27110 Hickory_23-N-V2

Fall

BONITA BEACH PARADISE

Within the composite style of coastal modern, it is the amalgamation of specific design aspects that gives it its appeal. The warm, neutral stucco exterior in Aesthetic White by Sherwin-Williams accentuates the linear banding. In addition, sleek rooflines and frosted glass garage doors emphasize the home’s modern heritage. An island railing, a custom mahogany door, exposed rafters, and substantial brackets enhance its distinct coastal character. The driveway’s banding and salt-tolerant Clusia hedges are inviting during the approach.

AA pivotal moment arises for Alex Thies of Adelyn Charles Interiors and luxury builder Nate Johnson of Potter Homes when this beachfront spec home sells during construction, shifting inspiration from California coastal charm to an urban beach retreat for a cosmopolitan businesswoman and her family.

Beginning as a spec house, the team collaborates on the design direction. Residential Designer Richard Guzman of R.G. Designs shares, “We aim to break from the expected, avoiding repetition by consistently striving for fresh, distinctive looks, and in this instance, a look that harmonizes coastal and modern elements.” The exterior achieves a soulful modern equilibrium by combining smooth stucco, contemporary garage doors, an island railing, and wood accents. On the interior, neutral sand tones of the beach inspire the colorway. u

Living Room: The design team’s commitment to the client’s wishes meant incorporating a modern, low-profile Italian sofa. Pairing it with low-profile contemporary coastal furnishings, like these u-shape club chairs with woven wrapping from Palecek, creates a harmonious blend of modern and coastal styles. Elegant European white oak flooring from Real Wood Floors adorns the space, creating a neutral stage for all the deep chocolates, warm browns, creams, and soft whites of the furnishings and built-ins.

Kitchen: Casing upper windows with cabinetry merges interior design and architecture. Thies mirrors this integration with glass front cabinets on the adjacent wall, bar, and living room built-in. Mixing styles, the kitchen includes a whisper of traditional on the refrigerator door panels, a hint of coastal charm with the nickel gap hood, and modern flair with glossy vertically stacked backsplash tiles and sleek pendant lighting. Sandy tones on the exotic Cristallo quartzite evoke the beach.

Making a mid-stream shift in design direction was effortless for Thies and Associate Designer Emily Schlimm, due to the neutral backdrop of the interior. The kitchen, bar, and living room harmonize with the high-contrast exterior, but are inviting in soft white and deep chocolate brown. The team embraces sleeker, low-profile furnishings, and to balance the infusion of urbanity, white oak, woven details, and seaside accessories remind us that we are at the beach. Up the stairwell, coastal edginess and anticipation percolate, and it is upstairs that Thies fashions an elevated coastal vibe with a modern flair. u

Bar: Thies intensifies the full-bodied moodiness of this bar by promoting the dark chocolate brown from an accent to a dominant hue. A bright white Cowtan & Tout woven grasscloth wallcovering between the tall Sub-Zero wine coolers balances this saturated alcove, while gold on the abstract art from Leftbank Art heightens the swanky mood. Low-profile stools in a velour velvet-handed linen are intentionally not leather to strike a textural balance.

Thies reflects, “Working with this particular client was a smooth process that ultimately led to a change in design direction. However, I love that we brought in the client’s personality, and the result is really beautiful.”

Art Detail: Rectilinear shapes on the black metal stair rail give this location its modern touch, yet the European white oak on the wood handrail and treads center it in coastal warmth. For years, the client had admired this highcontrast artwork but didn’t have a suitable space for it until the expansive wall of this stairway was built. The highcontrast artwork suits the overall design concept, adding sentiment and significance to the home.

Loft: “We had this opportunity at the top of the stairs with these dramatic high ceilings,” shares Thies. “We decided to break up the expanse with these custom-stained white oak beams and headers.” Thies describes the pendants from Made Goods as having a funky organic shape that reflects the homeowner’s taste while enhancing the design by juxtaposing it with modern architecture. The statement piece in the loft is a teal credenza with gold accents from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

White oak flooring stretches from end to end — bookended by soaring windows that fill this space with the Florida sun and picturesque views. “This brightly lit loft is a testament to the amount of planning that goes into all of our design and construction,” shares Johnson. Upscale coastal blue and gray hues, neutral sand tones, and natural materials grace the upstairs office and guest bedrooms. At the same time, the primary bedroom stands out with its rich navy accent wall and diamond ceiling beam design. Thies uses ceiling design to draw focus to the primary motivation behind beachside construction — the enchanting Gulf vista and the outdoor poolside living that interfaces between them. u

Her Office: “The windows reveal beautiful shades of blue. It’s a mistake not to include them in this room,” says Thies. The palette softens to coastal charm with a blue-gray hue on the walls — Front Porch by Sherwin-Williams. The office features an exquisite credenza from John-Richard and a brass and ivory rope pendant from Shades of Light. Adjacent to the primary bedroom, this area serves as a place to relax in the evenings or to conduct business with swivel chairs by Jessica Charles.

Office Bathroom: The office boasts a stunning complete bathroom, ensuring it could easily double as a welcoming guest suite. The cerused white oak vanity is topped with luxurious marble, and the bone-inlay mirror reflects a breathtaking water view. Additionally, the clear glass globe pendant from Arteriors, which features a brass band, flawlessly coordinates with the other metal finishes used throughout the space.

