With its soft Mediterranean architecture, unusual footprint and sea island-inspired interiors, the Capriano model at The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch is part of a national trend toward a new rendition of the casual lifestyle, says builder Mark Wilson, president of London Bay Homes.

“The opulence of the 1990s is giving way to a friendlier sort of home, and people are putting their money [into rooms] where they spend their time,” he explains. “In the Capriano, we’ve taken out the formal living and dining rooms, and allocated those spaces to a great room and outdoor loggia that are integrated, comfortable and casual, but with lots of elegance.”

Winner of the prestigious America’s Best Builder Award for 2008 from Builder magazine, London Bay chose interiors with an easy, tropical theme. “We achieved the look with lots of texture in floors, ceiling and fabrics, and by flowing the same sea island colors indoors and out,” says Jennifer Stevens, senior designer for Romanza Interior Design of Naples. “It’s a fresh, relaxed island style—more Coral Gables or Santa Barbara than you typically find in Southwest Florida.”

Soft Mediterranean architecture with casement-free windows and simple arches assumes an island look with walls and crisp painted box beams in sandy beige contrasted by clean trim in a lighter tone.

Ceiling fans lined in rows the length of both indoor and outdoor rooms serve both aesthetic and functional roles: They give the illusion of paddle fans to support the island theme and unify the spaces.

Breezy ocean style is created with a light background of pale wood floors and tongue-and-groove ceiling, then mixing accent wood tones from medium (dining table) to dark (British Colonial coffee table).

Island influences are evident in casual but elegant Bauer International dining chairs with woven cane seats and backs, and in lush tropical plants strategically placed throughout the great room and the adjoining lanai.

All-weather woven wicker seating by Summer Classics, outdoor pillow fabrics and flooring colors were chosen for the covered outdoor living area to coordinate with indoor furnishings and visually integrate both spaces.

Waves interpreted in island colors by Romanza’s design team for a custom wool area rug from Fabrica International form the basis for the great room’s color scheme of soft blues, yellows, greens and creams.

Textured fabrics, says designer Stevens, include canvas for sofas and generous easy chairs, Schumacher grass cloth to line wall niches, and striped linen drapery side panels used to synthesize all the tropical tones in the color scheme.