The House Home & Design Built

When Home and Design® Magazine publisher Tony Spano and his wife, Terri, were looking to build a new home in Naples in 2006, they knew that they would need plenty of room for their growing family. "When we found this lot in the Oaks Estates," says Mrs. Spano, “we knew it would be perfect.” Indeed, the lot size is over two acres, and allowed the Spanos, along with the team at Gulfstream Homes, to design an impressive 4,000 square foot, four-bedroom, three-and one-half bath home. With 150 feet of frontage and over 600 feet of depth, the home sits back on the lot, allowing for a sweeping, circular driveway with ample room for family and guest parking.

In order to impart a French Country flavor to their home, the Spanos began by raising the roof pitch so that the home would veer away from typically Mediterranean lines. More French influences appear at the covered entry with its formal balustrades and glass-paneled, double entry doors that feature decorative wrought-iron inserts by Custom Ornamental Ironworks of Naples.

The residence boasts creamy tile floors in all of the public rooms and faux finishes in the main rooms to complement the home’s signature colors of green, rose and pale yellow.

The entry foyer has a soaring 17-foot ceiling and tray detail with a chandelier with crystal embellishments in a leaf motif. The artists at Beautifaux painted the ceiling as a continuation of the light and cleverly incorporated crystal accents into the mural design. One of several custom rugs by Wood ‘n Rugs and a table with mirror above, both of which feature hand- painted gold accent trim, complete the entrance space.

According to Mrs. Spano, “The original house plans called for a wall to separate the foyer from the living room and dining room. However, we decided to keep it open.”

The result is a combined formal living and dining room that is spacious, light and airy. The living room offers a wall of French doors leading to the lanai and a cherry burl wood Steinbach grand piano from Euro Grand Pianos.

“While we can all tinker at the keyboard,” says Mrs. Spano, “our daughter is the real pianist. I had a player piano element fitted into the piano so that, when she’s away from home, we can still listen to the piano.”

The walls of the living and dining rooms have been given a light faux finish, while the double tray lighted ceilings display slightly darker paint tones and a hand-painted stencil effect at its four corners. The sofa is covered in a floral fabric incorporating the home’s signature colors, while the custom area rug boasts a floral border. Opposite the sofa sit a pair of framed armchairs upholstered in a cream fabric with green stripes. Both the sofa and chairs are Hickory White and were custom ordered through International Design Source.

The antique wood coffee table is painted in a pale gold finish, has a carved floral motif and reflects the hand-painted gold leaf design seen on the brown metal torchiere. An original oil painting above the couch depicts florals painted in the room’s signature colors.

The windows treatments in both rooms are by Agostino’s Design Group. The green side panels feature a darker green checkered pattern with cream accents and are topped by formal swag valences. The cream sheers have subtle coordinating green dots.

The soaring ceilings lend an air of formality to the dining room, which is further enhanced by the rich, dark wood furnishings. The dining suite, also by Hickory White, features a wooden inlaid top in a Harlequin pattern. The cream fabric on the dining chairs is accented with dots of muted green to complement the green and cream window coverings.

The focal point of the room is the impressive mirror which is framed in rose and accented with gold leaf, a treasure found at Agostino’s Gallery and Showroom. Beneath the mirror sits a buffet with curved legs and a granite top with threads of black and tan. It is the perfect match to the dining room suite, found at Allyson Craig Fine Furnishings in Naples. Golden metal and crackled glass candle sticks lend further elegance to the room, as does the crystal Schoenbach chandelier.

Mrs. Spano confides that the kitchen is her favorite room in the house and it’s easy to see why. With two sinks, convection and traditional Dacor® ovens, a Dacor® six burner gas range and a SubZero refrigerator, the kitchen is a cook’s dream. Light and airy, the kitchen features raised panel cabinetry in a painted cream which has been given a latte glaze by Stevens Industries. The center island cabinet is walnut-finished and reflects the wood used in the nearby family room entertainment center, tying the two spaces together.

The island houses a second sink, storage cabinets and a spice rack which faces the oven and range for convenience. The backsplashes combine natural stone inlays and glazed tiles which contain crushed glass, supplied by the Tile Market in Bonita Springs. French Country accents can be found in decorative elements like the colorful bronze rooster at the eating bar, where the seats bar stools have been covered in a mint green fabric which further ties the kitchen and the family room. The whimsical wrought-iron chandelier is embellished with crystal beads and hand-blown, colored glass in the shapes of various fruits, including grapes, pears, peaches and plums.

In the adjacent family room, sliding glass doors provide a view to the lanai, pool and the wooded acreage beyond. The walls and lighted, double tray ceiling have both received faux finishes which complement the walnut finish of the custom built entertainment center from Naples Custom Cabinetry. The couch and matching recliners are covered in a pale yellow chamois fabric. A rocking chair covered in a coral colored floral fabric, from the Furniture Collection, completes the seating in the family room.

The game room is ‘his’ favorite room. The textured walls have an elaborate seven-step faux finish by the professionals at Art Faux of Naples. Also fauxed are the doors and crown moulding to match the wainscoting by Naples Custom Cabinets. The frieze detail was designed by Art Faux and reflects green accents of the regulation-sized Renaissance billiard table from the Rec Room in North Naples. Here, as throughout the house, Kirtz plantation shutters stained to match, cover the windows. A cow hide doubles as an area rug beneath the pool table and a genuine Texas Longhorn head direct from Fort Worth, holds pride of place on the wall. A rustic leather chair and ottoman from Allyson Craig Fine Furnishings provide further seating along with the leather bar stools that stand around a high-topped game table.

In the home office, the desk, cabinetry and wainscoting by Paul Erwin Designs, have been cherry stained to match the the wood details on the ‘ox-blood’ leather chairs. Glass shelving is lighted and provides the perfect place in which to display personal mementos. An Oriental carpet in traditional maroon and beige tones provides a pop of color. The window treatments by Agostino's Design Group feature a tan background and subtle green and deep red dots, tying the color scheme of the room together. The ‘ox-blood’ leather has been replicated in patterned appliques in the tray ceiling above.

The love of French Country décor has been passed on to the Spano’s daughter, who chose the design elements for her bedroom. The focal piece of the room is the custom wrought-iron bed from Whitman Designs. The bed is covered in a blue and yellow toile depicting rural scenes and the fabric was also used on the window coverings, which hang from the curtain rods via blue bows. The furnishings in this room, including a table, dresser and armoire, are all light wood, while the chair has been covered in a cream fabric. The room is completed by French doors open to a private lanai.

The large master bedroom is filled with light, thanks to its many windows and French doors. The rose-colored fabric on the bedspread and accent pillows is complemented by the floral fabric that is used on the window treatments and features rose flowers and green leaves on a creamy background. The traditional side panels are topped by swag valances. The fabric at the windows has been backed with a contrasting plaid. A comfortable chair is upholstered in the same floral fabric that has been tufted and is paired with an ottoman.

Outdoor entertaining and informal family gatherings take place on the lanai, which has been furnished with comfortable wicker-inspired Brown Jordan furniture that includes two love seats, two rockers, and tables which boast gold granite tops. The large free-form pool is surrounded by a paver deck and includes a raised spa with waterfall feature and a swim ledge that was purposely included in the pool design in order to accommodate Sadie, the family’s eleven-year-old Lab.

With its French Country flair and personal touches evident in every room, the Spano home is filled with warmth and charm. While offering all of the comforts of home, the residence manages to convey an understated elegance that also sets the tone for both formal and casual living.

Private Home Tour

Written by Kristine Hughes

Photography by Giovanni Photography