Bringing Nature Inside

For Kimberly Dellamonica, a perfect house is one that's "tropical, tranquil, luxurious and really inviting—I want people to feel comfortable as soon as they walk in the door." Mission accomplished, says Nate. "This place is like a sanctuary, a Zen retreat."

When Kimberly and her husband, Mark, began renovating their lagoon-front condo near San Francisco, she took her cues from her favorite holiday destinations: Southeast Asia, which she frequented in her 10 years as a flight attendant, and Mexican resorts such as Las Ventanas al Paraíso and Esperanza, both in Cabo San Lucas.

"I love the beach lifestyle," Kimberly explains. "So I told my husband, 'Let's just do it in our house.'"

Nate surprised winner Kimberly Dellamonica with an orchid, which fits perfectly in her tropical-themed home.