Elegant in Naples
By Camilla McLaughlin
Even real estate agents find they have to catch their breath when they step inside the Naples, Florida, estate featured on our cover. Like every property worthy of a Unique Homes cover, this residence is stunning, but what makes it incomparable is a flawless balance of every facet, from a transitional mix of traditional and modern aesthetics to the integration of outdoor patios, gardens and water features.
Even the smallest details become important to the overall experience. A Waterford chandelier situated in a tasting area between two glass-enclosed wine rooms, adjacent to the dining area, hints at tradition while being entirely modern. A flat-screen TV over the stove is designed specifically to resist heat, and seems an inspired addition, as does the second-floor balcony oriented to capture long lake and garden views offered by the home’s prime location on the signature hole of Quail West Golf and Country Club’s extraordinary Lakes Golf Course.
Throughout, wainscoting and crown molding, along with beamed, coffered and tray ceilings with tongue and grove insets, lend a traditional feel to a modern floor plan. Well planned transitions including a hand-painted mural delineate spaces in the great room while subtly orchestrated shades of blue play through the house and impart a sensibility of calm and continuity. Here, elegance and livability coexist beautifully, one enhancing the other. While the second floor includes a gathering space and bedrooms for family, the main-floor master suite incorporates a morning kitchen, dual baths and a closet large enough to be a room in itself.
Many properties do not measure up to their photographs, but in this case, quite the opposite is true. “Photographer Greg Agee of Home Photo Pro does a really fabulous job, but as good as these photos are, the home itself is even better,” explains Kathie Soller with the Soller-Brown Team at Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, who is listing this cover star completely furnished for $4.895 million.
All photos courtesy Greg Agee
