Stealing
Beauty
In Bernado Bertolucci’s 1996 movie, Stealing
Beauty, Liv Tyler plays the part of a young woman who travels to Italy
to have her portrait painted. Besides the absolute beauty of the first-time
actress, it was the wonderful northern Italian country home and ensuing
views that really stole the hearts of audiences around the world.
Imagine forests of Australian pine and moss-draped American oak trees
amidst acres of protected wetlands and then imagine a home, designed to
replicate a northern Italian country estate, and you too will feel as
though you are “stealing beauty.”
Sheathed in a creamy, sun-drenched shade of macadamia, the Castella Rossa
residence by Wetherington Signature Homes, a division of Lee Wetherington
Companies, with its rustic chardonnay fieldstone accents, capricious roofline,
large circular cobblestone drive and detatched garage/guest cottage is
a wonderful example of a Tuscan-inspired country home.
Entering the foyer through a pair of glass fronted French doors, which
are cased with an intricately, scrolled iron grill, the home is at once
inviting and warm. Walls, which are painted a velvety shade of ivory and
the Versailles-patterned tile floors are introduced in the foyer and continuethroughout
the first floor common areas.
To the immediate left of the foyer, a staircase takes guests to the second
story guest quarters, which includes four delightfully decorated guestrooms,
three baths and a large guest retreat that opens up onto a wide veranda.
Overlooking the foyer below, the focal point of the cozy retreat is the
beautifully designed, custom built entertainment center, which fits perfectly
inside three separate niches.
In the grand room, chardonnay fieldstone surrounds the custom designed
fireplace, which is flanked on either side by a pair of russet-hued decorative
niches. Adding to the rustic ambiance of the home is the corbel-enhanced,
solid wood mantel. A comfortable arrangement of earth toned furnishings
is nestled underneath the highly crowned, double tray ceiling.
The dining room is located to the right of the foyer, in close proximity
to the butler’s pantry and European-styled kitchen. Deeply veined
yellow river granite countertops complement the raised-panel, cherry cabinets,
which are stained and glazed a rich shade of java. A configuration of
cabinet panels forms a large, decorative hood over the six-burner cook
top, which is further enhanced by the diagonally set backsplash and ceramic
medallion inset.
The most unique feature in the gourmet kitchen is the “split”
island, which has two sinks, allowing for additional food preparation
space, as well as for extra room for entertaining and congregating.
The kitchen opens up into the expansive gathering room, which has direct
access to the covered outdoor living space, lanai and large pool area
through a series of sliding glass doors, which total 28 linear feet.
Beyond the gathering room, the builder created a covered and enclosed
outdoor living space that is essentially an extension of the indoor family
room. This room, with its cypress ceiling details, chardonnay fieldstone
enhanced fireplace and summer kitchen and glassed-in openings, feels like
its outdoors, although the area is protected from the exterior elements.
The gorgeous golden-hued walls of the romantic master suite come to life
in the sunlight infused room creating a caramel-hued oasis. The designer
chose a palate of rich cinnabar, golden butterscotch and soft shades of
celadon and cream to offset the room’s strong architectural detailing,
which includes a deep coffered and beamed ceiling and a beautifully designed
fireplace, both which emphasize the home’s rustic Italian-inspired
appeal.
The master bath is delightful. Scrumptious, caramel-hued walls complement
the buttercream stained cabinets, which are further enhanced by a crystalline
orange onyx, the same stone that was used to surround the master bedroom
fireplace.
The Castella Rossa, with its extensive hand-cut, chardonnay fieldstone
detailing, both indoors and out, is a testament to the builder’s
commitment to create an authentic northern Italian design. According to
Lee Wetherington, president of Lee Wetherington Companies, “We strive
to provide the best experience in home building.”
The Castella Rossa model, as shown, includes several optional features,
including an enhanced front elevation and the detached two-car garage
and second-story guest retreat. This home is available for $2,756,000,
which includes the 3.5-acre homesite.
For information or to arrange a private tour of the Castella Rossa at
The Forest at Hi Hat Ranch or other models in the Wetherinton Signature
Homes’ collection of properties, please contact Avril Neilon or
Susan Art at 941 927-7280.
Courtesy of Lee Wetherinton Homes
6009 Business Blvd.,
Sarasota, FL 34240
941 927-7280
Written
by Marla J. Ottenstein
Photography by Robert Villetto of LeBlanc Studios
