HOUSE OF TURQUOISE
A CLIENT’S LOVE FOR BLUE SETS THE VISION FOR THIS COASTAL HOME
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BBeautifully blended soft blues in a classic coastal home are the things of this homeowner’s daydreams. And when the couple spotted the perfect lot while walking their dog in the neighborhood, she knew they’d found the perfect place to build the true-blue forever home they’d been imagining for so long. u
Living Room & Kitchen: A photograph the client found online inspired the unique design of the stair and hallway railing. The design team collaborated with the homeowner to ensure the shape conformed to local building codes that required no more than a 4-inch-wide opening between spindles. “The rounded design theme in the rail and other elements, such as the trim detail in the upper kitchen cabinets, became a catchphrase we called ‘swoopy,’” reveals Interior Designer Jenifer DuFresne of Inside Eye Design. The Lutron Panelized Lighting System from Wicked Smart Homes offers effortless control over home lighting, enabling the creation of scenes and management of dimming and switches.
Living Room: The living room features a ledgestone fireplace from Woodland Direct, surrounded by custom millwork and display shelves by Sticks & Stones Flooring to showcase the clients’ objet d’art. The ceiling detail includes coffered beams over tongue-and-groove woodwork painted white to keep the space light and open. To the left of the fireplace is a special spot for a much-loved sculpture, for which DuFresne created a clear acrylic stand to keep the focus on the art.
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“They came across the plot and knew it would give them the location on the bay and the views they wanted. It was their dream location, so we were happy to build them their dream house on it,” says Michael Voigt of Voigt Brothers Construction. “The neighborhood is mature and established, with fantastic existing oak trees; the street has extra personality and charm. And the location — right across the canal from Selby Gardens — can’t be beat.”
It was that desire to be on the open Sarasota Bay and to include exquisite views of the sunset from many directions that guided the design of every room — a clear, creative vision the clients brought to the project and one Voigt, Interior Designer Jenifer DuFresne of Inside Eye Design, and Residential Designer Brian Phipps of Phipps Home Design infused into each detail. u
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Dining Room: A crystal-cut chandelier illuminates the dining room, which is surrounded by a set of sliding doors that open to the outdoor living area in such a way that two sides of the room are exposed to the fresh air. The client brought a specific design for the floor-to-ceiling drapery to DuFresne, who then sourced material and worked with the client on color — another perfect example of the team’s seamless collaboration with the homeowners.
Kitchen: “We started with a double island and tried out many different configurations, taping them out on the floor. The adjoined table was the perfect solution to let the clients eat in the kitchen without having to look at dirty dishes in the sink,” DuFresne states. The design on the cabinet fronts was a team effort with Campbell Cabinetry Designs, and the striking color of the mosaic backsplash is echoed in the kitchen island’s paint: Sherwin-Williams Drizzle.
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“The client has a love of turquoise and blues, and when we first met together, pulling those into the project was a main priority. I designed many details and elements that layered in those colors to give the space the coastal vibe she was looking for,” explains DuFresne. “It was a blank slate, and she was very direct in what she wanted — mostly that this house would be different and better than her last in its functionality, layout, millwork, ceilings, and use of space.”
Voigt and DuFresne went to great lengths to ensure the home lived up to the clients’ priorities and matched their vision, from laying out rooms around their existing furniture to capturing the exquisite views of the bay at the perfect angles to building simulations of permanent elements of the home to get the shape and placement precisely right. u
Primary Bedroom: The client desired a bright yet serene primary bedroom, so she and DuFresne settled on another shade of blue — SherwinWilliams Something Blue — taken from the artwork on the wall above the dresser. The ceiling features beams in a crossed layout, crown molding, and tongue-and-groove woodwork painted white. An expansive bay window gives an unobstructed view of the bay and Selby Gardens across the canal, another example of how the home’s design maximizes its location.
