Twenty-five years of serving the same clients taught interior designer Mark Dalton of Mark Dalton, Inc., what to expect when he was asked to conjure one gulf-front retreat from two adjacent 70’s-era condominium units. Playing to the couple’s past careers as nationally-televised magicians and entertainment company owners, Dalton knew they would bask in a glamorous décor. “They let me run wild,” exclaims Dalton, “The glitzier, the better!”
Dalton magically blended the two mirrored ground floor two-bedroom, two-bath units in the Island West condominium on Longboat Key into one mesmerizing two-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home with the assistance of general contractor Jeff Francola. “He is the only contractor I work with; he and I have an excellent relationship. He knows what I expect of him,” says Dalton. The two met about ten years ago, when Dalton hired Francola to perform some work on his personal home. “We just clicked,” continues Dalton.
Shimmering Kravet fabric from International Design Source is fashioned into wall-covering drapes that wrap the room with a subtle gleam. Animal print throw pillows accent twin sectionals from Robb & Stucky covered in JF Fabrics’ Gossip. Several Tri-Hex tables in gold leaf from Global Views placed side-by-side give the illusion of a coffee table. Black linen drum shades lined in gold top a pair of Juneau floor lamps in lacquered burnished brass.
Mirrored on the other end of the room, this seating area was dubbed the Solarium by the homeowners. The twin spaces lined with windows, along with the kitchen, connect the two original footprints. Two Caracole Ice Breaker club chairs flank an unusual golden faux tree trunk. A pair of Orbiter II task floor lamps in lacquered burnished brass and a John-Richard Collection Black Tie eleven-light chandelier from Bee Ridge Lighting illuminates the golden corner.
Mirrored on the other end of the room, this seating area was dubbed the Solarium by the homeowners. The twin spaces lined with windows, along with the kitchen, connect the two original footprints. Two Caracole Ice Breaker club chairs flank an unusual golden faux tree trunk. A pair of Orbiter II task floor lamps in lacquered burnished brass and a John-Richard Collection Black Tie eleven-light chandelier from Bee Ridge Lighting illuminates the golden corner.
Francola adds, “Our businesses grew together. I appreciate Mark’s reasonableness. He listens to input from a contractor’s standpoint and is willing to make adjustments, if needed.”
For this astonishing renovation, the pair had to meet a few challenges such as integrating load-bearing support columns in the two original kitchens and converting the common exterior hallway into interior residential space. At the same time, there was a major benefit of working on ground floor units. “That gave us the flexibility of moving plumbing locations, something you normally can’t configure. In this case, we could cut open the slab and reposition the plumbing,” Francola explains.
Joining the original kitchens resulted in this 25-foot long gourmet kitchen featuring two islands. The original plumbing and electric is hidden in the soffits. The cabinets were painted with a black lacquered base and hand-detailed in gold. KitchenAid was just releasing its appliances in black as this transformation was taking place. Appliances are from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. Brown Marinace granite counters resemble beach rocks. Dalton calls this the “glam beach look.”
Just steps from the beach, the unassuming building was constructed on a little point of land, so there are no other buildings blocking its view of the gulf. “It’s like penthouse living on the ground floor,” muses Dalton.
Dalton is a big believer in “no clutter” saying, “I prefer things open.” With the exception of the master bath, all of the travertine flooring in the original unit was ripped up, so the entire space could be floored with the same marble, visually expanding the generous 2,480 square feet of the newly combined units. The new space boasts plenty of windows, but wherever there were no windows, Dalton draped the walls to create the illusion. When fully retracted, the drapery headers disappear into the ceiling.
A new glass top was cut to fit the koi fish table base, one of two that the owners have treasured for 25 years. A circular rug by Masland Carpets sits under the table. Surrounding the unique piece are four golden leather tufted-back modified wing chairs with nail head trim on distressed wooden legs. The Corbett Lighting Pulse pendant from Bee Ridge Lighting uses hand-folded iron mesh to create a ruffled, floral-inspired motif painted with gold leaf.
Taking center stage in the master bedroom is one of Dalton’s signature pieces – a custom made bed featuring Kravet fabric. The floor-to-ceiling tufted headboard breaks up a wall of mirrors of equally large proportions. “I’m a big believer in mirrors,” avows Dalton. “You just need to use them correctly.” Global Views’ Flower Burst two-drawer cabinets in brass flank the bed. Gold-on-gold Twig Bulb lamps cast a warm glow. A Marge Carson Malibu credenza sits below the TV.
“This space is likely the last project for them,” Dalton observes of his long-time clients. “They have worked hard and can enjoy their success. This home is a reflection of a life well-lived.”
The opulent master bath features 24-karat gold faucets from the Santec Ava Crystal collection. Dune Tile’s gold leaf from Fisher Tile gleams from behind a glass wall. The two original rooms were gutted to create this new space. Sleek surfaces, frameless glass shower doors, and backlit vanity mirrors trick the eye into believing it is a larger space. Antik Onyx tile used continuously on the floor, walls, and shower enclosure adds to the illusion.
Originally the exterior hallway leading to the two units, the foyer is now a clean, symmetrical space. A pair of the John-Richard Collection wall sconces on either side of the foyer leading to the end wall where a third is mounted between Asian figures. Dalton believes that Asian elements give character, saying, “You can always add an Asian element, it should be in every good design.”
Global Views Branch media cabinets double as nightstands, while another serves its original function opposite the bed. The face and top are hand-planed with a carved, fluted top edge. The branches across the front are cast aluminum and function as legs and pulls. Mirrored walls, illuminated by a ten-light Schonbek Eclyptix chandelier from Bee Ridge Lighting reflect pool and water views. Dalton custom designed the bed with headboard, footboard, and Kravet fabric clad cornice.
Bee Ridge Lighting 3909 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota, FL 34233 941.922.2626 www.beeridgelighting.com
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 2451 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941.951.0110 www.fergusonshowrooms.com
Fisher Tile 2337 12th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941.362.7820 www.fishertile.com
International Design Source 1785 Northgate Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34234 941.552.2552 www.IDS1.com
Mark Dalton, Inc. Sarasota, FL 34236 941.726.1560 www.markdaltoninc.com
Written by Ginny Cooper Photography by Jimmy White
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