Presenting

WELCOME from S the Publisher Spring is undoubtedly my favorite time of year. Because I was born on the Spring Equinox, the vibrant colors of spring blooms take on a special meaning of rebirth and renewal for me. As I clear out my closets and prepare my gardens for the exuberant growing season, I also take time to reflect on the year that has passed and the one ahead. Last year, in my professional life, I strived to create a publication that I personally wanted to read, one that combined my love of home design, real estate, and the coastal lifestyle we enjoy here in Florida. Thrilled by the evolution of Florida Homes Magazine in print, this year I am dedicated to expanding our vision into the digital world with an innovative, fresh perspective. Admittedly, a technology devotee, I am fascinated by the revolutionary ways in which our digital world is changing the very fabric of our lives. The way we communicate, learn, relax, entertain, every facet has dramatically changed in the past decade alone. While many industries scramble to connect the dots in the changing world, I am mainly focused on the experience itself. We endeavor to make our print editions works of art. The quality of the photography, the writing, the paper, the printing, it all comes together to create a beautiful tactile experience. Ant yet, our digital magazines that simply duplicated the printed version fall short of the wow factor of print, until now. At Florida Homes, we are creating an entirely new experience for our readers online, by embedding video into our digital versions. Video presentations will now be available directly from within our digital editions with only the swipe of the finger, allowing our online readers to easily explore ideas and places we are only able to introduce in print. Throughout the next year we will expand the use of video technology on our website and within our digital editions. You will be able to view video tours of luxury properties for sale, watch interviews with designers and architects, preview cultural events and explore some of the finest destinations in the world, all from our website FloridaHomesMag.com and FREE digital editions. With this Spring 2013 edition, we begin our journey to marry our print and digital worlds. We have some gorgeous homes to share with you, including the unique residence in Naples, featured on our cover. We also spotlight two of the most prestigious communities in Southwest Florida, The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Sarasota and Port Royal in Naples. And, I have a delightful interview with renowned architect, Carl Abbott, to share with you. You can listen to audio excerpts from my fascinating interview with Carl at FloridaHomesMag.com, and directly from our new digital edition. Throughout the magazine, you will notice icons for video and audio, which notify you that you can explore more of the story online. I hope that our new digital experience, original features, or simply the outstanding beauty of Southwest Florida, showcased within these pages, will refresh and inspire you as well this Spring. Jules Lewis Gibson, Publisher & Editor 8 | FLORIDA HOMES MAGAZINE Photography Cover: NaplesKenny.com Top: JohnnaBrynn.com Left: Regina Jersova - Fotolia.com

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