French Country Ambience

When interior designer Pam Novakovich of Novakovich & Associates was first given the assignment of designing the interiors of a private residence in Mediterra, she was given the task of achieving a French Country feel for the home and of incorporating many of her clients existing antique pieces into the design concept.

Novakovich worked with Brian Raymond of Landmark Development Group, who built the Mediterranean-inspired home, in order to achieve a seamless blend between the architecture of the residence and the desires of her client.

“Mediterranean architecture,” explains Novakovich, “actually embraces a wide range of European influences, including Italian, Greek and French, so it lends itself very well to a French Country theme. The architectural details of the home simply took French Country to another level and added an elegant feel to the theme. The result is an interior with all the comforts of home, mixed with lots of “wow factor”.

That "wow factor" begins in the elegant living room, where the random patterned stone floor and limestone fireplace set the tone for gracious living. The walls are done in a creamy yellow Venetian wax finish, by DaVinci’s Fresco and Faux of Naples, which is carried through to the impressive fifteen-foot coffered ceiling. With the decorative and architectural bones of the room in place, Novakovich filled the room with marvelously unique pieces, including the decidedly French trumeau mirror above the mantle that features Poseidon, the first of the room's nods to the sea.

The sumptuous sofa is covered in a quilted sandstone fabric and the accent pillows depict coral from the sea, which are carried through to the corners of the fireplace mantle and into the coffered ceiling via faux painting. A collection of four chairs accompanies the sofa, including the wing chair belonging to the client that was reupholstered.

The table in the foreground beside the sofa was custom made in Brazil and painted to match the chair fabric and features a shell motif. Shells also embellish the mantle and coffee table. The window treatments posed a challenge for Novakovich, as the fabric began as curtains from the client’s former home, but were too short for the tall French doors and transom windows above. Novakovich was able to source a complimentary fabric with larger squares and cleverly incorporated old and new by adding flounce and balloon elements to the overall design.

The foyer into the family room, which runs behind the living room, features faux limestone columns to compliment the fireplace. A rope detail has been added to the series of groin vaults in the ceiling, which are painted to match the columns. The iron chandeliers contain seeded glass panels that impart a romantic glow to the space. The Mykonos console table is set behind the living room sofa. The space is completed by use of a pair of iron sconces and a pair of the client's existing table lamps and ottomans.

The dining room has been given a cool yet sophisticated sea blue-green palette and the hand-decorated ceiling negatively mimics the blue and cream chenille fabric pattern on the four side dining chairs. The unique dining table is comprised of two decorative Salerno limestone bases and a substantial glass top. The treatment at the soaring windows consists of a swag done in a quilted silk fabric embossed with a diamond pattern, while the sheers display an embroidered floral pattern. An iron and alabaster torchiere placed in a corner helps to set the mood in conjunction with the ornate crystal drop and iron chandelier above the table. The finishing touch to this room is the hand-painted folding floor screen that hangs on the wall and perfectly compliments the French influences in the room.

The family room is at once both lovely and inviting, while the tall windows and French doors offer views through the adjacent lanai to the lush, tropical landscape beyond. The pyramid ceiling is covered in grass cloth, which serves as the perfect backdrop to the palm paddle fans. The Venetian wax walls are done in Country French Yellow, a shade deeper than the adjacent living room area and the corresponding smocked window treatments are done in an Italian striped fabric in buttery yellow and cream.

The entertainment center, with its linen fold detail, hides the television that raises in front of the display shelves by remote control, and also boasts side cabinets with curved glass doors. The sectional sofa, which features a chaise lounge, is covered in muted sage chenille and flanked by two armchairs. The accent pillows on the sofa were chosen to mimic the clients’ floral art collection that appears on the wall above the sectional.

Adjacent to the family room, the kitchen displays the same high level of decorative attention, with its off-white raised panel cabinets accented by a mocha glaze. The granite countertops reflect shades of browns, yellows and golds, and the darker center island is fashioned with decorative corbels, its granite top cut to display demi-lune edges.

The base of the intricate iron chandelier above the island features a design of acanthus leaves and these have been carried through to the additional mouldings fashioned on the limestone range hood and then faux painted to blend with the stone. All of the electrical outlets have been disguised by very detailed faux finishing so that they blend in with the backsplash, which is done in a combination of mosaic tile and tumbled marble.

The library is reminiscent of a sophisticated gentlemen’s club with all of the traditional elements. The walls below the chair rail boast a faux suede finish, while above the rail is a raffia three-dimensional basket weave paper. Scraped cherry hardwood floors are the perfect foil for the opposing pair of custom ordered bookcases and their ladders.

Novakovich placed the client's own furniture in the room, and added an upholstered Balfour wing chair in cinnamon velvet. The window valance is cleverly designed to accent the arched windows and covered in a tapestry fabric that also appears on the sofa pillows. The side panels are a rich chocolate fabric embellished by a Stroheim and Rohmann looped fringe. The client's collection of canine artwork is arranged around the room and the coffered ceiling is masterfully faux painted to resemble wooden beams.

The regal guest bedroom exhibits shades of French Yellow throughout. The raffia headboard is trimmed with the same striped fabric that appears on the windows and bed pillows, while the chair-and-a-half placed at the foot of the bed is covered in gold embossed chenille and serves as a seating option for viewing the television, which is concealed in a carved armoire.

In the master bedroom, the salmon wall paint sets the tone for luxurious relaxation. The silk fabric of the window treatments is carried through to antique floor screen (that was reupholstered) and bed pillows, while the comforter boasts Aviana embroidery. A skirted bench offering storage is placed at the foot of bed and covered in a waffled cotton pique fabric. In the adjacent sitting area an armchair and overstuffed sofa, once in the client’s previous living room have been placed before the generous window that offers views to the pool's waterfall.

The feel of gracious living extends to the outdoor living area, where the furniture was reupholstered in a complementary spearmint green indoor/outdoor fabric. In addition, the limestone used for the interior floors has been carried outside, where the furniture was upholstered in a complementary spearmint green indoor/outdoor fabric.

The result of Novakovich’s talents is a home that appears both comfortable and impressive; a home that embodies the term "wow factor." By mixing both old and new elements with artistic detail, Novakovich has managed to give this modern residence the character of a true country house that has evolved over time.

Courtesy of Novakovich & Associates
1854 Trade Center Way, Suite 201,
Naples, FL 34109
239 514-7440
www.novakovichandassociates.com

Written by Kristine Hughes