MODERN LAKE

By Oliver Nash

Photography by Diana Todorova

Located in the Esplanade Lake Club, the Genova model by Seagate Development Group is a beautiful example of great design both inside and out. The home takes into consideration the needs of the Southwest Florida buyer, and showcases the trend toward warm colors, natural textures, and globally-inspired design.

A Taylor Morrison community, the Esplanade Lake Club offers resort-style living on 778 acres along Lake Como in Fort Myers. A preferred builder, Seagate Development Group is a full-service residential and commercial real estate development and construction company. They bring together ingenuity and experience with the expertise and desire to deliver the highest quality product and a customer experience that exceeds industry standards. That desire to offer their clients the best led to the creation of Theory Design. A collaboration with Seagate Development Group, Theory Design now fills the need to lend a unique design approach to the fast-growing list of building projects. This talented and spirited team collaborates on a multi-level approach to provide the best-designed products for their clients, and is responsible for the great design found in the Genova model.

The 6,008 square foot home features four bedrooms plus a study, four full and two half baths, and a three-car garage. The spacious home takes advantage of the water views and offers a large outdoor living area perfect for entertaining, often cooled by the lake breeze.

Contemporary Shine

The home’s exterior perfectly embodies the coastal modern design that so many buyers look for when they come to Southwest Florida. The clean lines and finishes used are complemented by Bahama shutters and a flat, slate tile roof. Seagate Development Group is known for using flat tiles instead of barrel tiles, which can read Mediterranean and sometimes look dated if not used correctly. Lighting choices have been kept sleek to match the home’s architectural style.

Great Inspiration

Inside the home, Interior Designers Adriene Ged and Cynde Thompson of Theory Design took their cues from modern world travel and global influences. Art, rugs, and accessories are mixed with natural fabrics and organic tones to create a restful interior. This combination creates a design infusion that is on trend with global influence in interior design that has been so popular this year. A feature wall of vertical, handmade, and hand-applied stained wood slats adds texture to the room. The 14-foot tall ceilings are enhanced by reverse soffits that are lit with LEDs to create more visual interest in the room. Furniture throughout the home, but especially in the great room, has been kept neutral with the selected fabrics and wood accents. Sightlines to the amazing lanai and the lake beyond were kept open through the low furniture. White oak floors with a grey wash anchor the space.

A feature wall of vertical, handmade, and hand-applied stained wood slats adds texture to the room.

Kitchen Connection

At the center of the home, the kitchen continues the theme of natural colors and textures, as well as globally-inspired design. The counters are a favorite of the design team. Finished in a leathered texture, the natural quartzite has also been applied to the window wall behind the natural gas range for a dramatic design effect. All the slabs have been mitered and book-matched so the veins are perfectly conjoined. Lower cabinets are finished in a natural, warm grey tone while upper cabinets have a dark, espresso finish with glass doors covering the lit display shelves. Over the large island, well-sized pendant lights help to fill in the space between the ceiling and counter, as well as provide light to the prep area.

Entertaining Central

A wet bar located in the dining room functions as a drink center and a buffet for storage and serving. Plenty of glass-fronted, backlit shelves house glasses, while cabinets hide dishes and other necessities. The same book-matched quartzite used in the kitchen has been brought into the wet bar and dining room for a cohesive look. The solid wood table is an almost ebony color and is surrounded by linen-clad chairs. The frames of the chairs are slim, which helps to balance the weight of the table which can seat ten comfortably.

The same book-matched quartzite used in the kitchen has been brought into the wet bar and dining room for a cohesive look.

Organic Retreat

Large windows frame the pool and Lake Como, and a comfortable sitting area takes full advantage of the sun and view. Ged and Thompson chose darker furniture in a true ebony, finished with hammered metal hardware for a little shine. The furniture grounds the light and airy space and complements the soft grey tones used throughout. The color of the wood floors and the patterns used in the room, like the one on the area rug, reinforce the global theme. Above, a reverse soffit has been added along with a fun, multidimensional light.

Spa Space

In the bathroom, subtle finishes take the stage. A relaxing space, the master bath continues global feel and takes advantage of unique textures. In addition to a beautiful grasscloth wall covering, matching tile has been applied to the walls of the room and the shower. The grooved texture is unique and adds to the beauty of the tile. A freestanding, rectangular tub is contemporary and is complemented by the low armchair with a bamboo seat and back. The vessel sink sits on top of a dark wood, floating vanity, which matches the mirror’s trim color and the Bahama shutter. A rug with a modern tribal pattern adds more texture to the room.

Unique Touches

A mix of warm and cool tones, the tile complements the natural stone that tops the sleek and floating riffed-oak vanity. A natural, fiber wallpaper is used in the rest of the room and has a slight shimmer, bouncing light through the room. The team found the perfect art for this space which helps to tie cool and warm together. Wall mounted, black, metal fixtures and sconces, and the custom framed mirror are the perfect final touches.

Outdoor Life

A shellstone floor, similar to the one in the master bathroom, sets the stage for the rest of the finishes in the large outdoor space. A tough stone that works well indoors and out, shellstone can match a myriad of design styles. Just off the home’s indoor dining room, the outdoor dining area is placed where the large, corner pocketing glass doors open for a seamless entertaining experience. A table for eight is surrounded by woven back chairs that are outdoor-friendly for easy maintenance. Light fabrics complement the colors inside. The outdoor kitchen features a waterfall edge island with LED lighting and granite countertops. Ged and Thompson chose one tile and used it to cover the hood and wall of the outdoor kitchen, creating a sleek and clean look. A stained wood tongue and groove ceiling brings in warmth. The seating area, with sofa and four oversized chairs flanks a see-through fireplace which can also be enjoyed from the pool area. The whole space can be enclosed with automatic rolling screens to provide bug protection, making it a year-round room. A water feature, spa, and sun shelf help to make the pool feel like one found in the best of local resorts.

For more information about this home or more like it in your area, contact the Realtor who sent you this magazine.