HGTV Dream Home 2008

ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA

One of the biggest sweepstakes of the year is the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway, where the Home and Garden Television channel builds an amazing house on the air, asks their viewers' opinions about how to place and decorate it, and then GIVES THE FINISHED PRODUCT AWAY, along with extras like a brand new car, to a lucky sweepstakes entrant.

Every year, HGTV strives to make its Dream Home more beautiful, more luxurious, and more impressive than the year before. In 2008, HGTV selected Islamorada, Florida as its dream location. Nestled right on the crystal blue waters of the Florida Bay, this home takes full advantage of its stunning natural surroundings.

Three sets of French doors look directly out over the clear waters of the Florida Bay.

A unique bamboo coffee table is actually made from an old pigeon cage. A glass top was added, along with large caster wheels so it's also easy to move around. "The table adds great texture, and it's also a conversation piece," says Linda.

Touch of Aqua

Dark hardwood floors lead into the first-floor entertaining area, a square room painted eggshell white, with the same shade on the walls and ceilings. "The room is almost totally colorless, except for a pop of aqua," says interior designer Linda Woodrum.

She said her goal was to create a multi-functional room, easily adapted for a variety of uses. A set of six large wicker chairs are fitted with fat, comfortable paisley cushions. Six individual chairs, instead of a large sofa-and-loveseat combo, lend much more flexibility to the room. "It's all about versatility," says Woodrum. "The chairs are easy to move. You can set it up as a social area, or line the seating up in rows to create a media room for watching TV. You can also just remove all the furnishings, turn up the music and dance."

Glass Top Coffee Table

The flexibility extends to the coffee table, which is actually made up of four small square glass-topped white tables. Accessories include two large glass candle jars with white candles nestled into bottoms filled with speckled shells. A large bowl with just a hint of green is filled to overflowing with conch shells. Three large pale blue glass vases sit above a dark wicker basket filled with white artificial corals. A pair of light brown wicker baskets, large and small, and a pair of coffee table books complete the accessories.

For the HGTV Dream Home kitchen, interior designer Linda Woodrum created a sleek modern space accented with rustic art. It's a well-defined space, yet very open to the living and dining areas of the second-floor great room.

"It's clean, crisp and definitely part of the great room," says Woodrum.

All About the View

As in every room facing the water, the dining area is all about the view. An eight-person dining table is centered on French doors looking out on the second floor patio and the Florida Bay beyond. High-backed chairs are upholstered in an elegant, yet casual, red coral fabric matching the sofa and chairs in the adjoining great room.

A sunny daybed where you can enjoy your favorite book.

Bath with a view

Double Windows

An oval mirror centered above the vanity in a seashell frame hangs from a neon green ribbon. The windows make the white tone of the room clean and crisp.

Tropical Retreat

The master bedroom of this year's HGTV Dream Home is truly a tropical retreat, featuring a cool blue color scheme matched with antique white furnishings and a balcony with incredible views of the Florida Bay.

The guest room is a happy space with bright green, black and splashes of fuchsia.

There's a comfy chair to lounge after a long day at the beach.

Kids' room in blues

Antique White Dresser

The nearly 5-foot-long dresser is topped with an antique white rotating art caddy filled with a rainbow of colored markers, crayons, pencils and other art supplies.

Designed for Outdoor Entertaining

The expansive patio offers ample space to host an outdoor gathering.

What a view!

Thanks to www.HGTV.com for photos and information.