For residents and visitors alike, the Isles of Capri in south Collier County holds an allure all its own. From the romance inherent to its name, to the sheer natural beauty of the four mangrove islands nestled between Johnson Bay, Tarpon Bay, the Marco River and the Gulf of Mexico, the Isles of Capri is an idyllic place that offers the possibility of living a lifestyle that is all about relaxation and connecting with the expansive waters that extend to the horizon.
For the purchasers of a beautiful existing home at the confluence of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico, the appeal of the Isles of Capri lifestyle was readily apparent. After moving into the residence that was originally designed by WHL Architects & Associates on Marco Island, the owners decided the heaviness of the home’s Tuscan interior design style was inconsistent with the natural surroundings. While certain elements of the design were appealing, the home needed to be updated and refreshed in a way that better suited their penchant for enjoying a decidedly outdoor lifestyle and the location’s endless water views.
“When I first met with the owners, it was clear they wanted a fresh new look for their home that would soften the existing Tuscan influences,” said Leslie Gebert, Allied Member, ASID of Vogue Interiors in Bonita Springs. “The challenge was to respect many of the elements already in place, including the beautiful custom Amish cabinetry and lightly glazed faux finished walls found throughout the home, while introducing a more clean-lined, transitional look that is better suited to their tastes. This type of re-design has become very prevalent as the market continues to shift away from the Tuscan and Mediterranean styles of the recent past in favor of something that is lighter and more up to date.”
The three-story Isles of Capri residence offers 5,000 square feet under air with four bedrooms and four baths and more than 3,500 square feet of outdoor living areas and balconies. The ground floor includes his and her garages, as well as a fully-furnished kitchen that opens to a large lanai with an impressive bar, grill and dining and seating areas. The heavily used space provides an ideal venue for entertaining, particularly after a day on the water sailing or fishing.
A spiral staircase and elevator provide access to a second floor great room with a soaring two-story ceiling that includes an elaborate detail that reflects the home’s strong Tuscan flavor. That flavor is also reflected in the adjacent kitchen’s long rectangular island that includes a heavily carved raised granite bar with a double ogee edge. The kitchen cabinetry, wet bar cabinetry and wine storage cabinets are finished in a glazed medium tone while the entertainment center that serves as the focal point in the great room is done in a darker tone.
“The lady of the house asked that we transform the very large great room into a cozy, engaging space,” said Gebert. “The room’s existing design included a lot of dark browns. At the same time, everything about this home is focused on the aquamarine water. The majority of the rooms have a water view and there are sliders opening to lanai spaces on every level. We’re creating a new color palette to introduce soft greenish-blues that celebrate the water while bringing a fresh feeling to the overall look. The cabinetry in the home is quite special. The original owners had them done by Amish carpenters who they imported to come down here and build everything in the home. We’re saving all of the cabinets. To offset the heavily carved look of the cabinetry and to create that cozy ambiance, we’re installing new furniture pieces that have a softer, cleaner look.”
Gebert has included a sofa in the great room that features a greenish-blue background and a very soft rust medallion pattern that will be accented by rust colored mohair pillows. Four swivel chairs with a solid greenish-blue woven textured fabric and nail head trim complete a seating group that surrounds a 54-inch square leather ottoman cocktail table and faces the entertainment center. Benches placed under a new sofa table will provide additional seating when needed. Rather than using an end table, Gebert has chosen to satisfy the owners’ love of bridge by positioning a small game table and a pair of small caramel colored leather game chairs adjacent to the seating area. Pocketing sliders open the great room to a lanai overlooking the water that offers seating for eight. The new furniture on the lanai repeats Gebert’s soft greenish-blue theme established in the great room.
The home’s formal dining room features a beamed ceiling with a faux treatment in the openings. Here, Gebert has freshened the look while maintaining the room’s formal ambiance. In addition to a new area rug and new draperies, she has re-covered the dining chairs in a paisley brocade fabric with coppers and greenish-blues that are consistent with the new tones found throughout the home.
Three of the home’s four bedrooms are also located on the second floor. Gebert is re-doing one of the bedrooms to serve as a guest bedroom and study. The room will be outfitted with a new desk and sofa bed and also feature a cherished old fashioned rocker that will be enlivened by a large velvet leopard print. The existing master bedroom furniture is being moved into another guest bedroom on the second floor that will be redone in a copper and aquamarine palette.
The third floor of the residence offers an expansive private hideaway for the owners. The home’s beautiful spiral staircase terminates at a spacious loft that overlooks the great room and provides a sitting area for television viewing. The loft is flanked by his and her office spaces. His office is outfitted with Amish cabinetry and includes an exterior balcony on the front of the home. Gebert is re-doing her office by adding built-in cabinetry and shelving that will coordinate with the room’s existing furnishings.
A hallway from the loft also overlooks the great room and leads to both a third floor covered lanai seating area and to the master suite. The master bedroom is being redone to include a fully upholstered bed that will be finished in a fanciful fabric with very light aquamarine tones. Gebert is bringing a soft, light, fresh feeling to the bedroom space by introducing sheer fabric draperies with embedded crystals that provide a pleasing measure of elegance without impeding the room’s beautiful water views.
“The owners of this home are very active people who continue to be engaged with their business interests,” said Gebert. “They entertain out-of-town guests on a regular basis and also enjoy many shared moments with their friends on the Isles of Capri. The redesign of this home provides a beautifully updated, fresh, clean-lined look that offers a soothing ambiance for both everyday living and entertaining.”
Founded in 1979, Vogue Interiors has earned numerous national, regional and local awards, including three consecutive Aurora Awards, the highest award presented by the 12-state Southeast Builders Conference. From corporate offices at 24520 Production Circle in Bonita Springs, Florida, Vogue Interiors provides design services and model merchandising to residential and commercial clients in the United States and abroad. Visit Vogue Interiors online at vogueinteriors.com.