The Process of Personalization

By Channing Spano | Photography by Rick Bethem

Naples is a transient city. People come and go seasonally as well as moving from condos to single family homes, from beachfront properties to Golf communities. Change in real estate is a constant for many residents, including the owners of this single family home in North Naples. After a few years of visiting seasonally, the Siegals we ready to spend more time in the area and felt they were ready to upgrade to a larger home, one that would fit their growing family as children marry and grandchildren are added to the family. They loved the location of their original Naples home, in Tiburón, and wanted to find a new one close by to keep them near the many friends they had made in the community. Luckily, through a

Elegant entry

One of the biggest changes in the entry is the decorative wall Jacque Lindstrom designed. “There was a skinny, somewhat awkward wall here so I wanted to create a visual piece that gave the formal dining room a little separation while also adding something to the home,” says Lindstrom. The focal point of the entryway, and the home as a whole, is it’s unique lighting elements chosen by Siegal. The beautiful John Richard chandelier features gold branches dripping with glass leaves and is complemented by the gold painted tray ceiling. “The color is really fabulous and is completely custom,” says both Lindstrom and Siegal. “It took quite a while to get that color correct and it was a process to create the layers that make the tone so unique.” On the wall, a photo taken by Siegal’s husband, an avid photographer, adds a pop of color and a personal touch to the home.

few fortuitous events, they were able to purchase a lot in an adjacent community that backs up to Tiburón on the other side of a private preserve.

Homeowner Bonnie Siegal says, “The lot is one of the biggest in the community. It’s over half an acre so we knew when we purchased it we wanted to create an outside area that took advantage of all the space the lot provides.” During the building process, the Siegals were unable to see a model, so they built the home “sight unseen” so to speak, going off of plans, small samples, and their imagination. When it was finished, they were happy with the neighborhood and the home’s layout (for the most part), but felt that the finishes weren’t up to their standard or those found in their other residence. “We talked about a variety of different options but ultimately decided to renovate our newly completed home,” says Siegal.

That led them to their second renovation in about as many years. Partnering with friend and designer Jacque Lindstrom, owner and lead designer at LS Lindstrom LLC, and Wayne Wisher from Silver Dollar Construction, they set out to create a customized home that perfectly reflects the Siegals’ personal style. “Jacque and I had recently worked together on our home up North and I enjoyed working with her through that process,” explains Siegal. “I knew I wanted her help with my Florida home. Also, with that last project still fresh in my mind, I was able to take what I had learned about renovation and apply it to this new project.” The end result is a contemporary glamorous space that represents the owner’s style and personality.

Exquisite Dining

The dining room is bright and open with neutral colors complemented by blue and gold. The large table features a sturdy base of polished gold topped with glass to keep the room open and modern. Throughout the home, Siegal sourced the accessories, like the cobalt blue bowls that top the table. Above, a second John Richard chandelier references the one in the entry while offering a different take on the natural, yet glamorous mix of gold and glass. “The photos here were also taken by my husband, as are most of the photos throughout the house,” says Siegal. “He’s a retired surgeon who has always loved photography and we both wanted to feature his work in our new home to personalize the space. It also helps us create a more contemporary feel in our Naples home, which was something we really wanted as we worked with Jacque.”

The Inspired Chef

After removing the original cabinets, fixtures, and appliances, Lindstrom was able to start with a blank slate to create a kitchen filled with high-end finishes and a design that is functional as well as beautiful. She says, “Functionality is a hallmark of my kitchen design. I always create spaces that are both workable and beautiful, so this kitchen is no exception.” The island was reworked to help with the flow and was designed to be a more visually pleasing piece. Topped with thick Cristallo quartzite, it has a weight to it that anchors the kitchen. A unique enameled steel hood with polished brass accents is flanked by custom cabinets designed by Lindstrom.

Above the island, Lindstrom selected pendants that fill the airspace creating a dramatic effect. “The light in the kitchen needed to work with the beautiful custom hood while not fighting with the other great selections in the home,” says Lindstrom. Sub Zero and Wolf appliances complete this chef-inspired kitchen.

