Who We Are
We Are Designers
As a professional member of the American Institute of Building Design, our founder draws from over 25 years of experience designing homes in Florida. We tailor your home to your specific needs, working with your vision to create a home that is both unique and timeless.
We are known for our innovative home designs that maximize functionality and provide uniquely refined living environments.
Building dream homes in Central Florida for over 25 years.
We Are Master Builders
As one of a handful of NAHB Registered Master Builders in Florida, Philip never settles for “good enough.” Our experienced team members come from the homebuilding and material supplier industries. We continue to develop our skills through collaboration, education and research in the building sciences. Throughout the years we have assembled a team of trade partners with a proven commitment to excellence, and many of these amazing individuals have worked with us for over a decade. We consistently build “beyond the code” because our buyers expect more than minimum quality.
Design South Homes has become an icon in the design and management of uniquely created luxury homes. Our simple philosophy of communication, management and uncommon design talent has proven to be the recipe for success serving hundreds of clients.
Professional Designer and Master Custom Builder Philip Crotwell and his design-build firm offer award-winning home design integrated with luxury custom home builds, including custom home plans and interior design in the Central Florida area. Whether you envision a historically styled cottage or a modern estate home, we facilitate the design of truly timeless homes in any archetype.
Our Professional Credentials
Stetson University – Master of Business Administration
Florida Southern College Bachelor of Science
State of Florida Certified Building Contractor CBC1252156
State of Florida Certified Public Accountant AC03406
State of Florida Licensed Home Inspector HI1378
State of Florida Licensed Mold Assessor MRSA1484
State of Florida Licensed Mold Remediator MRSR1596
National Association of Home Builders Graduate Master Builder – GMB
National Association of Home Builders Certified Green Professional – CGP
National Association of Home Builders Certified Graduate Remodeler – CGR
NAHB Certified Aging In Place Specialist – CAPS
NAHB Certified New Homes Sales Professional – CSP
Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce – Trustee
Certified Interior Decorator – CID
American Institute of Building Design – AIBD Professional Member
National Association of Home Builders – NAHB Member
Lake Sumter HBA – Member – Board of Director 2009-2011
Parade of Homes – First Place Winner
National Kitchen & Bath Association – NKBA Member 2009 – present
Energy Star Partner – New Home Construction 2009 – present
Florida Green Building Coalition – Member
Association of Construction Industry Certified Professionals – ACICP
Southern Living Custom Home Builder Program Member – 2017 to present
Specializing in residential design, interior design, historic preservation.
Meet Our Founder
Just as an artist brings a vision of a masterpiece to an empty canvas, Philip Crotwell, the founder of Design South Homes, approaches each home he builds as a unique work of art. Trained as a professional residential designer and National Association of Home Builders Master Custom Builder, Philip has been applying his passion for homebuilding for more than 25 years.
As a full-time builder, his strong sense of ethics and emphasis on excellent customer care are firmly rooted in his personal relationships with each Homeowner. Along with uncompromising quality, design and energy efficiencies, perhaps his greatest signature has been that every Design South Homes’ home is unique. Like a fingerprint, each residence built is truly custom, designed to fulfill the desires and lifestyle of its owner. Philip gives a full commitment to his expertise and vision, creating distinctive award-winning homes that, like an artist’s masterpiece, transcend the ordinary.
Impeccable Taste with a Distinctive Eye
As a luxury custom home designer and builder, with specialties in residential design, interior design, historic preservation and a successful background in business, Philip is inspired by the unique opportunities in the Mount Dora area and Central Florida community. His style of homebuilding is unique in developing luxury home designs that range from Coastal, European, French Country, Modern, Low Country, Contemporary and Craftsman Arts & Crafts era home designs.
With impeccable taste and a distinctive “eye,” Philip combines functional aesthetics and individual customization that makes each project one of a kind! His objective is to deliver exceptional attention to your project, with of a strong sense of personal commitment to each Homeowner. Philip has a reputation as a hands-on builder; expect to see him at your home site, personally supervising every aspect of what it takes to create a superior home – from the quality of the materials, to the craftsman skills of the trade members.
Proud Member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program
The Southern Living Custom Home Builder Program
As a Southern Living Custom Home Builder Program Member since 2017, we have been selected to participate in an exclusive program of the most beloved magazine of the South, Southern Living. Design South Homes has been selected to represent our area in an elite group of approximately 100 builders as a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program. This honor was bestowed upon Design South Homes based upon the company’s demonstration of quality, design, reputation, and stability. Consistent quality and customer service has given Design South Homes the experience and excellence to be ranked as one of the area’s finest builders.
What is the Custom Builder Program?
The Southern Living Custom Builder Program is a network of approximately 100 of the South’s top custom home builders. The exclusive, invitation-only program, chooses custom builders based on the following criteria:
Detailed craftsmanship
Excellence in customer service
Financial stability
The use of quality building products in their homes
Before being selected to participate in the program, Southern Living confirms homeowner and business references, in addition to conducting site visits to ensure their selection will deliver a quality custom home along with the top-notch customer service that home owners deserve. Design South Homes proudly represents the Southern Living Custom Builder Program in the surrounding Orlando Area – including Orange, Lake and Seminole counties.
As a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program, Design South Homes enjoys networking with some of the nation’s best custom home builders, as well as training on the newest products and design trends from nationally recognized architects and product brands. Through the program, Design South Homes is privy to the latest designs coming from the source for southern design and lifestyle, Southern Living.
Design South Homes attends the annual Southern Living Custom Builder Program Conference where we receive new ideas on design and construction, and network with some of the nation’s best custom home builders. We experience presentations by nationally recognized leaders in the industry and training on integration of the newest materials and best products. This association and training helps us be on the cutting edge of homebuilding and to be better educated on everything from market trends to specific product use.
Southern Living House Plans
To view the more than 1,100 house plans included in the Southern Living Custom Builder Program and for further details about Southern Living, please visit the Southern Living site.
Kind Words
“Design South Homes recently completed building our beautiful new home. We were able to retire in the house of our dreams! We ended up with everything on our original “wish list,” as well as some items we didn’t know to wish for that were designed into our plans. Thank you, Philip for your excellent suggestions and patience. We love our new home.”
— Doris and Jim L., Mount Dora, FL
“Design South Homes handled every step of the building with confidence and with the utmost highest quality materials. We are 100% satisfied with Design South Homes and very happy with our new home. We recommend Design South Homes to everyone—there’s no need to go elsewhere!”
— Dan H., Apopka, FL
“Working with Design South Homes from the beginning of our project really made a difference for us. They were able to match our wish list to our budget with many creative ideas. We got more home than we hoped for – and enjoyed the process.”