The Canadian family that followed the sun to Southwest Florida aren’t celebrities or rock stars, but you’d never know it based on the spectacular design of their dream home. “The feel of the house is very glamorous due to the combination of textures and materials, which provide a cohesive look that’s stunning from every angle,” says interior designer Wilfredo Emanuel, owner and lead designer at Wilfredo Emanuel Designs, who brought his strong architectural background and fine-tuned design expertise to the project. Emanuel incorporated glass, leather, opulent textiles, rich colors, and energetic geometric patterns into his design. Adding an array of stylish furnishings, which Emanuel handpicked from Clive Daniel Home’s treasure trove of sophisticated, transitional pieces, the designer fashioned a stunning showplace.
But when you’re crafting a fabulous home for real people, not just decorating a model or designing a Hollywood set, it’s about so much more than the design. “Working that closely with clients on a project, you get to know them on a different level and come to want more than just a beautiful space, but also a home that makes them feel special every time they walk through their doors,” Emanuel explains.
This wholly custom residence started with a vision. Architect Alberto Abad of New Architectura knew just where he was going with the project even before he started drafting. It would be modern, his specialty, and beautiful, of course but more than anything, it would be livable. Abad unfailingly makes his homes useful places where life can be lived to the fullest, instead of just pretty pictures to be admired from afar. And who would argue that the joy of living is sharing fun times with family and friends? “I design every home to be a party house,” he says.
Stock Development’s luxury homebuilding division, Stock Custom Homes, is one of the region’s premier builders of award-winning estate homes. Stock Custom Homes represents the next chapter in Stock’s legacy of excellence. “We understand what homebuyers want, have the knowledge to design for the Florida lifestyle, and possess the resources to bring dream homes to fruition at the highest level of quality,” says Claudine Leger-Wetzel, vice president of sales & marketing for Stock Development.
With the canvas in place, Emanuel worked in layers, much like a master artist would. He defines his process: “I put myself in the center of the room and see it in 3D inside my mind.” First, he treated the backgrounds with textural wood, embellished paper, and even semi-precious stone. And after the furniture came the final flourish: dynamic lighting ambient, shapely, and dazzling, all set on dimmers allowing the owners control of the mood any time of day.
The outcome–a tropical hideaway that rivals any exclusive resort–is phenomenal in every sense of the word, no reservation nor V.I.P. access required.
Certain elements make this “not just any living room,” muses Emanuel. Contemporary Clip sofas by legendary furniture designer Thayer Coggin float on their unique angular legs of polished stainless steel. Nuevo Living’s Giza side table, inspired by the wonders of Egypt, features an intriguing double pyramid design. A unique custom wall unit, designed by Emanuel and fabricated by Stock, utilizes espresso-stained wood contrasted by white lacquer, and is mounted on grass cloth with a gold metallic overlay. Playing the dual role of console and sculpture, the Tasco console table from Design Institute of America (DIA) flaunts a cantilevered design of cast resin and stainless steel. Overhead, three Evening Cloud crystal chandeliers by Fine Art Lamps from Clive Daniel Home rain down droplets of illuminated glass.
Symmetry, a quality the clients favor, is implemented in spades at the front exterior. Balance is achieved with the perfectly matched front elevation and manicured landscaping on either side. “To achieve the customers’ vision and desired aesthetic, we followed the architect’s directive and made sure to keep the materials and lines simple,” says Matt Sellick, president of Stock Custom Homes at Stock Development. Light colored stucco and a flat concrete roof tile are employed, the windows are absent of shutters, and the corbels are modestly understated. “I wanted to make it as clean and contemporary as the neighborhood would allow so it would appropriately reflect the transitional interiors,” adds architect Abad.
Glamour and pizzazz characterize the dining room, where mink-finished Baker chairs combine aniline dyed, embossed gilt leather reminiscent of reptile skin on the inside backs and seats, and beige ostrich print leather on the outer backs by Hancock & Moore from Clive Daniel Home. Caracole’s Worth Its Weight In Gold sideboard is crafted of clear glass panels that gleamingly reflect its mirrored back and bottom panels. Even the custom area rug, fabricated by Clive Daniel Home, shines with silver and gold painted cowhide.
“Where the formal living room used to be the jewelry’ in your parents’ home, in today’s great room concept, it’s the kitchen,” says Leger-Wetzel. Accordingly, this one impresses with its sleek design that also provides ample space for a family feast or chic soiree. A gourmet chef island, designed for prepping and cooking, is shaped from black and white quartz, while the second, intended for serving guests, is built from semiprecious stone in black with sparkling silver accents. The ultra contemporary stools are by Zuo Modern from Clive Daniel Home. Custom cabinetry, constructed of white glass, features inlaid bands of stainless steel for definition. Both the pale blue backsplash and lustrous white floors are also made of glass, and are from Ruben Sorhegui Tile.
