Divco Custom Homes is balancing its 40-year legacy with evolution in Southwest Florida’s luxury residential market
As one of the leading custom home builders in Southwest Florida, Divco Custom Homes (Divco) offers thoughtfully designed luxury homes in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Fort Myers. Combining design and build principles, Divco’s team ranges from architects and interior designers to master craftsmen, offering a streamlined and cohesive process.
Having spoken with Dave Chernin, CDO and Executive Director of Business Development, just over one year ago, we catch up with him again to hear about the company’s latest projects and developments. “Over the past year, we’ve continued to evolve in a very exciting way,” he begins. “While we remain grounded in the reputation, craftsmanship, and client relationships that have defined us for more than 40 years, we move with the market, embracing new architectural ideas and technologies to better serve our clients.
“The balance between experience and innovation, along with our commitment to transparency and relationship-driven approach to business, is what makes Divco unique, as very few companies have the platform we’ve built over 40 years. We offer the confidence that comes from decades of successful projects while continuing to push forward with a clear architectural vision for the future of luxury residential living in Naples, Marco Island, and Southwest Florida. We’re not afraid to make changes, and we pride ourselves on building a legacy for the homeowner as much as for the company and everyone else involved.
“We’ve also made further investments in strengthening the architectural side of the business,” Dave continues. “One of our primary focuses has been creating a more integrated design-build experience where architecture, interior design, selections, visualization, and construction all work together from the very beginning. We have spent a great deal of time refining our process, expanding our design capabilities, and improving how clients experience the journey from concept to completion. The result has been a stronger alignment between design vision and construction execution. We are seeing homeowners place a greater emphasis on architecture, personalization, and lifestyle, and our evolution over the past year has positioned us exceptionally well to meet those expectations.”
Turning to recent projects, Dave highlights that many have involved highly customized waterfront residences throughout Naples, Marco Island, and some of Southwest Florida’s most prestigious communities. “What has been particularly rewarding is the level of collaboration we are experiencing with clients; today’s luxury homeowner is much more engaged in the design process and is looking for a home that reflects not only their lifestyle but also the unique characteristics of the property itself,” Dave elaborates.
“We’ve been working on several architecturally driven residences that emphasize indoor-outdoor living, expansive views, natural light, and a seamless relationship between architecture and environment. One example is our upcoming Solara model, which reflects many of the design principles that continue to shape our architectural direction. The home explores the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, strong geometric forms, expansive glass, thoughtful material transitions, and a greater emphasis on how architecture influences the experience of living within the home. It represents our continued focus on creating residences that feel connected to their surroundings while balancing sophistication, livability, and timeless design.”
In terms of client experience, Divco’s advanced visualization process, led by Santiago Cajiao through hyper-realistic 3D renderings and immersive presentations, has become an integral part of the process. “With more than 25 years of experience in architectural design, construction documentation, and high-end residential visualization throughout Florida, Santiago has played a key role in advancing Divco’s design-build approach,” Dave explains. “By integrating architectural visualization, construction expertise, and client communication into a seamless workflow, he brings a unique combination of technical knowledge and photorealistic presentation capabilities.
“Through highly detailed 3D renderings and immersive visual experiences, Santiago enables clients and project teams to evaluate design decisions long before construction begins. This process improves coordination, streamlines approvals, and helps identify opportunities for refinement early in the design phase. In Southwest Florida’s luxury residential market, where waterfront sites, intricate architectural details, sophisticated material selections, and seamless indoor-outdoor living are common, this level of visualization has become increasingly valuable.”
Santiago’s work also reflects the growing role of digital visualization technology within the residential construction industry. By allowing clients to experience their future homes before they are built, the process fosters greater engagement while enabling Divco’s team to fine-tune architectural details and ensure the design aligns with the client’s vision. “This level of collaboration is exactly what many clients are looking for today,” Dave confirms. “Combined with our decades of experience and knowledge, it allows us to help clients push the boundaries of design while creating homes that truly reflect their goals and lifestyle.”
On the topic of design, Dave offers an interesting view on how trends are evolving away from specific features and towards the overall feel of a home. “Clients are moving beyond simply asking for larger homes or more amenities, and instead becoming more interested in proportion, spatial flow, natural light, materiality, and the experience of living within a home,” he says. “Another trend is the desire for simplicity throughout the building process. Clients increasingly value having architecture, interior design, selections, and construction under one roof, as the integrated model provides greater continuity and clearer communication.”
With this trend in mind, Divco is constantly moving toward greater integration between design and construction as it looks to the future. “Homeowners are more intentional in the decisions they make, and they want a team that can guide them through the entire process while maintaining consistency from the initial vision through to final execution. Technology will continue to transform client experience. Visualization tools, digital collaboration, and integrated planning systems allow homeowners to participate more actively in the design process while reducing uncertainty and improving communication.
“I also see architecture becoming a more dominant lever in the luxury market. For many years, the conversation centered around square footage and features, but the focus is shifting towards experience, such as how the home feels, how it connects to its surroundings, and how it supports the homeowners’ lifestyles.
“Longer term, our focus is on elevating the architectural quality of our work while building upon the trust and reputation we’ve established. We’re investing in design, visualization, technology, and process improvements that allow us to offer a more seamless experience for our clients. We want to create a stronger architectural identity. While our legacy portfolio reflects decades of successful projects tailored to the individual tastes and goals of our homeowners, we are excited about the future direction of the firm and the opportunities to deliver increasingly sophisticated, architecturally significant residences throughout Southwest Florida.”