes you want to live there."

Indeed. Here are the winners of the 2007 Sand Dollars, along with Aurora Awards and Pinnacle Awards.

A Guide to the Awards
• Aurora Awards and Grand Auroras are presented by the Southeast Building Conference, which covers 12 southeastern states. A Grand Aurora goes to the recipient with the highest points in each category.

• Pinnacle Awards are presented by the Lee Building Industry Association.

• Sand Dollar Awards and Grand Awards are presented by the Collier Building Industry Association. Grand Awards are given to entries with perfect scores.

Architects, Builders, Developers

1st Choice Construction
Aurora: Angelia, energy-efficient home.

Basik Development
Sand Dollar: La Maison, product design of the year, single family $1,750,001–$2.5 million.

Bateman Communities of SW Florida
Sand Dollar: Vista del Lago, product design of the year, single family $1,000,001–$2 million.

BCB Homes
Sand Dollar: Port Royal residence, product design of the year, Gulf access/one of a kind custom home; Modena, best kitchen, home $3,000,001–$6 million; Modena, best master suite, home $2,000,001–$6 million; Modena, best media room/custom home theater; Modena, best outdoor living area, home over $3,000,001. Grand Award: Modena, product design of the year, single family over $5,000,001.

Bordeaux Homes
by Vision Builders
Sand Dollar: Leonardo Fiore, best kitchen and best outdoor living area, home under $3 million.

Builders Integrity Group
Sand Dollar: Levy residence, best master suite, home under
$2 million.

Coastal Breeze Homes
Sand Dollar: Etesian III, product design of the year, single family $1,250,001–$1,750,000.

Damon Custom Structures
Pinnacle: private residence, product design of the year, single family $2 million–$2.7 million.

DeAngelis Diamond Homes
Pinnacle: Lexington, product design of the year, single family $800,000–$1.5 million.
Sand Dollar: Lexington, product design of the year, single family $900,001–$1,250,000.

Disney & Associates, P.A.
Sand Dollar: Our Lady of Light Catholic Church, product design of the year, commercial building under $7,000,001.

Gates
Aurora: NCH Briggs Health Pavilion, recreational facility.
Sand Dollar: NCH Briggs Health Pavilion, best interior design, commercial project over $1,000,001; product design of the year, commercial building over $7,000,001.

Granite Development III
Pinnacle: Royal Floridian, product design of the year, single family $2.7 million–$3.5 million.

Kenmark Construction
Sand Dollar: LaCasa, product design of the year, single family $1,250,001–$1,750,000.

Kingon Homes
Pinnacle: Royal Floridian, product design of the year, single family $2.7 million–$3.5 million.
Sand Dollar: Royal Floridian, product design of the year, single family $2,500,001–$3.5 million.

Lennar
Sand Dollar: Foxhall, product design of the year, single family under $700,000; Solarno, product of the year, single family under $1 million.

London Bay Homes
Sand Dollar: Cordoba, product design of the year, single family $3,500,001–$5 million.

The Lutgert Companies
Aurora: Azure, landscape design/pool design.
Pinnacle: Residence 2602, product design of the year, multifamily $2 million–$2.7 million.
Sand Dollar: Residence 2602, product design of the year, single family over $2,000,001.

Lyons Housing
Pinnacle: Seabrook V, product design of the year, single family $500,000–$650,000.

McGarvey Custom Homes
Aurora: St. Helena II, landscape/pool design.
Pinnacle: private residence, product design of the year, single family over $3.5 million.
Sand Dollar: St. Helena II, product design of the year, single family $2,500,001–$3.5 million; private residence, product design of the year, single family over $3,500,001. Grand Award: private residence K37, best interior merchandising, single family over $3,500,001.

Michelangelo Homes
Aurora: Salerno, detached single family home.

Paradigm Companies
Pinnacle: Dorado at Mirasol I, product design of the year, multifamily $650,000–$800,000.

Potter Homes
Sand Dollar: Monterosso, product design of the year, single family $3,500,001–$5 million.

Stein Builders
Sand Dollar: Whitney, best interior merchandising, single family under $700,000.

Stevens Construction
Aurora: South Seas Island Resort, commercial project.

Stock Development
Aurora: Santa Ana, attached for sale home; Santa Barbara, attached for sale home.
Pinnacle: Valencia, product design of the year, single family $650,000–$800,000; Cordova, product design of the year, multifamily $300,000–$400,000; Santa Monica, product design of the year, multifamily $300,000–$400,000; Santa Ana End, product design of the year, multifamily $400,000–$500,000; Capistrano Casita, product design of the year, multifamily $400,000–$500,000; Laguna, product design of the year, multifamily $500,000–$650,000; Santa Barbara, product design of the year, multifamily $500,000–$650,000; development company of the year.

