“Warm and clean with a contemporary feel. That was the clients’ goal for this Naples’ penthouse,” says Laurie Walter of Cinnabar Design. With that in mind, Walter and her design assistant Kelly Sereghy set out to create a home filled with unique architectural details and sculptured furniture—a taste of Miami with a Southwest Florida twist. In the end, they designed a home with a sophisticated yet relaxed environment their clients can enjoy with family and friends as they escape their hectic life in the Northeast.
Located in a boutique waterfront condominium, the penthouse features magnificent views of the yacht harbor, Wiggins Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico through expansive windows and large balconies. Walter and her team were brought in before construction began and were able to work with the clients through the entire build. “We immediately started with the interview process. Everything was done remotely, either through email or phone calls, but we still had a wonderful synergy with the clients,” Walter explains.
Beyond interior design, Cinnabar took on an advisory role with this project. “I wanted to anticipate the client’s needs not only in the home but also in regards to their lifestyle here in Naples,” says Walter. “We went over social club options, work/life decisions, and basically helped them to create the life they wanted here. I also play ‘design detective’ with all my projects because sometimes what the client says they want and what they really like can be two different things. We always ask for photos of a current residence so we can see how they actually live and what they are really comfortable with. Someone might describe their style as modern but through pictures we discover they are actually transitional.”
The clients wanted to customize the condominium residence so it differed from other units in the high rise. Walter and her team worked to create a home that honors a higher standard of design. Custom doors, finishes and fabrics, unique ceiling details, a water feature, and a one-of-a-kind rooftop pool all set this residence apart from the rest in the building.
Their hard work paid off—Cinnabar Design won multiple Collier Building Industry Association Sand Dollar awards for the project, and more importantly the design team notes—they created a home that the new owners love. “We know we’ve done our job when clients cry during the final reveal!” laughs Walter.
In the living room, architectural ceilings seemingly float above the modern seating arrangement. Lined with LED tape, the unique structure creates visual detail and texture in the room. Below, a couch from American Leather, a Swaim table, and two modern T-Back chairs from Thayer Coggin are from International Design Source, as are many of the furnishings. A hand-knotted rug is painted with splashes of teal and aqua. “The colors in the rug became the inspiration for the whole house,” says Walter. The focal point in the room is the award-winning, self-contained water feature which took hundreds of hours to design. Aqua glass tiles sit behind two glass panels that encase the water, creating a hassle-free and condo-approved water system that never has to be drained, cleaned, or refilled.
“The mica wall covering adds texture and sparkle to the entryway. The neutral tones of the wall complement the Belle Meade table in a custom shade with acrylic hardware. Artwork and silver coral add subtle color to the space, while giving a nod to the sea just outside. A lamp by Justice Designs completes the foyer.
The family room is a less formal space but lacks nothing in beauty and design. The large format porcelain tiles create a neutral pallet for the rest of the room to build upon. The wall, which separates the living and family rooms, and houses the water feature in the more formal living room, is structural, so the Cinnabar team was tasked with incorporating the structure into the design. 3D geometric tiles mimic the shape of the geometric ceiling above. The sleek Roche Bobois Episode sofa features remote controlled head and foot rests for comfortable viewing. A pair of stitched leather Roche Bobois Badiane armchairs swivel to easily enjoy a sunset view.
Walter and Sereghy thought a lot about the kitchen and worked with the clients to create a space that was beautiful and functional, as they love to cook and entertain. “They knew they wanted dark cabinets—that was the launching point for the room,” says Sereghy. Walter selected a Manhattan Slab door in gray oak veneer with a horizontal grain in a natural stain from Design Studio by Raymond. Upper glass doors are aluminum-framed with back-painted acid etched glass and Schaub satin nickel finish hardware. A Cambria Quartz island with waterfall edge and a glass, stone, and metal backsplash were used to bring brighter tones into the room. Glistening ET 2 glass cylinder pendant lights are filled with crystals.
In the dining room, the custom chrome base of the stone-topped table is accented by custom Swaim fabrics with metallic threads. Above, a large light from Currey & Company hangs from the uniquely detailed ceiling and is used to fill the airspace above the table, giving the room more comfortable proportions. Glass plates hang from polished chrome brackets and bring in the tones of blue and aqua found in the other main living areas.
Custom glass doors with glass inserts and wide plank oak floors in a washed gray tone create a dramatic entry to the master suite. The framed art on the floating and backlit wall are actually sculptured tiles—companions to the ones found in the master bath. Trays with lights from Fine Art Lamps finish the entry.
The right-hand wall of the master bedroom is an exterior wall, forcing the Cinnabar team to design around the angles of the building. The Vanguard headboard and dropped ceiling panels work together to mask the asymmetrical room. Walter used custom linens and specialty fabrics to create layers of texture. The dresser with custom finished drawer fronts is a well-loved piece by both the clients and the designer. Sheer gossamer drapes frame a fantastic seating area with Gulf views.
The master bath is split into his-and-her sides with the focal point in her space being a floating wall covered in carved stone tiles. The simple, modern tub by MTI echoes the sleek curves of the stone and continues the emphasis on architectural details found throughout the home. An Elan metal-framed chandelier with pressed crystal inserts ads softness and shine.
The pool is a masterpiece of engineering and design executed by Nassau Pools Construction. The clients wanted a private space to relax. Working with the builders and architects from the very beginning, the team was able to make the structural changes necessary to create a rooftop retreat that maintains the buildings’ aesthetic and is structurally sound, multiple stories above ground. The end result is another award-winning space. The pool, deck, and column are clad in architectural porcelain tiles. Bright glass tiles with a wave pattern add a pop of color. The floating stairs sit above reflecting pools and are lit from below to create a dramatic nighttime effect.
Written by Channing Spano Photography by Tim Gibbons
Cinnabar Design 1939 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109 239.776.6434 www.cinnabardesign.net
Design Studio by Raymond 990 1st Avenue North Naples, FL 34102 239.278.1334 www.DesignStudioByRaymond.com
International Design Source 6001 Taylor Road Naples, FL 34109 239.591.1114 www.ids1.com
Nassau Pools Construction 3420 Westview Drive Naples, FL 34104 239.643.0990 www.nassaupools.com
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