FLORIDA DESIGN MAGAZINE: COASTAL VISION
INTERIOR DESIGN: Randi Scott and Liz Brown, Calusa Bay Design, Naples, FL BUILDER: Matt Knauf, Knauf-Koenig Group, Naples, FL PHOTOGRAPHY: Amber Frederiksen Photography, Inc., Bonita Springs, FL
WRITTEN BY: Kim Mosley
LIZ BROWN & RANDI SCOTT
“We like to use a creative approach that is specifically focused on each client’s vision and style of living. We treat the design of every home as if it is our own.”
With its lush landscapes and stately sites linked by deep coves and winding waterways, Aqualane Shores continues to be one of Naples’ most sought after neighborhoods. The interior design team of Randi Scott and Liz Brown partnered with builder Matt Knauf to create this newly renovated 4,786-square-foot coastal transitional home. “There was a great team effort,” Knauf says. “We all worked hand in hand with the homeowners to accomplish their coastal vision.”
Looking for change, the homeowners were engaged in the design process and knew exactly what they wanted. They were seeking a casual coastal feel with clean, contemporary interiors to fill their airy new home. Scott and Brown incorporated unexpected elements into their design. “We implemented a soft, yet unmistakable color palette throughout paired with stunning millwork details,” Scott says. “Each room speaks to one another.” ABOVE: In the private community of Aqualane Shores, clean lines and stunning water views offer style and inspiration for one couple’s idyllic vacation getaway. All aspects of the front exterior had rounded Mediterranean finishes. Builder Matt Knauf took all of those out. The front, round columns, as well as the tall arched entry, were removed. Clean, straight lines on the entry and front door were created to exude a more welcoming feel to this 4,786-square-foot coastal transitional home. “This project started as a simple facelift and progressed to a full renovation,” interior designer Randi Scott says. “We aimed to keep the traditional bones of the home and updated them with a coastal flair.”
ABOVE: Currey & Company’s “Rainforest” bronze chandelier branches out above Bernhardt’s “Linear Rectangular” dining table in cerused greige. The collection’s host and side chairs, covered in Kravet’s deep navy blue, comfortably seat a party of eight. Nourison’s area rug acts as a piece of art with shades of blue and gray in an abstract pattern.
Faced with a variety of spatial challenges, the design team put their creativity to work to come up with unique details that did not encroach into the actual livable space. This was a renovation, so the biggest challenge was reworking this previously outdated and chopped up home to a functional and practical floor plan that would withstand the test of time. Rounded windows and exterior finishes were removed and replaced with clean, modern options. “We took classic elements and altered them to fit the new space,” Brown says.
Although the foyer is open to the main living areas, the designers wanted to make it stand out. A soft blue grasscloth introduces the space’s coastal vibe, where a beaded mirror circles the wall above a hand-painted faux parchment console, and white plaster sconces add balance. Legno Bastone’s wide-plank wood flooring leads the way to a wet bar that opens to the adjacent spaces in order to achieve a great flow. Low-backed counter stools nestle under the driftwood hues of the bar topped in a backlit Crystallo quartzite.
In the great room, the design team struck a balance between high-end functional furnishings and the coastal color scheme. The dining area overlooks the loggia and water views, adding a reflective blue tint to the space centered with an expansive, solid wood table finished in a cerused gray tone. Side chairs are covered in a durable and comfortable navy fabric, while the host chairs are backed in a fun stripe for added detail. The oversized cast bronze chandelier formed to resemble branches provides an illuminating focal point.
The central stairway—with its custom-designed baluster in a flat black metal and its white oak handrail and treads—elevates the classic coastal look while embracing the pared down aesthetic of the kitchen. Here, white cabinetry is timeless. A pair of glass-globed pendants hangs above the driftwood glazed island. Woven rope counter stools add a touch of organic texture.
Designed as a space for family and friends to gather, the living area exudes a casual yet sophisticated ambiance. A two-tiered cocktail table joins a spacious sectional upholstered in sandy tones. Various shades of blue from the area rug connect with clean-lined lounge chairs sporting a whimsical blue and white stripe. More hues of blue pop in the assortment of accent pillows and accessories. “We achieved a soft contemporary, transitional style throughout the great room with a neutral palette, wood elements, and splashes of blue,” Scott says.