Primary Bathroom: Continuity flows from the kitchen as the vanity cabinetry incorporates a linear window. Thies brings the cabinetry framed mirror to window height, increasing the reflection of natural light. The floor tile is intentionally understated to not distract from the bathtub wall’s marble mosaic in a deconstructed diamond pattern. To contrast the sheen of the wall tile, a matte Signature Hardware tub is chosen, while the Euroglide barn door on the shower leaves a lasting upscale impression.

Primary Bedroom: Thies dives deep into shades of dark blue, bringing in this denim-washed sisal wallcovering from Kravet and the Boll & Branch bedding in mineral blue. The pop-up soffit with diamond-pattern cross beams replaces traditional beams yet instills this primary bedroom with the same balance of style throughout the home. In a rich finish with nickel pulls, this dresser from Vanguard anchors the abstract artwork that resembles the ocean.

Patrick Trefz, Landscape Architect of Outside Productions International, focuses on every detail to prioritize the experience outdoors. “When crafting these infinity edge pools, we guide the water’s flow along the edge, following the wall’s shape to prevent splashing. By controlling its descent, we reduce the effect of wind and create a calm and peaceful environment,” explains Trefz. For all beachfront projects, the plant palette is limited as only certain plants can withstand the salty gusty winds of the Gulf. Instead of a lush rear yard, the zero-edge pool becomes the lure to the back that blurs the boundary between the home and the endless horizon.

From spec to spectacular, this home by the beach is a fresh, symbiotic take on coastal modern. Thies reflects, “Working with this particular client was a smooth process that ultimately led to a change in design direction. However, I love that we brought in the client’s personality, and the result is really beautiful.” n

Guest Bedroom (Above): Serenity wafts around this guest suite because of the blue and gray hues and billowy cloud-like drapery against the SherwinWilliams paint Tinsmith. Plush bedding in soft blues tops the bed, while the two hand-woven ottomans have a coastal texture with coconut beads interwoven with coarse rope. Atop the white-washed nightstands are gray ceramic lamps from Regina Andrew that work to enhance the symmetry of the two windows on either side of the bed.

Guest Bathroom: The en suite achieves a sophisticated coastal atmosphere through a monochromatic color scheme and innovative decor. Sleek, frameless glass sconces from Visual Comfort are both airy and modern and bestow a subtle complexity beside the coastal look of the bone inlay mirror from Serena & Lily. Blue-gray cabinetry topped with a cloudy gray quartzite with blue-gray veining casts a punch of color to the modern coolness and yet complements all the colors of this bathroom.

Powder Bath: Off the main living area is a cozy window nook with a nickel gap bench seat. The Kravet fabric cushion features refreshing coastal greens, creams, and blues. This two-toned aesthetic extends to the powder bathroom vanity surrounded by other cool hues. The jute mirror imparts warmth and infuses coastal ambiance, but it is a quirky light fixture from Lighting First that bridges the different styles.

Guest Bedroom (Below): Leaning more modern than coastal in this guest bedroom, the ceiling design exemplifies that aesthetic with its floating slabs. Geometric art and the chic wood accented bed reinforce the modish look, while the black stained, sliced wood teak accents from Uttermost contribute to the edgy narrative. Soft blue and cream tones create an airy atmosphere, with light drapery framing the coastal vista. Swivel chairs with a channel pattern from Four Hands invite relaxation while enjoying the view.

Outdoor Living: Oak ceiling beams point toward the sensational view for the living areas that are made as comfortable as any interior space with a grouping of upholstered outdoor furniture by Restoration Hardware. The outdoor kitchen boasts a stunning Taj Mahal quartzite backsplash, accented by a white oak band that echoes the ceiling beams. Above, white nickel gap paneling extends to the ceiling, harmonizing with the outdoor grill hood, creating a seamless connection with the adjacent interior kitchen.

“When crafting these infinity edge pools, we guide the water’s flow along the edge, following the wall’s shape to prevent splashing. By controlling its descent, we reduce the effect of wind and create a calm and peaceful environment,” explains Trefz.

Pool: The pebble finish inside the pool, giving off the same hue as the Gulf, is intentional. Using as little railing as possible, Trefz designs an experience with a privacy wall and includes three scuppers that create a melodic aqua tune when the Gulf is calm and quiet. Porcelain tiles resembling exquisite shellstone from DeMarco Tile form a luxurious pool deck and outdoor living area. Thies introduces white hexagon tiles that stem from the waterline along the privacy wall.

Written by Rachel Seekamp

Interior Designer: Adelyn Charles Interiors 3920 Via Del Rey, Suite 3

Bonita Springs, FL 34134

239.734.0449

www.adelyncharles.com

Luxury Home Builder: Potter Homes 3920 Via Del Rey, Suite 1

Bonita Springs, FL 34134

239.254.9319

www.potter-homes.com

Residential Designer: R.G. Designs 28071 Vanderbilt Drive Bonita Springs, FL 34134

239.949.2929

www.rgdesignsinc.com

Landscape Architect: Outside Productions International 5644 Tavilla Circle, Suite 207 Naples, FL 34110

239.390.1334

www.opidesign.net

Resources: DeMarco Tile 3527 Domestic Avenue Naples, FL 34104 239.643.4077

www.demarcotile.com

Lighting First 28801 South Tamiami Trail Bonita Springs, FL 34134 239.949.2544

www.lightingfirst.us

Real Wood Floors 2013 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109 239.592.4572

www.realwoodfloors.com

Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography