A Modern Vision

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Here in the Sunshine State, architectural beauty is everywhere in various forms, shades and shapes. So when interior designer Susan Lachance’s New York clients asked her to fashion their second home as the antithesis of their urban cosmopolitan living, she had some wiggle room. More specifically, she had space for bursts of primary colors, geometric patterns and clean contemporary lines. The result is a striking home bathed in warm South Florida sunlight beaming in from windows galore.

This modern, 9,290-square-foot residence sits comfortably on a quiet cul-de-sac in St. Andrews, a Boca Raton, Fla., community known for its luxuriously defined residences. Architect James Gilgenbach designed the home to maximize privacy and optimize views. “The greatest asset of the property is the lake and the view down the golf course beyond the lake,” he says.

The front exterior is a visitor’s first impression and for that reason it had to be accommodating and friendly. “It’s very pleasing to the eye,” Gilgenbach says. “As soon as you enter the cul-de-sac, you know it is going to be a special place inside.” Just off the entry, the bar features a Calacatta neolith porcelain bar lined with white leather barstools from Scan Design. A large abstract artwork conceived by Lachance can be seen from multiple vantage points of the open floor plan. Created by artist Kristine Lucco, it incorporates rich, pulsating colors that are sure to spark conversation. “I wanted some eye-catching drama, ”the designer says. “When you open the front door you can see the bar from the entry so the artwork had to be bold.”

Color also dominates the entry with a plush barcode-patterned area rug and twin geometric art pieces on the wall. Lachance desired the first impression of the home to yield a funky yet organized quality with geometric patterns shaded in vivacious colors. “The owners had seen other projects of mine and they wanted something that was bright, light, happy and different from their New York home,” Lachance says.

The entry opens to a living room with a soaring 22-foot-high ceiling — a space Gilgenbach calls, “the grand room at the center of the home.” Lush, soft materials blanket the seating area below. Here, a plush white sofa from Planum Furniture, and a pair of Thayer Coggin swivel armchairs framed in metal and elegantly clad in navy blue are grounded by a blue-and-white area rug. A walnut-paneled fireplace wall with stainless steel reveals lends a modern impression. “If you have an electric fireplace you can turn it on every night — you have the ambiance without the heat — it’s just perfect for Florida,” Lachance says.

The kitchen is a sparkling niche of sophistication for dining and entertaining. Echoing the bar area, a rich, walnut drop-down ceiling panel creates a bold contrast with bright white-lacquer cabinetry from Sculptured Woodworks. Lachance’s main goal was integrating the bar and kitchen ceilings. “Much of my work always has a thread that ties the whole job together,” she says.

A down-to-earth ambiance tempers the loft, the perfect room for friends and family to gather and socialize. An elegant white-leather sectional and ottoman anchor the space, but bold textured and graphic accent pillows blend with Masland’s vibrant abstract area rug to bring the room to life.

The owners love to entertain family and friends in the dining room, which also doubles as a card room. Here, two separate walnut Bridge tables can be combined into one to accommodate larger dinner parties. The designer favors the color blue in plush velvet chairs from Constantini and a sculpture that sits atop a custom, walnut console designed by Lachance.

Outside views draw attention first in the breakfast area. “This is one of the instances in which the windows play a monumental role,” Gilgenbach says. A combination of modern furnishings and a chandelier dressed with hanging crystals exudes a chic polished feel. To add interest, a centerpiece of green apples rests on a white-glass and lacquer table surrounded by “Shape” chairs from Bellini Modern Living.

In the family room, a fabric in a chartreuse hue covers a lounge chair and ottoman, then dances across a wool-and-silk area rug and velvet strips in Romo’s accent pillows that adorn the sofa. Bernhardt’s multi-tiered glass cocktail table supports one of the room’s many blown-glass decorative pieces.

The master bedroom is a symphony of greens and blues. A metal-framed chartreuse bench from Vanguard reflects large accent pillows on the bed in the same color. A headboard custom designed by Lachance, is seamlessly incorporated into a bedroom wall to accentuate stature. “This is very on trend,” the designer says. “It is also an example of the interplay between textures — the walnut of the exterior wall frame and the upholstered panels that make up the actual headboard.”

A dream retreat away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, Lachance and Gilgenbach succeeded in creating a home that the owners truly adore — a modern representation of a multifaceted space for relaxing, entertaining and living comfortably.

Story Credits:

Interior Design:
Susan Lachance, Susan Lachance Interior Design, Boca Raton, FL

Photography:
Carmel and Robert Brantley, Delray Beach, FL

Architecture:
James Gilgenbach, James E. Gilgenbach Architecture and Planning, Deerfield Beach, FL

Builder:
Wayne Knight, Knight Construction, Boca Raton, FL

Text by:
Alexandra Roland

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