ABOVE: Steps beyond the foyer wrapped in a blue grasscloth wall covering, armchairs from Kravet pair with Vanguard’s cocktail table to form an intimate social grouping adjacent to the wet bar. A coastal landscape from Wendover Art Group adds to the casual atmosphere.
ABOVE: Ruffino’s crisp white custom cabinetry lines the kitchen and complements the large island in a light driftwood finish. Guests pull up to UMI’s quartzite countertop seated in woven rope counter stools from Essentials for Living. A stainless steel hood and sparkling mosaic backsplash complete the culinary space.
ABOVE: Tone-on-tone neutral colors flow into the great room, where splashes of blue are sprinkled throughout the living area. A clean-lined sectional from Theodore Alexander provides deep-seated comfort, while Burton James lounge chairs in Kravet’s bold stripes pair with Arteriors’ accent table that lends an organic feel.
A true oasis, the outdoor living areas rank as favorite spots for fun and relaxation. The loggia consists of a comfortable hearthside social grouping and bar-height dining. “We added stained tongue-and-groove on the ceiling and flanking both sides of the fireplace,” Knauf says. “The fireplace and TV area along with a brand new outdoor kitchen were part of the remodel.” The soft gray and blue tones speak perfectly to the interior, while the light stone on the pool deck makes the patio light and bright. Chaise lounges with lively patterned accent pillows recline poolside.
Weaving a casual motif interspersed with purpose, this home sports functionality for family gatherings, a color palette supportive of a carefully curated interior scheme, and relaxed spaces that celebrate Florida’s coastal lifestyle. “This project truly was a creative dream from start to finish—from the construction to the furnishings,” Brown says. “The clear design vision, and clients’ trust, made for a perfect combination to produce a gorgeous finished product.”
ABOVE: Overlooking the sparkling pool and waterways, the loggia is a comfortable conversation area with a deep-seated sectional from Kingsley Bate, nesting tables from Four Hands, and a custom fireplace. A rich stain on the cypress tongue-and-groove ceiling and wall detail provides the perfect contrast to the light stone on the pool deck.
SOURCES
FRONT EXTERIOR Front door – Feil, Inc., Naples, FL Wall sconces – Hubbardton Forge, Castleton, VT
DINING AREA Dining table – Bernhardt, IDS, Naples. FL Host chairs – Bernhardt, IDS, Naples. FL Fabric – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Side chairs – Bernhardt, IDS, Naples, FL Fabric – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Chandelier – Currey & Company, AmericaMart, Atlanta, GA Area rug – Nourison, High Point, NC KITCHEN Cabinetry and island – Ruffino Cabinetry, Naples, FL Counter tops – UMI Stone, Naples, FL, Fabricated by Classic Stone, Naples, FL Ventilation hood – Ruffino Cabinetry, Naples, FL Counter stools – Essentials for Living, High Point, NC Light pendants – Icon LTG, Boca Raton, FL Framing – Aldecor Custom Framing, Naples, FL
SITTING AREA Armchairs – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Fabric – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Cocktail table – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC Artwork – Wendover Art Group, Largo, FL Area rug – Momeni, High Point, NC
LIVING AREA Sofas – Theodore Alexander, High Point, NC Fabric – Theodore Alexander, High Point, NC Lounge chairs – Burton James, IDS, Naples, FL Striped fabric – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Square occasional table – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC Round occasional table – Arteriors, Dallas, TX Table lamp – Arteriors, Dallas, TX Area rug – Nourison, High Point, NC
LOGGIA AND POOL AREA Pool fabricated Pinnacle USA Inc., Naples, FL Chaise lounges – Kingsley Bate, Manassas, VA Sectional – Kingsley Bate, Manassas, VA Nesting tables – Four Hands, Austin, TX Fireplace – Napoleon Fireplaces, Barrie, Ontario, Canada Fireplace surround – Ceramic Matrix, Naples, FL, Fabricated by Knauf-Koening Group, Naples, FL, Wood wall fabricated by Murillo Construction, Naples, FL Vases by fireplace – Zuomod, High Point, NC High top dining tables – Seasonal Living, Austin, TX Counter Stools – Kingsley Bate, Manassas, VA
THROUGHOUT Windows and doors – Florida Wood Windows & Doors, Fort Myers, FL