Nautilus Homes delivers custom excellence along Florida’s Gulf Coast
As a child, Ryan Perrone would walk through job sites with his father and study his surroundings: what made a room feel right, how these details worked and, the biggest question: What made a home truly feel like it belonged to the people who lived there?
“That early exposure taught me that building is never just about materials, schedules or plans,” said Perrone. “It is about pride, trust and a deep respect for the people who will call that place home.”
That mindset is now the backbone of the company’s building philosophy. Perrone founded Nautilus Homes in 2010 with a purpose to build architecturally significant, technically demanding residences that required careful detail from design to construction.
“When I think about why I started Nautilus Homes, I always come back to the same ideas: care and accountability,” said Perrone.
The company’s building philosophy is evident in Watersound, a 4,750-square-foot custom home in Sarasota, Fla. The project’s stunning architecture and unique design earned several awards from the National Association of Home Builders’ Nationals Awards and Best in American Living Awards (BALA): Nationals Silver Best Custom Home, Nationals Silver Best Interior Design, BALA Silver Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home 5,001-6,000 and BALA Silver Best Kitchen in a Custom Home Priced over $2M.
“I’m proud of the recognition, but I’m even more proud of what had to happen to earn it; the decisions, the collaboration, the craftsmanship and the trust from the client,” said Perrone. “That’s the part that matters most. The awards are proof that the work stands up, but they’ll never be the reason we do it.”
A Distinctive Exterior
The home’s Florida vernacular style keeps it cool and dry in the state’s humid climate. Outside, the project is the epitome of a coastal home, with white exteriors, teal shutters and budding palm trees. The builder utilized the site, situating the guest house and pool loggia to frame the auto court, giving the corner lot a sense of enclosure while adding real architectural presence.
The front porch defines the entry, with a navy front door to contrast the brighter color palette.
All main living areas connect directly to the backyard, establishing it as the star of the show. The project’s floor plan wraps around an interior courtyard, making the pool feel like a retreat rather than a standard backyard feature.
An expansive folding glass door system dissolves the boundary between the living room and the back screened porch, featuring an outdoor kitchen and lounge area that looks out to the pool.
The most distinctive exterior feature is the tower, which not only gives the roofline a memorable silhouette, but also delivers 360-degree-views of Florida’s coastline and the surrounding neighborhood.
An Elegant Interior
The interior is an intricate blend of sophistication and craftsmanship. Vaulted ceilings and a precast, firebrick-lined fireplace are grounding elements in the living room.
The kitchen is designed for elegance and entertainment, with custom sage green cabinetry and a matching range, along with a parallel island with ample storage. The open layout connects the kitchen to the dining area, featuring a banquette-style dining table situated against large windows with views into the interior courtyard.
While the tower defines the exterior, the inside of it is just as prominent, serving as Watersound’s centerpiece. The grand three-story staircase leads to a yoga room situated at the top of the tower and is anchored by a grand piano at the base, which Nautilus Homes added to be a focal point rather than a circulation element.
Nautilus Homes was shaped around the belief that a custom builder needs to be a collaborator, a problem-solver and a steward of design wrapped in one. Before the sale of Watersound was complete, the homeowners described their unwavering vision for a residence that felt as though it had been in their family for generations. Nautilus Homes delivered, thanks in part to their company’s unique origins.
The Road to Large-Scale Projects
Watersound blends scale with elegant design directly inspired by Florida’s coast. In its early days, Nautilus Homes focused on what the company referred to as “jewel box homes.” These were projects where scale was secondary to craftsmanship, proportion and thoughtful execution. This created an opportunity to refine the builder’s approach and establish the level of care that would later translate to larger, complex homes, like Watersound.
“Today’s market asks much more of a custom builder,” said Joy Moore, Director of Marketing at Nautilus Homes. “The company has learned to adapt to changing market conditions without lowering its standards.”
Photos courtesy of Ryan Gamma and Nautilus Homes.
By Taylor Moore. She is the Assistant Editor and can be reached at taylor@builder.media.
This story is featured in our October issue of Builder and Developer. Read the print version here.
