BUILDING COMMUNITY
Known for their distinctive designs and commitment to quality craftsmanship, Homes by WestBay has earned a reputation as one of Tampa Bay’s premier homebuilders.
SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2009, HOMES BY WESTBAY HAS GROWN steadily by offering stylish, energy-efficient homes tailored to modern Florida living. This award-winning builder is now expanding into the Sarasota and Manatee area, bringing their signature blend of innovation, personalization and upscale finishes to a new audience along the Gulf Coast. Homes by WestBay was founded in Tampa in 2009 by Willy Nunn. At the time, the housing market was in the midst of a financial crisis and many private custom home builders were closing their doors. Nunn knew there were still people looking to build high-quality homes in the area and they decided to fill that void. Within the first year, Homes by WestBay had built and delivered over sixty homes. As the company grew, they began expanding their team, bringing on experts like Dee Crescini, who had a background in the design world and had built design studios for builders across the state. Originally brought in as the Design Studio Manager, thirteen years later Crescini serves as the company’s Vice President of Design and is also the Division Manager for the company’s new South Division
ONE OF THE REASONS HOMES BY WESTBAY IS ABLE TO deliver custom-quality homes on a production timeline and budget is the versatility built into their home designs. In every community, they offer a variety of floor plans tailored to different lot sizes, giving buyers the flexibility to choose a layout that fits their lifestyle. Many of these plans also include structural options—so a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home might easily become a three-bedroom with a dedicated home office instead. What’s more, WestBay continually updates and refines its offerings. Longstanding favorites like Homes by WestBay’s Key Largo and Biscayne floorplans have evolved over the years in response to changing homeowner needs, with features like reimagined laundry rooms or more functional work-from-home spaces reflecting today’s way of living. Beyond offering a wide variety of floorplans, Homes by WestBay also distinguishes itself with an impressive range of design options that allow buyers to tailor their home to fit their personal style. “When I started in this industry twenty-five years ago, the kind of design studio experience we have today simply didn’t exist in our area,” says Crescini. “Back then, it was challenging for builders to offer homebuyers a variety of choices, and even harder to communicate those selections accurately to trade partners. That often meant, products weren’t installed as expected, and homeowners ended up with a space that didn’t fully reflect their vision. Many had to take on home improvement projects after moving in—just to get the home they truly wanted. Simply because the builder couldn’t provide the investment options buyer desired.”
“Through partnerships with our preferred manufacturers, we’ve been able to develop a process that creates the look of a custom home with the price and build time of a production home.” Crescini says. “Today if you are building a custom home in this market it could take up to 24 months to complete. We accomplish this in seven to eight months.”
The design studio experience at Homes by WestBay is a true evolution from the traditional approach—thoughtfully curated and personalized every step of the way. Open Monday-Friday by appointment only for contracted clients, the 6,200-square-foot Design Studio showcases an extensive range of materials and finishes, allowing buyers to explore endless possibilities to create their dream home. From today’s most popular and distinctive flooring styles to cabinetry, countertops, and more, the Studio features everything in one inspiring space. Multiple kitchen and bathroom vignettes highlight how each selection works together, helping buyers visualize the full impact of their design choices in real-life settings.
Before their in-person appointment, buyers can begin the process at home by exploring options online through their personal design portal, Wishlist. When they arrive at the Studio,
