Admiral's Pointe at Ease

It’s been a long, tough, never-to-be-forgotten summer for landlubbers and sailors, alike. Unless, of course, you are relaxing with a glass of something cold in the alcove-like balcony just of the kitchen of this month’s featured home, where you’ll be forgiven for believing you’re somewhere climatically less abrasive. The Amalfi coast perhaps, or Santorini.

There’s a gentle breeze blowing off Geist reservoir, an electrified screen keeping out the winged beasts, and the solid stone construction to lend credence to the comforting and cooling old-world feel of this home. We’re in the husband’s favorite place in this rambling lakeshore abode, and it’s easy to see why.

From the moment you set foot inside, the Mediterranean influence makes itself apparent. A whimsical mural of an idyllic Italianate village, plastered buildings contrasting with the infinite depth of sea and sky, dominates the cozy space immediately of the foyer. The painting’s navy blue theme is picked up and echoed in the plush furnishings and geometric area rug. Blue, by the way, is the wife’s favorite color, evident throughout. From the entryway, a sweeping open staircase leads to the first floor's arcing balustrade, the warming stucco hues setting the tone for the rest of the main floor.

Built by Palladium Homes, in collaboration with designer Linda Mordoh of Savvy Decor, the prevailing mandate behind the construction was to provide an environment suited to, in Linda’s words, “an active family with four children and a mother who loves to cook. We really tried to make each living area very comfortable with very durable fabrics.”

The working kitchen doubles as a work of art.

For the designer, this was the ideal project. “The homeowners were my dream clients. Tey had the utmost faith in me and allowed me to guide them not only in the interior design, but in the design of the home. Rob Anee is an exceptional builder, and he allows me to get involved in the process from the very beginning,” she said.

With the emphasis squarely on family life, not to mention entertaining on an epic scale (“we’ll have fifty kids here on Friday nights”, explains the lady of the house), it comes as no surprise that the kitchen is the focal point of the residence.

In spite of there being no formal dining area, there’s an abundance of comfortable seating in and around the kitchen, as well as expansive areas outdoors and in the clubby pool room and bar downstairs.

The kitchen is a cook’s dream and is the work of Kitchens By Design. Equipped with twin convection ovens, a six-burner induction range, a teppanyaki grill, and even a built-in pasta cooker, you’d be absolutely right in thinking that this space is not only completely functional, but is also durable, collision-resistant, and easy to clean. When the weather permits, the frequent parties move outside to take advantage of the numerous grills and generous seating area around the oversized fire pit.

When you’re cooking for fifty people, it’s useful to have plenty of bathrooms on hand. Creating a unique and individual space for each room was both a challenge and a source of satisfaction for designer Mordoh: “I love designing bathrooms, especially powder bathrooms. I feel that this is the one room where you can totally think outside the box. In the lower-level bathroom, I wanted to do something that would set the tone for the rest of that level. We wanted to do a vessel bowl, and I thought it would be very interesting to do a free-floating cabinet with lighting underneath so it would make a big statement. I loved the geometric pattern and the bold impact that the wallpaper would make on this powder bath. When you walk in, it takes your breath away, and that’s what I was going for.”

The contrasting materials in the hearth room shout comfort and cozy.

Intriguing, too, is the wrought ironwork adorning the bar between the great room and the kitchen. Originally conceived by Kristen Oakley of Kitchens By Design, the material came from an old bank in New York, and is now displayed behind glass, where it provides both a conversation piece and a richly burnished visual link not just between the two living areas, but between the modernity and tradition which define this unique home.