The installation of new trusses and flat concrete tile, along with the addition of decorative Bahama shutters and a stacked stone entry, create a light Caribbean flavor. A mahogany front door brings richness. To the right, an octagonal structure houses a master bath that is so bright with sunlight, switching on the lights is needless. The front elevation is a beautiful yet humble precursor for what’s to come. “Once you walk in, it just goes and goes,” says Abad.
When an accomplished team of experts was tasked with reimagining this Miromar Lakes’ home and augmenting it to meet present-day standards, there was one thing they all agreed upon: it was perhaps the most desirable property in the area. The original home, built in 2003, was among the first constructed on Miromar’s 700-acre freshwater lake. The new owners envisioned an updated design to better capitalize on the prime location, expansive lot, and spectacular views of Lake Como and the community’s award-winning Beach Clubhouse.
“The bones were great, but it was dated,” says interior designer Allison Keevan of Design West. She and her team (which also included Caroline Ficquette, Dominique Coffman and Kelsey Kohler) focused on lightening the space and adjusting its contents to the appropriate scale. “Big rooms were swallowing up the tiny furniture configurations, so they weren’t welcoming,” she says.
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Enlisting the preferred great room concept added an instant boost. Gulfshore Homes removed the coffered ceiling and added a trio of decorative cypress trusses to the newly vaulted structure. Attractive wide oak plank flooring in a warm toffee finish now replaces the timeworn tile. Design West selected a deep-seated Vanguard sectional embellished with an array of sea-toned pillows in aqua, grey and teal fabrics courtesy of Fabricut, Kravet, Lee Jofa, and Romo.
A contemporary stage is set the moment you enter the foyer, where a channeled wall creates rhythm and interest. A metallic woven paper from Phillip Jeffries in chromium adds texture. Vanguard’s Strathmore white-lacquered console features a curvaceous base and pairs beautifully with the nearby geometric Sooz console designed by Allison Paladino for E.J. Victor. The high ceiling presented a perfect opportunity to spotlight the clients’ existing crystal chandelier. “When paired with coastal elements, the fixture adapts into a playful representation of water droplets,” designer Keevan illustrates.
For architect Alberto Abad, it was primarily about orientation. “The land was wide, so we kept rotating the house to open it more to the lake,” he says. Previously utilizing only about 100 of the 300 feet of available waterfront, Abad added ample amounts of outdoor living to remedy the situation. “Now it uses it all” says Abad. He also revised the original floor plan, which was “broken up and very ’80s” to create an open flow where the great room, dining room, and kitchen were linked, all flowing effortlessly to the outdoors. This modification better suited the needs of the new owners, who wanted to utilize as much of the residence as possible from day-to-day, and entice their grown children to visit and enjoy the comforts during their stay.
Luxury builder Gulfshore Homes, a preferred builder at Miromar Lakes, masterfully completed the extensive construction and renovation. Vice president Mike Soule and director of construction Matthew Shull oversaw the day-to-day process. “It was just a matter of how much to put in,” Soule comments. As the project evolved, it became a total renovation.” Gulfshore removed the roof, replaced solid walls with glass, turned flat ceilings into pyramids, and upgraded the home’s technology.
Lifestyle being so significant, a double island was added to the kitchen inviting all to gather around while meals are prepared on Wolf/SubZero appliances from Monark Premium Appliances. A white mosaic tile detail above the cabinets designed by Tradewind Designs draws the eye upward. Harmonious materials of smoky azurite granite, white Pompeii quartz, and graphite marble were selected for the perimeter, island, and bar countertops respectively. Hudson Valley’s Chelsea chandeliers from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery add glamour, while Palacek Menlo swivel counter-stools perpetuate the sea tones with soft blue quilting and pewter accents.
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Due to its breathtaking lake views, the dining room transformation was key. Sliders were installed to access the loggia, and the ceiling was contemporized with stained-wood crown and tongue-and-groove detailing. Sculpted Hickory White chairs upholstered in ivory are balanced by darker draperies fashioned from a steely fretwork-patterned fabric from Lee Jofa. A Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallcovering generates the effect of water on all sides of the Shanghai slate-colored Century credenza.
“My take is that the homeowners were very pleased, and the result was everything they could have hoped for,” says Soule. “It’s now the kind of ‘wow’ house you’d expect to see in today’s world.” Steve Watt, president and owner of Gulfshore Homes elaborates, “A makeover as comprehensive as this can only be achieved with the complete cooperation of the homeowner and their having a high comfort level with our team, so that we can deliver their vision. As we were fortunate enough to have that, the outcome speaks for itself.”
The home is now light-filled and enlivened by its new design, as gorgeous on the inside as the picturesque nightly sunset of its pristine waterfront location.
This multi-purpose room—be it a theater, den, study, or game room—was not part of the original structure, but rather a Gulfshore Homes addition. The sleek, maple wood Wood-Mode custom built-in from Tradewind Designs incorporates opaque painted glass inserts and white oak doors for dramatic contrast. A Hooker Furniture Corsica game table is surrounded by sloped Cox armchairs, partially upholstered with gray faux-crocodile. The pale green glass discs of the Currey & Co. chandelier from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery are reminiscent of fish scales.
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The main objective of “light and bright” in the master bedroom is achieved through the addition of French doors as well as four fixed glass windows on the headboard wall. Legacy Linens Roman shades in an aqua fabric are motorized, while stationary Anna French Collection by Thibaut linen panels adorn the doors. New bedding—the Harleigh Sea Green Collection by Legacy Home—freshens the clients’ own bed, and behind it, a champagne leaf folding screen from the previous residence adds decadence and height. A white nickel-gap wood detail replaces the passé coffered ceiling.
As the sun sets over Lake Como, the family can take a leisurely cruise from their private dock, then gather and enjoy each other’s company, thanks to the significant addition of covered lanais at the rear of the home. The pavers were upgraded to natural stone, the outdoor kitchen renovated and newly equipped by Monark Premium Appliances, and the pool was completely renovated and rebuilt to be long enough for lap swimming and wide enough for leisurely floating. Fire pits create excitement, and lush landscaping enriches this socially-oriented space that personifies what Florida luxury living is all about.
Design West 9118 Strada Place, Mercato 8130 Naples, FL 34108 239.514.1234 www.dwest.com
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 38 Goodlette-Frank Road S. Naples, FL 34102 239.643.0070 www.Ferguson.com
Gulfshore Homes 8891 Brighton Lane, Suite 101 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239.947.2929 www.gulfshorehomes.com
Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club 10160 Miromar Lakes Boulevard Miromar Lakes, FL 33913 239.425.2340 www.MiromarLakes.com
Monark Premium Appliance Co. 27180 Bay Landing Drive, Suite 1 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239.495.8535 www.monarkhome.com
Tradewind Designs 2800 Davis Boulevard, Suite 112 Naples, FL 34104 239.354.4708 www.tradewindnaples.com
Written by Robin Hodes Photography by Lori Hamilton
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