As if designed for a Hollywood starlet, the master bath showcases white glass cabinetry and above it, Omexco pearlized wallpaper that twinkles with specks of mica. Fine Art Lamps’ Crystal Enchantment oblong chandelier and sconces use multi-faceted crystal panels set within silver-leaf frames to bring an enchanting aura to the space. Kohler’s Abrazo bowl-shaped soaking tub from Naples Plumbing Studio rests before a frosted glass shower door, and a Clive Daniel Home black rug stunningly contrasts the room’s light palette.
In the opulent master bedroom, Emanuel exhibits his geometry skills. The linear bed he designed was fabricated by Clive Daniel Home and is adorned by a matte platinum and gold bedding ensemble by Kravet Collection. Using his keen eye and impeccable taste, Emanuel chose a rectangular shagreen nightstand by acclaimed French designer Jean-Louis Deniot. The lighting, by Fredrick Ramond for Hinkley, captivates with its cubic design. A silver shag rug from Clive Daniel Home and Michael Aram’s Butterfly Tree sculpture serve to soften the sharp edges that dominate the space.
The game room’s centerpiece is Swaim’s Jayden championship quality pool table; its black pearl frame, Teflon-coated steel gray wool felt, mother-of-pearl inlays, and abstract stainless base make it a veritable objet d’art. Beneath it lies a Persian rug in shades of chocolate and cobalt, from Clive Daniel Home. Spectator seating comes by way of navy blue and metallic silver leather stools, custom designed by Emanuel and manufactured by Clive Daniel Home. The upholstered walls feature showstopping blue agate backlit “art” panels. An LED ceiling detail distributes glare-free illumination throughout the space.
With this powder bath, Emanuel, always the fearless trendsetter, declares “it’s hip to be square.” The graphic pattern in the lustrous pearl mica wallcovering from Omexco plays off the architectural shaping of a luxe John-Richard smoked glass mirror. Floating cabinetry of glistening champagne is adorned by square-shaped pulls embellished with rhinestones for extra sparkle. Somewhat subdued, yet still “red carpet ready,” the boxy matte beige sink is by Versace.
Designer Wilfredo Emanuel goes full-on glitz and glamour with this ultrachic bedroom. The edgy bed and three-drawer nightstands, both from Mobital’s Blanche Collection, whisper ever so softly of silver, but the custom bedding, designed with silver lamé and other splendorous textiles from Kravet Couture, shouts it out loud. Emerson Bentley’s sinuous Nathaniel chaise is upholstered in a channel-tufted white mink faux leather and the crystal prism pendant above it, coupled with another cascading down towards the bed, impart pure drama courtesy of manufacturer John-Richard from Clive Daniel Home. An exciting backlit panel wall detail and white shag Surya rug bring star quality to the room, and with the finishing touches of rhinestone-studded drapes and crystal-encrusted accessories, it’s simply award-winning.
A sizable lanai offers ample shaded space for parties and family get-togethers. Those bold enough to brave the heat can sun themselves on any of the welcoming chaise lounges, but for ultimate poolside luxury, the luckiest pool party guest will snag the indulgent Sparta daybed by Skyline Design from Clive Daniel Home. Smooth and refined, oversized slabs of veined glass compose the deck of a black-bottom pool with black mosaic tile that becomes one with the water. The pair of body-hugging Rotoform chaises by Tropitone from Clive Daniel Home floating at the edge of the pool help sunbathers keep their cool while they gaze at the breathtaking view. When nighttime comes, everyone can grab a seat in one of the Skyline Axis chairs, as well as their marshmallows and skewers, as they congregate in a cozy circle around the fire pit.
Written by Robin Hodes
Front Elevation and Interior Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography
Rear Exterior Photography by Tim Gibbons Photography
Interior Designer
Wilfredo Emanuel Designs
4760 Tamiami Trail North #2
Naples, FL 34103
239.315.7794
wilfredoemanueldesigns.com
Architect
New Architectura
3561 Bonita Bay Boulevard North
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239.495.1841
newarchitectura.com
Luxury Home Builder
Stock Development
2639 Professional Circle, Suite 101
Naples, FL 34119
239.592.7344
stockdevelopment.com
Resources:
Andersen Windows
100 4th Avenue
Bayport, MN 55003
800.426.4261
andersenwindows.com
Builders Glass of Bonita
24181 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 4
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239.947.1505
buildersglassbonita.com
Clive Daniel Home
2777 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34103
239.261.4663
clivedaniel.com
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen
& Lighting Gallery
38 Goodlette-Frank Road South
Naples, FL 34102
239.963.0087
fergusonshowrooms.com
Lighting First
28001 South Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
239.949.2544
lightingfirst.us
Naples Plumbing Studio
2172 Trade Center Way
Naples, FL 34109
239.631.5336
naplesplumbingstudio.com
Ruben Sorhegui Tile
3876 Mercantile Avenue
Naples, FL 34104
239.643.2882
sorheguitile.com
Comments