FULL CIRCLE

Patty Brisben’s home in Naples combines the best of work and play

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Daniel A. Newcomb

With more than 100 employees locally, 75,000 sales consultants worldwide and a charitable foundation that bears her name, Pure Romance founder and CEO Patty Brisben has a lot on her plate. When much-needed respite is in order, she trades the board room for beach towels and heads to her home in the exclusive Tiburón development in Naples, Florida.

Home to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, the gated, family-friendly development is ideally situated minutes from the beach, chic shopping, and the airport. Residents are privy to all the amenities available to guests at the Ritz-Carlton, including 36 holes of golf created by Greg Norman, as well as special privileges reserved for owners.

Sited on what could be argued as one of the most picturesque lots in the development – the rear vista of the home encompasses a lake with a tropically landscaped island and cascading water features – the home was built with family and friends in mind. The open floor plan is malleable enough to make parties of two or 200 feel at home.

Patty Brisben chose the Tiburón development in Naples, Florida to build her dream getaway. A trio of large amber-colored stained glass circles in a Mondrian-esque arrangement on the front door introduces the interior’s recurring circular theme.

Brisben worked with her good friend and frequent collaborator, interior designer David Millett from the onset of the project. Distressed after the foundation was poured that the floor plan was too segmented, she relied on Millett’s expertise to help reconnect the disparate rooms and take full advantage of the volume afforded by 16-foot ceilings throughout. “Once we opened the front area, the whole feeling changed entirely,” remarked Millett.

One is never far from the soothing sound of falling water, beginning with a clever wall-style fountain in the front motor court to the aforementioned water features experienced while enjoying the pool or terrace at the rear of the home. Another recurring design element is the use of arcs and circles, a theme first introduced at the front door, where a trio of large amber-colored stained glass circles are presented in a Mondrianesque arrangement.

In the entry and living room, interior designer David Millett designed a series of stepped soffits dressed with layers of silver and gold wallpaper in alternating square and dot motifs. Centered in the room is a pair of crystal chandeliers with shimmering baubles on eight-foot-long tentacles. Built-in niches display a portion of the homeowner’s art glass collection.

In the entry and living room, Millett designed a series of stepped soffits that snake around the perimeter of the room for continuity. Each level is backlit with recessed lighting. Adding to the drama are layers of silver and gold wallpaper with alternating square and dot motifs. The slipper-style furniture “floats beautifully,” according to Millett, and provides for seating on all sides. Centered in the room is a pair of crystal chandeliers with shimmering baubles on eight-foot-long tentacles. Built-in niches were added to display a portion of Brisben’s art glass collection.

Adjacent to the living room is a wine bar accentuated by amber-colored globe pendant lamps hung at different heights for additional visual interest. Flooring on the first floor is natural stone, which extends to the summer kitchen and terrace. Softening the hard surfaces are shag-style rugs rendered in circular forms.

The living room is open to a wine bar accentuated by amber-colored globe pendant lamps hung at different heights for additional visual interest.

Rising like bubbles in a glass of champagne, a crystal chandelier is suspended over an eight-foot diameter table in the dining room. The room shares a similar ceiling treatment as the living room. Both the table and built-ins were custom-crafted in Canada using exotic Makassar ebony and maple woods that have been highly lacquered until they display a glass-like finish. Metallic sheer drapery on the windows hearkens to the recurring use of amber shades and circles.

Rising like bubbles in a glass of champagne, a crystal chandelier is suspended over an eight-foot diameter table in the dining room. Both the table and built-ins were custom-crafted in Canada using exotic Makassar ebony and maple woods that have been highly lacquered until they display a glass-like finish.

A platform bed and side tables in the first-floor master suite were custom crafted in maple by the same Quebec firm responsible for made-to-order furnishings in several other rooms. No less than 15 coats of lacquer were required to attain the desired sheen.

Maple cabinetry in the kitchen features interesting grain patterns. Organic Murano glass pendant lamps that emit a warm amber glow are suspended over the bar and from multiple circular drops above the island. Similar lighting is suspended at varying heights above the sleek glass-topped dinette table.

In the family room, infinity glass doors recess back completely, providing a seamless transition to the summer kitchen, terrace and pool and erase the delineation between inside and out.

In the family room, infinity glass doors recess back completely, providing a seamless transition to the summer kitchen, terrace and pool.

The impressive pool is the pièce de résistance of the outdoor entertaining area and features a spa incorporated in the larger pool, dramatic fire pits on pedestals, and palm trees underplanted with flowers that appear to float on the surface of the water within their planting boxes. Integrated steps transverse the shallowest portion of the pool, an area ideal for the youngest grandchildren. The Pure Romance logo is rendered in mosaic tile on the floor of the pool near the base of the stairs.

The sprawling outdoor entertaining areas include a spa incorporated in the larger pool, dramatic fire pits on pedestals and palm trees underplanted with flowers that appear to float on the surface of the water. Briben’s company logo is rendered in mosaic tile on pool’s floor.

An ample covered terrace provides a break from the sun. Millett designed the unique metallic mosaic design found on the summer kitchen’s range hood and bar front. A see-through fireplace can be enjoyed from the sunken seating area overlooking the lake and the outdoor kitchen/dining area.

Interior designer David Millett designed the unique metallic mosaic design found on the summer kitchen’s range hood and bar front.

On the second floor, Millett chose a durable dark cork floor to easily accommodate heavy traffic from frequent family visits. On this level Brisben designated separate suites for each of her four children and a Jack-and-Jill suite for the grandchildren (one distinctly outfitted for boys and the other for girls).

Millett made several site visits during construction and was impressed by the expertise of the skilled craftsmen who helped execute his and Brisben’s vision. “They were just wonderful, and I’m grateful for that because there’s no room for error in circles,” he added.