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Primary Bathroom: Shades of turquoise feature prominently in the home’s primary bathroom, in the cabinetry color and mosaic tile in the shower. “The shower wall tile is mother of pearl. My client had it in her previous home, and she wanted it to have a more prominent role in this house,” says DuFresne. The ceiling is painted the same color as the cabinetry — Sherwin-Williams Quench Blue — and the countertops are opal-white marble containing a bit of iridescence.
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Pool: The L-shaped pool includes pearlescent waterline tile that mixes and matches all the turquoise hues used indoors and out, stunningly enhanced by well-designed lighting and water features. The staircase leading down to the pool is another example of the design team’s attention to detail. “The original staircase design was a straight run. We turned it into an L shape to make it friendlier to folks going up and down,” says Voigt.
Outdoor Living: The transom railing is another custom feature incorporating a circle motif. “We also played around with the right size and scale to follow the pattern of the handrail below,” Voigt states. The layout of the clients’ existing furniture incorporates the home’s views. “We strategically placed the furniture so it swiveled in multiple directions. Guests can turn one way to catch the sunset view and then turn back to have a conversation,” says DuFresne.
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“We mocked up a temporary, life-sized version of the island with framing materials so the client could see it in the space,” Voigt recalls. “Building custom homes is all about communication. The clients brought photos that inspired them to us, and our challenge was to execute that vision within local codes and customs. Anything that wasn’t feasible we worked through with a lot of discussion and cooperation.”
This passion, consistency, and attention to detail made the experience of the overall project enjoyable and successful for all parties, despite the many challenges the team faced due to supply-chain shortages and delays.
And the result speaks for itself in the grand elevations of the three-story architecture, the multiple levels of outdoor living strategically placed to maximize views of the sunset over the water, and the colorful yet peaceful interiors dressed in multiple shades of soothing turquoise and blue. It’s a quintessentially elegant coastal home — one the family and their sweet dog will love for many years. n
Rooftop: The rooftop plays the starring role in the home’s dramatic views. Accessed via a spiral staircase from the deck adjacent to the club room, it towers high above the treetops for unobstructed sightlines of sunsets over the water. A built-in bench allows for relaxing while taking in the vista. “Having the bench and coffee table built in keeps them anchored so they don’t blow around during a hurricane without having to chain them down,” offers DuFresne.
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Front Elevation: Finding the right exterior shade for the home — Sherwin-Williams Liquid Blue — was a many-step process in which DuFresne considered the effect of other surrounding colors. “The specific effect is called metamerism,” she explains. “Color changes throughout the day based on the light, sun intensity, and what other colors are around it. Longer sun rays makes it look more orange; those in the middle of the day and anything around water makes it more blue.”
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Rear Elevation: The clients’ prior residence included a single water feature, and they wanted more of that for this home, so the team designed a four-sided, wet-edge spa on one side of the pool. Laying out the shape and size of the entire pool area was another hands-on exercise, with Voigt’s team using different colored spray paints, ribbons, and stakes to mock up the exact placement of the deck and water so the homeowner could visualize it.
Luxury Home Builder: Voigt Brothers Construction 2015 Rose Street, Suite B Sarasota, FL 34239 941.926.6038
www.voigtbrothers.com
Interior Designer: Inside Eye Design 727.263.3334
www.inside-eye.com
Residential Designer: Phipps Home Design 2937 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 4 Sarasota, FL 34239 941.955.1912
www.phippshomedesign.com
Resources: Campbell Cabinetry Designs 1531 Main Street Sarasota, FL 34236 941.378.3922
www.campbellcabinetrydesigns.com
Sticks & Stones Flooring 1839 Northgate Boulevard, Suite A Sarasota, FL 34234 941.706.0924
www.sticksandstonessrq.com
Wicked Smart Homes 527 South Pineapple Avenue Sarasota, FL 34236 941.928.0343
www.wickedsmarthomes.com
Woodland Direct 855.710.0604
www.woodlanddirect.com
Written by Shawna Hampton
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Photography by Ryan Gamma Photography
