Bayfront Bungalow

Perhaps builder Dan Gagne of Gagne Construction could have renovated the older home nestled among the mangroves on Millar Bay — it needed new air conditioning, a new roof, and termite remediation for starters. However even if restored to pristine condition, the home would still be larger than what the longtime owners were looking for at this point in their life. Instead, Gagne and architect David Wash started over, bringing the home down to the concrete slab and pilings and focused on creating a backdrop for unique details and dazzling features for this reimagined bayfront bungalow.

Jewel tones in blues and purples punctuate the light, bright, airy rooms furnished and accessorized by Debra Gamache of Sarasota Chic Interiors, mostly with pieces from her retail showroom of the same name. “The homeowner was not afraid to bring in color, which was nice. She came to the store quite often to make selections and it was a pleasure to work with her as we have the same tastes and had the same ideas for her home,” smiles Gamache. The pair focused on comfortable contemporary furnishings, pieces with curves and warmth to them.

“The existing house had huge spaces,” Wash continues. “Being used to tall ceilings, the homeowner wanted to keep that sense of expansiveness.” Coffered ceilings lined with tongue-and-groove cypress in the main living area, accented with pristine white box beams and wire brushed wide plank flooring from Wade’s Carpet & Interiors with an oil finish, bring warmth into the light-filled space.

The biggest change to the original custom-designed house was the relocation of the master bedroom suite to the ground level. “To give the owner a sense of privacy, formerly afforded by the second story, we placed the guest bedrooms up one-half level, situating them above the garage,” says Wash.

“We stayed within the original footprint, but the resulting home, at a little over 2,800 square feet, is about half the size of the original,” explains Gagne when describing the smaller yet spacious new structure he built for his clients. Although this project is modest compared to the average house Gagne Construction builds, the Longboat Key gem is embellished with extensive trim and finely detailed woodwork, two of Gagne’s favorite aspects of the home.