Titan Custom Homes
Aurora: Grand Cypress, detached single family home.

Toll Brothers
Pinnacle: Talavera, product design of the year, single family $400,000–$500,000; best design center.
Sand Dollar: Talavera, product design of the year, single family $700,001–$900,000.

United Construction Group
Sand Dollar: Octavian, product design of the year, unfurnished spec home.

Communities

Azure at Bonita Bay
Builder: The Lutgert Companies
Sand Dollar: high rise community of the year.

Lucaya
Builder: Taylor Woodrow
Pinnacle: community of the year 50–100 acres.

Mediterra
Builder: Bonita Bay Group
Sand Dollar: community of the year, average priced home over $750,001.

Miromar Lakes Golf Club
Builder: Miromar Development Corporation
Pinnacle: best clubhouse, interior and exterior: golf club; community of the year 501-plus acres.
Sand Dollar: community of the year, average priced home under $750,000; best clubhouse.

Paseo
Builder: Stock Development
Pinnacle: development company of the year; community of the year 101–500 acres: Paseo; The News-Press Grand Award.

Interior Designers

Agostino’s Design Group
Sand Dollar: Harvey residence, best interior merchandising, single family $900,001–$1,250,000.

Crawford + Associates Interior Design
Sand Dollar: Grande Phoenician Apt. 1404, best interior merchandising, $1,250,001–$1,750,000.

Decorator’s Guild
Sand Dollar: Landi residence, best interior merchandising, single family under $700,000.

Design Group West
Sand Dollar: Talavera at The Reserve, best interior merchandising, single family under $700,000; Biella at Firano, best interior merchandising, single family $700,001–$900,000; Corsia at Mediterra, best interior merchandising, single family $900,001–$1,250,000; Villalago at Mediterra, best interior merchandising, single family $1,250,001–$1,750,000; Tahitian Glam at Jasmine Bay #1004, best interior merchandising, single family $700,001–$900,000.

Freestyle Interiors
Pinnacle: River Ridge, best interior design, single family $1 million–$1.5 million.

Godfrey Design Consultants
Aurora: private residence, interior merchandising. Grand Aurora: private residence, interior detailing.

Interior Elements
by Valentine & Stone Sand Dollar Grand Award: Leonardo Fiore, best interior merchandising, single family $1,750,001–$2.5 million.

Kira Krumm Interior Design
Sand Dollar: Redlinger residence, best interior merchandising, single family over $3,500,001. Grand Award: Mierzewski residence, best interior merchandising, single family $2,500,001–$3.5 million.

May I Help You,
Interior Design
Sand Dollar: minor office, best interior design, commercial project under $1 million.

Odyssey Interior Design
Sand Dollar: private residence, best kitchen, home over $6,000,001; private residence, best master suite, home over $6 million.

Pizzazz interiors
Pinnacle: Cordova, best interior design, multifamily $300,000–$400,000.

Riha Design Group, Inc.
Pinnacle: The Strand, best interior design, multifamily $400,000–$500,000; The Strand, best interior design, multifamily $500,000–$650,000; The Strand, best sales center.
Sand Dollar: Treviso Bay, best interior merchandising, sales center.

Robb & Stucky Interiors
Pinnacle: Magnolia II, best interior design, single family $2 million–$2.7 million; Vilano II, best interior design, single family $2.7 million–$3.5 million; Applewood, best interior design, multifamily $200,000–$300,000; Florencia, best interior design, multifamily $1 million–
$1.5 million.
Sand Dollar: Magnolia II, best interior merchandising, single family $2,500,001–$3.5 million; Lesina at Hammock Bay Unit 202, best interior merchandising, single family $900,001–$1,250,000.

Romanza
Sand Dollar: Cordoba, best interior merchandising, single family over $3,500,001.

Vogue Interiors
Pinnacle: Astoria II, best interior design, single family $1.5 million–$2 million; private residence, best interior design, multifamily $2 million–$2.7 million.

Remodelers

Builders Integrity Group
Sand Dollar: private residence, best complete home remodel, condominium; Levy residence, best addition under $300,000.

Interiors Interiors Interiors
Sand Dollar: private residence, best kitchen remodel; best bath remodel; best remodeling project by an interior design firm.

The Lykos Group
Sand Dollar: Party & Card Rooms at Park Plaza, best remodeling, commercial project over $250,000.

Maddox Construction Co.
Sand Dollar: Taco Bell & Subway at FGCU, best remodeling, commercial project under $250,000.

Wm. J. Varian Construction Co.
Sand Dollar: private residence, best complete home remodel, single family; private residence, best addition over $300,000.