Easy Living on the Caloosahatchee
As owners of the INTERIORS by Decorating Den
franchises for Coral Gables, Naples and Bonita Springs, Cliff Welles,
and partner, Judy Underwood, and their staff of four experienced decorators,
have been
creating real homes for real people for more than fifteen years.
Welles, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in landscape architecture and is an NCIDQ certified designer, is also the regional director for 20 franchises in South Florida, including the Fort Myers and Cape Coral franchises. And Underwood, an Allied ASID member, is one of parent company’s senior trainers for all of the franchises nationwide.
Together, they believe that the design process begins with the subject of functionality and how to meet and exceed the clients’ specific and personal needs. They understand that, ultimately, a good design goes beyond what the eye sees. Based on a referral, the homeowner of this beautiful Cape Coral home contacted Welles and Underwood to design a sophisticated, tropically-themed home that would offer flexible entertaining venues in a low-maintenance setting. Although the front façade of the Aubuchon Homes house is Mediterranean by design, they wanted to take advantage of the pie-shaped lot and capitalize upon the expansive backyard, casual pool and lanai areas, dock and ensuing deep-water canal.
What makes this stunning waterfront home unique is that it’s an amalgamation of design styles, from Asian and Regency to British West Indies with a contemporary touch, all which blend harmoniously to create a timeless tropical feel. The home’s butterscotch-hued walls, 18-inch travertine-like porcelain tiles and high ceilings are introduced in the foyer and continue throughout the common areas.
In the study, luxurious linen panels hang gracefully to the floor from a simple rod and ring system. Enhanced by a wide banner of fern-colored silk that is trimmed with Swarovski crystals, the draperies add an undeniably exquisite design element to the room. Underwood’s proven métier is her ability to create unique custom draperies, pillows, soft goods and bedding, which are fabricated in their design studio.
In the living room, Welles added a strip of crown moulding at ten feet to create the allusion of a lower ceiling, thus creating a more warm and inviting space. The focal point of the room is a large tapestry, which is hung in between two strips of crown moulding, further softening the wall height.
A pair of dark ebony and raffia, chenille-upholstered sofas and a large cinnamon - colored, glass top coffee table are positioned to take advantage of the water views. Underwood designed all of the decorative pillows and draperies. The designers used several mixed materials and textures – wood, glass, metal, raffia and fabric – to add a sense of intrigue to the room.
With easy access to the living, dining and media rooms, 4 the kitchen, with its high vaulted ceiling, is the heart and soul of the home. Beautiful, honey-glazed, raised panel cabinets are staggered in height and depth to create interest and provide optimum storage. To complement the stainless appliances, the owners choose the pebble-patterned, ecru-colored solid surface material – Avonite – for the countertops because of its clean look and easy maintenance.
To help define the functionality and utilization of each space, Welles uses area rugs and interesting ceiling details to separate rooms. In this case, because the dining room and adjacent media room flow into one another, he separated them accordingly. In the dining room, an extensively trimmed, double tray ceiling helps define the space.
A granite-topped buffet, made of beautiful veneered burl wood, stands below a large picture window in the dining room. Flanking the console and dressing the adjacent wall of pocketing sliding glass doors are several drapery panels made of interlined, knobby silk fabric in a soft shade of papyrus, which are tied and knotted to real bamboo poles.
The owners of this comfortable home are definitely not afraid of color. The dining room walls, painted in a delicious shade of caramel, complement the rich, mustard-hued walls of the media room, over which a highly-trimmed, backlit double tray ceiling was designed to define the space.
An oversized, chenille-covered sofa with nail head detailing, several comfortable chairs, including two swivel barrel chairs, and a large tufted ottoman, create an cozy seating arrangement, inviting guests to put their feet up and enjoy a movie.
The designers selected several unusual nesting tables, raffia and wood consoles and veneered bureaus to showcase numerous accessories and table lamps. Cinnabar-colored throw pillows and a bromeliad silk floral arrangement add a shock of color to the softly lit room.
The home has three bedrooms with corresponding private baths. The apple green “cabana” room offers a colorful repose with easy access to the pool and outdoor barbeque area. Upholstered in a bright tropical print depicting pots filled with bromeliads, the deep-cushioned sleep sofa and four raffia covered, nickel accented club chairs and bistro table create a tropical hide-away. Several tangerine-hued, quilted silk pillows enhance the setting.
Celery-hued walls with cream-colored trim set the stage4 for the peaceful and private master suite. The double-coffered ceiling above the bed helps to separate the sleeping area from the sitting area. A vertically striped, boxed pleat window valance is enhanced with a small border, made of the same fabric, laid on the horizontal. Dark wooden venetian blinds soften the profusion of natural sunlight into the room, creating pockets of sunlight where the shadows seem to dance upon the softly hued walls.
A combination of period furniture, including the Empire-inspired chest, an oversized, chenille-covered chaise lounge and the British West Indies styled, metal framed bamboo bed create a tropical, but not too “islandy”, setting.
The designers added a contemporary Asian twist to the master bath by adding accessories such as a framed kimono, as well as the unusual window swag, which is enhanced by three large raffia tassels hanging from wall-mounted coconut finials. Honey-glazed, raised panel cabinets, ecru-toned Avonite countertops, brushed nickel faucets and a decorative tile border also enhance the master bath. The Piecé de resistance is the indoor/outdoor shower.
“In order to guarantee a great finished product, it’s essential that the design consultant and client mesh from the start,” says Welles. “When working with our clients, our goal is get to know them personally, their tastes and needs and to deliver what we promise, on time and on budget. Our mission is ‘to decorate real homes for real people.’”
Courtesy of INTERIORS by Decorating Den
By Appointment
239
948-9779
Written by Marla J. Ottenstein
Photography by Joe Lapeyra Photography
