Pulling into the shell aggregate curved driveway amidst majestic Royal Poinciana trees, visitors can spot the hallmarks of an Old Florida cracker-style house with its unique design. Orientated on the site for shade, the metal roofs, raised floors, and large covered porches are hallmarks of the style. The sustainable and stylish upgrades become more apparent the closer you get to the house. The decks are made of tabby concrete with oyster shells, and the house seems to float atop its bottom third of coquina stucco.
Mark Sultana, award-winning architect and partner at DSDG Architects, known for his ultra-modern designs, was asked to create a transitional house with modern conveniences and a homey warmth. “The difference is subtle, but also obvious,” says Sultana, adding, “There are traditional architectural features, but it doesn’t have the gingerbread extras. It’s simpler, cleaner, and much less maintenance in terms of taking care of the house.”
Every effort was made to reduce materials, waste, energy and water, and the house is certified National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Emerald, far exceeding Florida’s standards, and the highest possible rating for residential building.
Builder Josh Wynne, renowned for building Florida’s first LEED Platinum certified home in 2008, was brought in during the planning stages. “Building sustainably isn’t just an upsell tactic,” explains Wynne. “It has real value. We designed intelligently to moderate energy and water use, and we recycled 91% of the construction waste off-site.”
While the front of the house pays homage to traditional Floridian architecture, the interior and rear of the house take full advantage of what people have come to expect from Sultana’s contemporary vision and Wynne’s skills—flawless execution and meticulous detail in a contemporary layout, designed to satisfy the homeowner’s love of indoor and outdoor living.
April White, Interior Designer at DSDG Architects Inc., filled out the team and worked with Sultana, Wynne, and the owners to create uncluttered, welcoming spaces with furnishings and finishes as sophisticated and appealing as the home. “Everything complements everything in this house,” says White, “from the pieces meaningful to the owners, to the hues of the woods, the lines of the chairs, and the combination of colors and textures throughout the house. It’s very thoughtfully designed.”
Classic Florida architecture incorporates passive design strategies like this chinar finished standing seam aluminum roof. Hearty clapboard siding, tabby concrete with oyster shells on columns and flat surfaces of the decks, and white coquina stucco on the lower third update the façade. The impressive mahogany door is framed by glass under a vaulted cypress ceiling.
A mother of pearl chandelier from Corbett leads to the great room. The Napolean fireplace sits below a custom maple wall unit with uplit glass shelves. The engineered walnut floor hosts a variety of tones to work with the colors of the homeowners’ art collection, including this painting by Syd Solomon. Angela Fine Furnishings in Naples provided the chestnut-hued coffee table, sofa, and seating.
The upstairs den serves as the media room, wet bar, laundry center, and office with a built-in desk and floating shelves. The sitting area matches the great room downstairs with a Lexington sofa and Chaddock side chairs, but reverses the look with a Stanley glass coffee table and a heavier Chaddock wood end table.
The impactful design of the kitchen complements the custom wall of the great room. Fully integrated, gloss painted upper cabinetry and grain matched wood veneer cabinetry is by Cucine Ricci. Illuminated by five pendant lights, the waterfall center island is Cambria Torquay, as are the perimeter counters. A glass and mother of pearl mosaic tile backsplash by Fisher Tile brightens the well-designed kitchen space equipped with appliances from Monark Premium Appliances.
The inverted V-bottom dark wood dining room table and surrounding open fretwork-back maple dining room chairs from Angela Fine Furnishings coordinate with the homeowner’s contribution of a modern buffet console and a large pendant.
The master bedroom walls are painted Sherwin-Williams Livable Green. A barn door to the master bath was fabricated from all three of the wood species used throughout the home. A custom mahogany bed is flanked by mahogany nightstands. Behind the velvet taupe-gray upholstered wall is a walk-in European closet by Cuc ine Ricci.
Large textured porcelain tiles in different shades of cream from Porcelanosa cover the wall across from the Cucine Ricci brown cabinets and Torquay countertops that are the same as the kitchen. Large porcelain terrazzo tiles line the floor and extend along the shower wall. The sconces are a twist on the traditional sconce, with blown bubble glass and a light that shines down on the counter. The Victoria and Albert bathtub is volcanic limestone.
The outdoor great room has three bays, each parallel to the indoor great room, with retractable screens and shades. The quartz-topped custom fire table is made of the same stone tiles that frame the indoor fireplace. The custom live edge cypress table mirrors the barn door from the master bedroom.
The rear of the house maximizes waterfront views with sliding glass doors and generous outdoor patios. The planter walls are coquina, and the pool deck is the same tabby with oyster shells used on the decks and surfaces. Outdoor and indoor ceiling fans are seen throughout the home and exploit the western breeze from the bay.
Written by Brooke Parker Photography by Ryan Gamma
Angela Fine Furnishings 14700 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 3 Naples, FL 34110 239.390.2300 www.angelafinefurnishings.com
Cucine Ricci 1515 Main St Sarasota, FL 34236 941.554.8000 www.cucinericci.com
DSDG Architects 1348 Fruitville Road, Suite 204 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.955.5645 www.DSDGInc.com
Fisher Tile 2337 12th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941.362.7820 www.fishertile.com
Monark Premium Appliance Co. 5670 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34232 941.926.0700 www.monarkhome.com
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