When Betsy Rauch decided to build a house in Hawks Landing in Plantation, Fla., she knew that, from concept to completion, developer/builder Ford Robinette would bring her ideas to fruition. "We custom design and build all of our homes to the owners' exact specifications," Robinette says.

But Rauch had a distinct advantage. As vice president of Robinette Homes, she helps people design their homes every day. "I knew exactly what I wanted for my own home in terms of architecture and ambiance," Rauch says. "I wanted to create a home that was warm and expressed style and quality."
    Having previously worked with designer Eloise Kubli on several projects, Rauch had established a rapport with Kubli, making it easy for her to articulate Rauch's vision of a French-inspired home. "We really captured her spirit of celebrating life with family and friends," Kubli says.
    The formal dining room, in particular, expresses Rauch's joie de vivre. A barrel-vaulted ceiling covered with Chicago brick imbues the space with a sense of intimacy. The brick also fills a niche, providing the backdrop for a buffet. Flanking the niche are carved-mahogany doors that conceal wine coolers. "I wanted the room to have the ambiance of an old, French wine cellar," Rauch says. continued...

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