1572 Shores Court Wows Judges, Wins 28th House Decorating Contest

As the judges’ trolley rolled down Shores Court all of the laughing and joking immediately stopped and was replaced by oohs and aahs. The winner of the 28th House Decorating Contest was all but decided before the trolley rolled to a stop.

The fact that the architect is a handsome young college student with an easy smile is just icing on the cake. The masterpiece he put together during the past three months is as tasteful as it is spectacular.

“Since he was 12, he’s had a car detailing business,” Heidi Kohl said of her industrious son Cameron. "He goes to FAU full time. The neighbors are like, ‘Cameron, you’ve got to work harder, dude.’ They know what he does.”

Cameron Kohl was 14 years old when he started tinkering with Christmas decorations.

“I’ve been doing this for six years,” Cameron said, “I’m 19 now."

Chairman Dave Rice presented Cameron with the traveling trophy. “I’ll come back and get this next year,” Rice said as he handed Kohl the modest trophy.

Rice’s wife, and co-chairman, Jeanne Rice, then gathered Cameron, his mother Heidi, and father Simeon together with the judges in front of the Kohl's home for the annual winner’s photo.

“We judged 2,015 homes this year,” Dave Rice said. "That’s 150 more than last year. And last year was a record. If someone is backing out of their garage and we see their red tail lights, we judge them,” he joked.

The winning house has a five year sit out period before they can win again. But that doesn’t stop them from decorating every year, according to Rice.

“That’s why we list the homes that are worth seeing,” Rice said. "A lot of times they’re better than the homes in the top 10."