Contrary to designing a retired couple’s second or third home — a typical job in the Naples design industry — Rob Herscoe and Michael Hajjar, the partners of Herscoe Hajjar Architects, find themselves more often designing homes that need to accommodate energetic families with young children.
“For a time, younger clients would settle for a spec or model home and try to shoehorn their needs into a builder’s existing home plans,” explains Herscoe, managing partner of Herscoe Hajjar Architects. “But now, younger people are more enlightened and realize that by building a custom home, they can get exactly what they want without being stuck in a limited design process.”
The homeowners of this clever house in Talis Park were such enlightened clients. “They wanted a one-story home so the kids’ bedrooms would never be too far away from the parents, and they wanted spaces where they could keep an eye on them, too,” says Herscoe. “So, we were challenged to create a design that was one-story, but light-filled throughout the home, with no dark interior spaces.”
Herscoe and Hajjar met this challenge by designing a home with three different courtyards. “Where there is a courtyard, there are then three walls to host windows, instead of only one,” Herscoe says. “Also, the courtyard located off the kitchen creates an outdoor play space for the kids, which allows the parents to keep an eye on what the kids are doing right outside the window while cooking.”
The large outdoor living space also makes it easy for grown-ups to watch over the children splashing in the fountains or the pool, while the adults enjoy the bar, fireplace, and outdoor kitchen areas. And for the homeowners who entertain often, this design proved to be ideal.
“The home is able to evolve from suiting the needs of the young family today into the future when those small children become teenagers, and eventually visiting college students,” Herscoe muses. “We loved working with the clients to create a home that is comfortable and able to adjust to their changing needs. Such a close, personal relationship with clients is one of the hallmarks of Herscoe Hajjar Architects.”
The homeowners’ themselves are delighted with the outcome. The husband says, “Rob and Michael absolutely captured what we were looking for, including creating a climate-controlled wine room with a bar running right through the glass which houses my 750+ bottles of wine and offers very convenient entertaining space right off our great room.” He continues, “My wife and I were involved with every step of the process, and they were very open to our suggestions. Our opinions were listened to intently and our requests honored. That is Herscoe Hajjar Architects’ strong suit.”
The clients also wanted traditional, elegant yet durable fabrics, furnishings, and finishes in their home. This task fell to the veteran team of interior designers Rebekah Errett-Pikosky and Charlie Hansen of Clive Daniel Home.
“We were very mindful of the maintenance of everything we selected and presented to the clients,” says Errett-Pikosky. “We worked very closely with them and they were very involved all throughout the project,” remembers Hansen.
The duo also brought their own creative perspectives to the table, where they proved to be assets. Errett-Pikosky explains, “Charlie’s take on design is usually softer and mine is more cutting-edge. Combining these two vantage points and filtering them through the clients’ desire for an updated-traditional look creates a very unique outcome.”
And, surely, the outcome, or rather the home itself, will be enjoyed for many years to come.
“I call it ‘The Goldilocks House,’” says Herscoe in reference to how the expansive home, designed by Herscoe Hajjar Architects and constructed by builder Matthew Shull, perfectly sits on its lot. “It is not too large or too small, and by breaking up the roof line into different elevations, the design remains animated and not too heavy.” The 6,266-square-foot home consists of four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a playroom, a study, and three light-filled courtyards like the one adjacent to the main entrance. “The courtyard indents allow light to be brought in from different sources,” adds Herscoe.
The vaulted tongue-and-groove stained pine ceiling of the great room required a lighting element with volume. Designers Rebekah Errett-Pikosky and Charlie Hansen chose twin multiarmed Visual Comfort chrome chandeliers with parchment shades from Clive Daniel Home. The EJ Victor gray sectional holds aquamarine velvet pillows. The plank-topped coffee table, with wood carved skirting detail, is a Clive Daniel Home original.
The Ambella Home wood table seats 10 at chalky-white chairs by Vanguard from Clive Daniel Home. An oversize custom breakfront in a driftwood finish contrasts the kitchen’s primarily white cabinetry. All family meals are served here, so for ease of maintenance, no rug was used atop the Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring.
Visual Comfort Lighting polished chrome pendants from Clive Daniel Home hang near painted beams in this sleek kitchen. Two islands feature Cristallo quartzite, which also used as the backsplash under the white range hood. Windows overlooking the play courtyard feature Romanesque ice-blue linen shades.
The custom NatureKast-and-cypress bar fronts an outdoor grill, wooden hood, and backsplash from Ruben Sorhegui Tile of patterned concrete. Woven resin bar stools offer seating at the bar, while coordinating lounge chairs and a sofa by Summer Classics from Clive Daniel Home are situated in front of the outdoor fireplace.
Under the outdoor living area’s cypress tongue-and-groove ceiling, a lightweight concrete table by Seasonal Living offers seating via Lane Venture chairs from Clive Daniel Home. The flooring is white shell stone, providing a seamless transition between the lanai and the pool deck.
On the expansive pool deck, sling Castelle lounges from Clive Daniel Home offer comfortable seating — both in the sun and under the umbrella’s shade. On one end of the pool, a shallow sun deck with fountains allows safe splash time for little ones under adults’ watchful eyes. At the other end, a deeper swimming pool and a set-apart spa afford resort-style relaxation for the homeowners in their own backyard.
Written by Kitt Walsh
Photography by Diana Todorova
Architect
Herscoe Hajjar Architects
22 10th Street North
Naples, FL 34102
239.643.4010
hharch.com
Interior Designer
Clive Daniel Home
2777 Tamiami Trail North
Naples, FL 34103
239.261.4663
clivedaniel.com
Resources:
Castle Services of SWFL
3963 Enterprise Avenue
Naples, FL 34104
239.304.4620
castleservices.net
Design Studio by Raymond
990 1st Avenue North
Naples, FL 34102
239.278.1334
designstudiobyraymond.com
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
38 Goodlette-Frank Road South
Naples, FL 34102
239.963.0087
fergusonshowrooms.com
Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring
2684 Horseshoe Drive South
Naples, FL 34104
239.206.1898
legnobastone.com
Ruben Sorhegui Tile
3876 Mercantile Avenue
Naples, FL 34104
239.643.2882
sorheguitile.com
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