Seamless Symmetry

When new owners purchased this waterfront site in The Moorings, they approached MHK Architecture & Planning about remodeling the lot’s existing home. “The size and angular configuration of the existing home was going to severely limit their vision,” recalls Stephen Jallad, MHK Architecture & Planning’s director of residential design. “They were clear about their wish list and what floor should have what space. The driving factors were getting as many key spaces on the water view as possible, having a seamless indoor-outdoor living experience, and making sure there was lots of light.” Once Jallad showed the homeowners sketches of what could be done, and they saw the site’s full potential, they never looked back. “We flooded the home with light by creating as many expanses of glass as we could,” Jallad continues.

While light and openness was the goal, privacy was also important. The onyx-stained solid sapele wood (African mahogany) custom front doors are inset with large single panes of glass. The Design West interior design team of Caroline Ficquette and Raquel Bloam provided the perfect privacy solution with electrochromic glass which changes to opaque at the touch of a switch.

Because the home was for a family “in the thick of life,” as Ficquette describes, “We knew it needed to be warm and welcoming. We used a lot of natural materials and neutral backgrounds with high contrast reserved for the accents. The resulting soft, contemporary style is refined and tailored, very fresh for this area.”

To balance the openness with the need for privacy, landscape architect Christian Andrea of Architectural Land Design selected plantings designed to provide natural screening. For example, privacy outside the master bath window was a concern and Andrea answered it by adding traveler’s palms. “They are a wonderful screen and lend a tropical effect. They were a great solution.”

“These clients had a great sense of what they wanted,” adds Bloam. “They brought a lot of their own inspiration to the project. They used a lot of visuals to illustrate details, which was super helpful.”

For the fun-loving family enthusiastic about waterfront living, T. Jerulle Construction crafted the stunning new home focused on functionality. Customized with seldom-seen features like a dog wash in the garage, skylights in the kitchen, and a second laundry room situated upstairs, Terry Jerulle, president of T. Jerulle Construction, says the home epitomizes his building philosophy, “Whatever the question, the answer is ‘yes.’ We strive to give the client whatever they need.”

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A gas fireplace clad in Devon Cambria quartz from Set In Stone Countertops is topped with Realstone Systems’ honed limestone panel in white birch. A waterfall console backs a Vanguard Furniture sofa from Design West. The custom-made handrail and stairs were stained to match the flooring, and loose river rock and polished stones are recessed in the floor to add dimension and interest.

Landscape architect Christian Andrea of Architectural Land Design created an illusion of symmetry for the front elevation with an architectural circular driveway that mirrors the home’s footprint and balanced plantings framing the entrance. “Layering alternate textures and colors creates a sense of extra depth,” says Andrea, illustrating the principle with colorful bromeliads in the foreground and variegated gingers around the twin palms. A darkly colored standing seam aluminum roof provides a stark contrast to the white stucco, which is finished to resemble siding.

Because the owners “wanted the home to connect to the outdoors and embrace the water, we brought the water right up to the outdoor living area,” adds Jallad. “The lack of steps between the house and the pool further reinforced that concept.” Andrea concludes, “The heart and soul of the home is the pool area, every room looks at it and is impacted by that view.”

Bistro acrylic frame counter stools from Vanguard nestle beneath a waterfall island of gleaming Everest White marble from Set in Stone Countertops, while a trio of Segreto pendants from Currey & Company are suspended above. The brilliant Quantum White quartz countertops by Quantum Quartz are also from Set In Stone Countertops. Thassos white marble subway tile adorns the kitchen walls, and the range hood and kitchen island have stainless steel accent bands that were fabricated locally in Fort Myers.

Underfoot and, surprisingly, overhead in the coffered ceilings throughout the home, white oak engineered wood flooring in the Tribeca finish continues the neutral, natural theme. Upholstered Edie dining stools from Vanguard Furniture and Dain host chairs from Century Furniture surround the Broderick dining table in Dark Espresso from Palecek. Design West selected a gold leaf Grand Lotus Oval chandelier from Currey & Company to illuminate the setting.

The master bedroom offers a bright, neutral palette with subtle nautical touches. Phillips Collection silver-leafed Convergence mirror rises above a navy leather platform bed flanked by nightstands clad in Capiz shell. A sleek Laguna bench from Bernhardt is at its foot. Overhead, an E. F. Chapman Darlana aged iron chandelier and a pair of Thomas O’Brien Gale antiqued brass pendants from Visual Comfort provide light after the sun sets on the Gulf.

Subtle wallcovering balances an abundance of mirrors and an expanse of Skara Brae Cambria quartz waterfall countertops from Set In Stone Countertops. Traveler’s palms offer privacy while allowing daylight to pour in through the dark-pane windows by Andersen Windows & Doors, sourced locally through Naples Lumber. Kohler’s Composed collection of fixtures from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen, & Lighting fills the sleek freestanding Stella soaking tub by Jacuzzi. Framing the 2-by-2-foot marble tiles with a line of Capiz shell tiles was a custom touch from Design West.

Sherwin-Williams’ Dressy Rose provides a feminine foil for the neutral Bernhardt upholstered headboard. Lamps from Cyan rest atop white lacquer Garbo nightstands from Design West. Faux Roman shades and accent pillows coordinate with the Eastern Accents bedding. A trio of Phillips Collection’s kissing Fashion Girls complete the room’s playful look.

The Design West team balanced an offset Kohler Veil vessel sink atop the Carrara Venatino polished marble counter from Set In Stone Countertops with a pair of frosted glass pendant lamps. A blue metal sculpture from West Home Collection is a focal point on the grasscloth wallcovering backing the sink wall. The mirror reflects a stunning wall mural from Leftbank Art, enlarged and mounted in panels.

White-painted wooden beams and a double layer of ceiling swathed in Sherwin-Williams’ Dorian Gray give a dramatic focus to the hipped ceiling in the second master bedroom. Bold black appears in the Surya rug, the Eastern Accents bedding, and blackened aluminum Prague lamps from Arteriors. Bassett’s Astor dresser in Lyon brown and neutral upholstered bed add warmth to the room.