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Spring 2024
REFINED AND RELAXED A YOUNG COUPLE GETS A HOME DESIGNED FOR AN UPSCALE, CASUAL FLORIDA LIFESTYLE 156
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Relaxed living is the name of the game in Florida. Sun, sand, and water are beloved here, so it was no surprise to Mario DiPietro, senior designer at Annabelle’s Fine Furniture & Interior Design, when a young couple came in looking for high-quality furnishings and design but with a casual twist for an informal lifestyle. “Before we ever talked about products, we explored how they want to live in this space,” he says. “It was apparent that they wanted quality and liked nice things while living a casual and relaxed lifestyle. So, they wanted something that would blend both.” When they first met with DiPietro, the couple had purchased a new construction home not yet built. However, many of the material selections had been made, so he worked from the color palette based mainly on deep blue backsplash tile, matching kitchen island paint color, and warm gray and taupe tones in the flooring and wall colors. u
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From the moment you enter the home, the foyer hints at what’s to come — the striking sapphire grasscloth wallpaper, rich wood tones, and a little bling. The open floor plan of the kitchen, dining room, and living room provided DiPietro the opportunity — and the challenge — to explore color and texture to create a cohesive design while still delineating the different areas. In the kitchen, DiPietro selected neutral-colored barstools from Vanguard but added elegance by choosing a smooth nubuck leather for the seats and ostrich for the backs to give that hint of texture that makes them elegant and unique. Nail head detailing creates a design connection to the armchairs at the dining table. The upholstered armchairs and clean-lined wooden side chairs contrast the organic nature of the live-edge wooden dining table, allowing it to garner attention. Another spotlight in the space is the sapphire grasscloth wallcovering from Pacific Design. Like in the foyer, it creates the perfect backdrop for the warm browns and soft white and light gray upholstery on the chairs. Despite the elegant look, the space is designed for the casual Florida lifestyle the homeowners sought, thanks to performance fabrics built to withstand everyday use. The pièce de résistance in this room is the chandelier by John-Richard. “The crystal chandelier looks like a flowering tree,” DiPietro says. “It looks like wisteria, and the island pendants match it.” Because everything in the large open floor plan is so eclectic, DiPietro used repetition to ensure a cohesive feel. The large living room rug anchors that area, while the repeated colors in the rug tie it to the adjoining areas as well. “It’s a hand-knotted rug, and the coffee table is what they call the shape of a boulder — it’s covered in slate, so it brings another element into the room,” DiPietro adds. Two chaises with an armless sofa by Lillian August offer ample seating and cater to the casual living style. u
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DiPietro carried the aesthetic into the primary bedroom as well. From the blue in the artwork hanging over a hair-on-hide covered bench from Gabby to the multi-color Designs in Rugs rug pulling in all of the tones of the palette, the space envelopes the homeowners in color, texture, and understated sophistication. “You can change it up a little in areas where doors separate the spaces. However, it’s always a good idea to have a central theme run through,” DiPietro says. “There are shades of blue in this rug, but it runs a little more to teal and turquoise, and she wanted it to be a little more romantic in this space.” Lending to that request are custom side tables and a bed from Caracole with a textured gold finish. “This home is personalized to them — the things that appeal to them. And you’re not going to see the same choices in any other home,” DiPietro says of the modern organic look with elements of glam. n
Written by Heather Shoning Photography by Chris Restrepo | PenLight Media Interior Designer: Annabelle’s Fine Furniture & Interior Design 8722 North Mobley Road Odessa, FL 33556 813.461.6158 www.annabellesfurniture.com homeanddesign.net
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