JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A booming economy and continued growth in Florida have created increased demand for sophisticated upscale homes that cost upwards of $1 million to build, said Jacksonville's architectural and planning firm Ervin, Lovett & Miller.

"There is a large and growing market in Florida for unique, one-of-a-kind luxury homes, said Steve Lovett, a partner at the firm. "In Jacksonville especially, we have many fabulous environments on the river, on the ocean and on the Intracoastal Waterway, that afford some rather spectacular architecture."

Ervin, Lovett & Miller specializes in designing upscale homes throughout the state. Partner Tim Miller said the market is indeed growing, but that homeowners still don't have money to burn. "Clearly the driving force is value," Miller explained. "We focus on the individual tastes and needs of the homebuyer in order to create maximum value, and that means enduring value."

Modern trends are evident in features like in-home offices, libraries and media centers that incorporate high technology with old-fashioned family values, said Miller, and unique architectural solutions play a big role in enhancing a home's value.

"A lot of our design work is exclusively developed for our clients who aren't the sort of people who want to see their home replicated down the street or even down the coast," said Russell Ervin, another partner in the firm.