David J. Kessler, president of Harbour Builders of Florida, Inc., Boca Raton, arrived at his signature "Old World" home designs after years of reading books, conducting research and studying the history of architecture. The longtime builder, who has a degree in architecture from the University of Florida in Gainesville, refers to his portfolio of million-dollar homes throughout Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, and other prestigious South Florida communities as "one-of-a-kind, timeless works of art."

Established 27 years ago, Harbour Builders of Florida focuses on building unique custom homes. Many of Harbour Builder's collection of homes can be found in Boca Raton's elite deep-water communities. Kessler's philosophy is that homes associated with the Harbour Builders name are treasures. The company's classic home designs have a Tuscan flavor, with clean lines. They are built to retain their value throughout changing design fads.

   "Our concept is to design homes that are always in style, as opposed to some with the real heavy Mediterranean look," he says. "I work very closely with leading architects in town generating these home designs."

The home featured on the cover is a two-story design, with 4,651 square feet under air. The expansive five bedroom and 5.5-bath residence is on an interior lot in Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, but is only steps away from the community's club and marina. The design features a lavish interior, rich in the use of marbles, stones, woods and granites.

Harbour Builders is known for building homes with attention to detail, and in this home, that trademark is evident in the wall and ceiling touches and extensive use of moldings. "The pool area in the back is heavily landscaped to create a private outdoor world for entertaining, accented by trellises, columns, a spa and summer kitchen. The outdoor patio mimics the Old World feel with its cypress ceilings and stone columns," Kessler says.

The home is a private enclave, with a front yard area that is surrounded in part by a wall, creating a private motor court. Stone urns with plants add color and drama to the home's earth tones.

Although Harbour Builders homes share a classic design, each is markedly different - like paintings in a collection. Each home - whether it is on water, a dry interior lot or on a golf course - is designed to maximize its location.

Harbour Builders is building an assortment of homes in Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, and The Estates of Boca Raton. These are some of the homes that are in process:

Privacy and a love for yachting will lure people to this home at 284 West Alexander Palm Road. The deep-water residence, to be completed in the winter of 2003, overlooks Capone's Island. "It's like a sanctuary, a private habitat," Kessler says.

The home is more than 7,500 square feet under air. It offers an award-winning pool-patio area with covered loggia; expansive clubroom with billiard area, private office, bar and wine cellar (thermostatically controlled), a caterer's kitchen, VIP suite and huge master suite. The master suite is a vacation in itself, offering a private sitting room with curved windows overlooking the water and Capone's Island, and his and her separate baths. The man's bath area has a steam room. And a private balcony adjacent to the master suite further captures the beauty of this home's location.

Under construction with a completion in early fall 2004, the home at 2386 West Maya Palm Drive is perfect for people who love boating, but don't necessarily need to live on deep water. The home is on a dry lot directly across from the Royal Palm Yacht Club and Marina. This residence features five bedrooms, an upstairs lounge and "a very private, heavily landscaped pool-patio area," according to Kessler. Luxury touches include separate his and hers bathrooms in the master suite, a library, large kitchen-family area overlooking the pool, and private, tropically landscaped rear pool-patio area with water features and spa.

Old-World Luxury On Deep Water   

A trademark Harbour Builders home in the Old-World, Tuscan style, the residence at 248 Key Palm Road is on deep water, with dockage for a 75-foot yacht. The two-story home features split garages and a large clubroom overlooking a Palm Beach style pool. Other elements that put this home into a class of its own include an elevator, a main grand staircase, vast gourmet kitchen and "large family room that is designed with corner pocketed sliding glass doors. The doors virtually open the home to the outside world, overlooking large covered loggias and the sparkling water," Kessler says.

The upstairs master suite has large his and hers bathrooms and balcony areas overlooking the backyard and pool. The home, which is to be completed in winter 2004, has more than 6,800 square feet under air. "The buyer can select colors and materials at this point," Kessler says.

Palm Beach Classic Mansion

Located just east of the Intracoastal, and just south of the Boca Raton Hotel and Club, the Harbour Builder's home at 2201 Cocoanut Road mimics a Palm Beach mansion style design. "You drive down the side of the home to the garages, located at the property's rear. The rear of the home offers extensive loggias and a Palm Beach style pool. Another exciting feature of the home is that it has a garage that is detached from the main home, which offers a bonus suite above it. The self-contained suite consists of a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and morning kitchen," Kessler says. "The residence has five additional bedrooms, plus club room, an elevator and Chicago brick driveway."

Dedicated to Quality

Kessler, a member of the Home Builders Association, says quality control and workmanship standards have resulted in more than a quarter century success in the home building business. He attributes much of Harbour Builder's success to the talents of his construction manager, Kenneth W. Jacques, who coordinates and controls daily scheduling and production. "Based on his talents, we are known for delivering homes with unsurpassed quality," Kessler says.

Jacques says the quality of the contractors is what makes the difference. The contractors have to meet the high standards of Harbour Builders. "Some contractors have worked with us for 20 years, so their credibility is up to our standards, which is very high for the South Florida industry," Jacques says.

Jacques says that Harbour Builder's rapport with inspectors in the City of Boca Raton helps protect the buyer by delivering a product that meets the strict standards of the city.

In fact, Harbour Builder's reputation for quality has resulted in valuable relationships all around. "We work with a team approach, which means we work with and hire the best architects, interior designers, real estate agents, bankers... We only work with people who are passionate about what they do," Kessler says.

"Our goal, time and time again, is to move our buyers into a comfortable, luxurious home with all the Harbour Builder's specifications. These qualities are second to none," Kessler says.