Water Water Everywhere

An expansive estate in Manalapan reaches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway

Written by Bridget Williams / Photography by Eric Williams

Those fortunate to have a beachfront retreat typically fall into two categories: those who, either by design or default, acquire a cozy place à deux and those who allow plenty of room for family and friends to visit. This Louisville couple's home in Manalapan falls squarely into the latter category. Situated directly on the Intracoastal Waterway with a private beachfront cabana just across South Ocean Boulevard, this 8,000+-square-foot home with eight bedrooms and nine-and-one-half baths on 1.6 acres boasts expansive public and private spaces.

Marc Michaels Interior Design is responsible for the soft contemporary décor prevalent throughout, which incorporates blonde wood paneling, a color palette in varying hues of cream, buttery yellow and taupe, and brushed nickel and mirrored accents.

Entering the foyer through the covered portico, one is quick to note the barrel-vaulted ceiling two stories above. Square display niches on either side provide views into the office on the right and the dining room on the left. Underfoot, tan and cream marble squares are laid in a harlequin pattern.

Four sets of French doors with transom windows in the living room provide expansive views of the pool area and the Intracoastal. The room is large enough to accommodate three distinct seating areas, all united by a seagrass carpet from Stark. At one end of the room is a built-in bar; its form is repeated at the opposite end via a display niche surrounding a large contemporary painting. Iron gates built into the bar lead to a small wine cellar with stone walls and a cork countertop.

In the dining room, a rich elephant grey colored oval coved ceiling further emphasizes the creamy walls and decorative trim work. While the room can accommodate a seated dinner for 16, a pair of square tables ensure that gatherings of all sizes will still feel intimate. Taupe velvet tufted chairs with nailhead trim and contrasting damask backs pull in the colors found in the living room drapery. A swinging door provides access to a service kitchen outfitted with Miele and Subzero appliances.

In the dining room, a rich elephant grey colored oval coved ceiling further emphasizes the cream-colored walls and decorative trim work. A pair of square tables that can accommodate 16 guests ensures that gatherings of all sizes will still feel intimate. Taupe velvet tufted chairs with nailhead trim and contrasting damask backs pull in the colors found in the living room drapery.

Oak paneling is found on the walls and ceiling in the library. Built-ins with arched niches provide a repository for books, art, and photographs. A pair of mother-of-pearl pendant lamps provide soft illumination. The room contains a combination of leather and velvet upholstery in colors of straw and taupe.

Arts-and-Crafts-style oak cabinets, combined with an iridescent glass tile mosaic backsplash, create an interesting juxtaposition of classic and contemporary styles in the kitchen. An adjacent hearth room and casual dining area incorporate design cues from the other living areas, including nailhead detail on the upholstery and taupe-colored walls. Two sets of French doors lead to a covered terrace.

Plush scrollwork in the master bedroom carpeting is mimicked in the crushed velvet armchairs. The wainscoting and wall and ceiling colors call to mind the palette in the dining room. The recurring element of nailhead trim is found on the custom headboard and television armoire. An eight-arm chandelier with a hand-painted finish hangs above a seating area at the foot of the bed.

Glass tile insets create a diamond pattern in the master bathroom’s polished marble floor. The woodwork has a handpainted antique finish, while a textural troweled plaster treatment has been applied to the ceiling. Antique mirror details are found in the Niermann Weeks “Monaco” chandelier and Venetian silver leaf Niermann Weeks wall scones mounted on the vanity mirrors. A Bain Ultra soaking tub sits in front of a dual entry shower with an elaborate body spray system and oversized rain showerheads.

A large abstract painting by Sylvia Angeli and an ornate forged iron railing dress the stair hall to the lower level. Dark wood paneling, a box-beam ceiling, and tartan plaid wall-to-wall carpeting lend a clubby atmosphere to public spaces on this level. An L-shaped granite-topped bar is surrounded by stools with striped velvet seats. A trio of square lamps with parchment-style shades hangs above the pool table. The pattern of the decorative button spacers between the antiqued mirror squares in the powder room is echoed in the three-dimensional wallpaper treatment. As in the lower level, each of the three spacious bedroom suites on the second floor boasts ultra-high-end bathroom finishes and a fine eye for detail.

Outdoor lounging and entertaining areas are given as much consideration as the interiors to take full advantage of the South Florida climate. An outdoor kitchen and seating area created under the second floor verandah service the pool area and provide respite from the sun. An impressive iron chandelier is a prominent feature of the double height verandah on the main level.

While this home’s ample square footage ensures that even when there’s a full crowd gathered no one feels crowded, its true allure is a well-executed floor plan and interior design scheme that makes even the grandest rooms seem supremely livable and intimate.