I found my inspiration for this project through a small collection of vintage glass floats, the kind that were used by fishermen to keep their nets buoyant. The beautiful greens and blues of the sea glass anchored the color scheme, and helped me to design a house congruent with it’s surroundings. Here, nature’s elements converge: the Gulf of Mexico’s water meets sand and mangrove trees, which meets the vast blue sky. And tranquility is the result – a true sanctuary.
Venetian plaster in sea glass green on the stair walls and the seating group washes the color of the water into the house and returns your eye back to the beautiful view.
Beads of sea glass are one of my favorite things – piled on a footed platter they get the attention they deserve. Embroidery and nail heads on the custom chairs add a refined touch against the stainless base and reclaimed wood top on the dining table.
An oversized custom rug and soft color in the ceiling coffers pull the family room together and create intimacy in this large room.
At the bar, woven wood wallpaper and dark walnut tie the colors of sea and sky to the texture of the earth.
Double islands are topped with quartz in blues and greens. The latest technology in appliances is featured in this perfectly appointed kitchen — a place to cook, entertain and gather.
Watery blues and greens in the handmade glass tile backsplash bring light and color into the butler’s pantry.
The breakfast nook looks out over the pool with a zinc-topped table and a glass ball chandelier.
The European oiled oak floors that run throughout the home help to tie the spaces in this open floor plan together. Woven raffia on the walls of this study echo the texture of the trees and grasses outside with French doors leading out to the pool.
I love this compass table in the study — a playful reminder of the nautical instruments that have guided boats through Florida waters over so many years.
Coral embroidery on the drapes, watery blues in the upholstery, and woven grass blinds in the master sitting alcove frame the view of the bay and nature preserve. A perfect place to read and reflect.
A raffia-covered headboard and grasscloth wrapped chests near the master bed bring texture and a tropical touch to this room. The reading lamps are each cut from a single piece of marble.
In the master bath, I used walnut for the double vanity with lucite hardware, and Calcutta Gold marble on the floor, countertops and shower walls.
I carried the Calcutta Gold from the shower out to frame the shower opening, giving a beautifully finished look. Finely executed details are a hallmark of my design.
I adore bookcases. This gallery is at the top of the foyer stairs and leads to the upstairs guest loft. It provides a place for books, family photos and collections of jars, shells and pottery.
The ombre fabric on the drapes and the embroidered pillows bring the blue-green colors upstairs. The upholstered ottoman in blue stripe anchors the seating group and invites you to put your feet up and relax.
In the VIP guest suite I used neutral colors to let the textures come through. Horn lamps on the bedside table, bedside bookcases wrapped in burlap, a zinc headboard, and a floor lamp of oyster shells, metal and raw crystal. Layering textures and celebrating the raw, organic beauty of natural materials gives a room authenticity and depth of character.
Vein-cut travertine runs the length of the VIP bath.
Panels of stained teak with polished nickel hardware echo the horizontal lines of the travertine.
Flanking this hand-finished bed is a pair of Bubble Glass Lamps from my collection for Chelsea House.
Each guest bath has a personality of its own, featuring creams, greys, blues and greens. I varied the materials, the balance of color and texture so that each space has a unique point of view and its own beauty to share.
The Powder Bath (middle right) walls are covered with wallpaper reminiscent of the inside of an antique book, paired with a natural quartz countertop in soft blue with naturally occurring green veins. Crystal knobs on the cabinet and on the stem of the sconces complete the careful layering of detail in this little jewel box of a room.
The radius front profile on this rattan-detailed vanity showcases natural, organic rattan used in an unexpectedly sophisticated way. The leathered granite countertop with its natural crystal formations lends a touch of subtle glamor and compliments the polished nickel faucets.
Classic. Timeless. Tropical. And situated perfectly in its place.
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