Exquisite Dining

The dining room is bright and open with neutral colors complemented by blue and gold. The large table features a sturdy base of polished gold topped with glass to keep the room open and modern. Throughout the home, Siegal sourced the accessories, like the cobalt blue bowls that top the table. Above, a second John Richard chandelier references the one in the entry while offering a different take on the natural, yet glamorous mix of gold and glass. “The photos here were also taken by my husband, as are most of the photos throughout the house,” says Siegal. “He’s a retired surgeon who has always loved photography and we both wanted to feature his work in our new home to personalize the space. It also helps us create a more contemporary feel in our Naples home, which was something we really wanted as we worked with Jacque.”

Personal Perfection

“The Siegals wanted to create a home that reflected their impeccable personal style while also offering their family a place to gather,” says Lindstrom. The great room features a large sectional covered with comfortable, custom pillows, and two elegant Italian leather chairs with swooping lines. Behind the TV, the focal wall has been covered in a textured, navy blue wallpaper that is extended behind the lit, built-in shelves which helps the beautiful accessories pop. “The TV stand, from FreeMarc, is a great example of how elements in the home that weren’t fully ‘custom’ were customized to fit the tastes of the homeowners,” Lindstrom explains. “The original top and legs were too dark and so I had them replaced so they perfectly match the silver of the doors for a more cohesive look.” The large chandelier in the room continues the home’s theme of amazing lighting. “Bonnie approaches design with intelligence and a great sense of personal style, so as she chose things for the home, especially the lighting, my only job was to make sure they fit the scale of the room. Many times homeowners, or even designers, will pick lighting that’s too small for the space. I was there to advise her on dimensions as she made her selections but I loved the lighting she was choosing so I was more than happy to sign off on her selections!”

Masterful Respite

In the master bedroom, the furniture by Baker caused a bit of a delay. “We were ordering so many things during the height of the pandemic that we experienced some hold ups that no one could have predicted,” Siegal explains. While the dresser and side tables were finished and ready to be delivered, the hardware was held up for months. Once they arrived however, they worked perfectly with the soft blue, padded headboard and the subtle sunburst wallpaper. Custom bedding from Clive Daniel and a beautiful silk rug add luxurious texture to the room. On the ceiling, a custom blue paint, created to complement the headboard and armchair, ties the room together.

Spa Style

The master bathroom went through the biggest transformation as the entire layout was reworked and the room taken down to the studs to accomplish the redesign. “We just were not a fan of the original plans on paper, and once we got into the home it was not at all what we wanted to live with long term,” says Siegal. The shower, which had a more industrial scale, was moved to its current location and brought down to a more appropriate residential bathroom size. A new, seamless shower door and the zero edge shower stall add to the high-end feel of the space. The small tub was replaced by a beautiful one from Victoria + Albert which is an improvement in both design and scale. A new vanity was placed under the three windows and Lindstrom added beautiful millwork to tie the mirrors and the windows together for a custom touch. Thick marble counters offer a great workspace and the plethora of drawers and cabinets provide plenty of storage for the couple. Marble and porcelain tiles were used on the floor and in the shower to create a clean, spa-like bathroom.

Outdoor Entertainment

“The size and shape of the lot gave us room to do something interesting outside, but the open areas are on the side of the home,” says Siegal. With those open spaces, landscape designer Jeff Edwards took one of the family’s fun activities, golf, and brought it home. A four hole putting green was added so the Siegals could enjoy time together, practice their putting, and entertain friends with ease. Marble pavers lead to a seating area that doubles as a dance floor for parties. Shrubs and hedges were added around the putting green and sitting area for privacy, something the Siegals made sure Edwards included in his designs.

Aquatic Oasis

The outdoor living areas of the home shine thanks to thoughtfully designed seating areas and beautiful landscaping. Siegal and her husband made a trip to Restoration Hardware to customize the outdoor furniture. Ceiling fans were swapped for a more design-forward look and now match the stained wood ceilings. The outdoor kitchen was customized to create a better cooking experience, thanks to the Outdoor Kitchen Place. Siegal added two burners next to the grill so they could also cook outside (not just grill) and the cabinets were refinished to create a more weather-proof exterior. ClearView screens keep the view of the preserve behind the home open and landscaping touches around the pool, along with water features, finish the welcoming lanai.