Homeowners Larry and Gail De Shon found the house of their dreams when they walked into a light-filled residence that sits in the perfect location for their leisurely ambitions. “When we were looking for a home, we drew a circle on the map and identified where we could live that would allow us to walk to the beach, and to shops and restaurants,” Larry says. “When we found this home in Olde Naples, we knew it was perfect.” The style of the interiors was also a close fit but the couple felt a bit of updating would make the home even more to their liking so they tapped Wilfredo Emanuel, the interior designer who had originally decorated the home, to bring a greater sense of tranquility to the rooms.
A sense of serenity was one of the busy executive’s main requests because this 6,367-total-square-foot home will be the couple’s’ primary residence after a move from New Jersey to Naples is behind them. “Larry told me he wanted a place where he could come home on Friday, close the door, and chill for the entire weekend,” Emanuel says. Among the moves the designer made that resulted in the desired setting was choosing a subdued palette, adding occasional pops of color and filling the home with oceanic hues. “I brought the blue of the sea in for my primary color,” the designer says. “It looks fresh and reflects the feeling of the water nearby.”
Using the coastal vistas as inspiration was a given due to dramatic tropical panoramas seen through large expanses of glass. “The Gulf of Mexico has to be considered when designing homes here,” Emanuel says. “I always focus on the most beautiful thing that will be seen from a home, which is, in this case, the ocean. Whomever is drawn here, the reason they are is to be near the water.”
The dining area and adjacent living area make the couple particularly happy because these combined spaces are large enough to accommodate their children and grandchildren when they visit while also being comfortable for them when they are at home alone. This flexibility is due in part to Emanuel’s training in architecture. “Because I come from an architectural background,” he says, “I know what to do to create the scale that will fit the lifestyles of my clients.” Living an indoor-outdoor existence will be integral to the new life the couple will build after they’ve made the trek south, so special attention was paid to turning the lanai into an extension of the interiors. “We wanted an outdoor area that would expand our living and entertaining spaces from the inside out,” Gail says. “When the sliding glass doors open, the house flows so well from inside to out.”
The view of the Gulf from the master bedroom as an outstanding feature of the home. “Because my favorite color is blue and I have always wanted to live on the water, seeing the Gulf from the upstairs master suite is a beautiful experience,” Larry says. Making each space fully functional was top of mind for the couple. “We didn’t want a house with a bunch of rooms we wouldn’t use. We wanted to live in the entire home and have plenty of space in the rooms that matter,” Gail says. It was lifestyle considerations like these that were addressed throughout the project as the couple dreamed of a Florida existence and their designer manifested the perfect backdrop. “Wilfredo wanted us to be very happy with the outcome, and we truly are,” Larry says. “Whenever I walk into this house, I feel great.”
Making his clients’ wishes come true is one of Emanuel’s passions. “My aim is always to help them create comfort in a happening way; to make life on this coast more casual and easier because that’s what draws people here,” the designer says. Now that they have spent time in the home, the De Shons feel Emanuel definitely worked his magic. “When you walk into this house you get a real sense of warmth and serenity,” Larry says. “It is amazing how well his ideas agreed with our vision.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design by Wilfredo Emanuel, Wilfredo Emanuel Designs, Naples, FL
Text by Saxon Henry
Photography by Naples Kenny, Naples, FL
Open to see Interior Design Sources:
lanai
Sofas – Skyline, Clive Daniel Home (CDH), Wilfredo Emanuel
Designs (WE Designs), Naples, FL
Stools – Surya, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Cocktail table – Seasonal Living. CDH, WE Designs,
Naples, FL
Lanterns – WE Designs, Naples, FL
Drapery fabric – Kravet, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Area rug – Surya, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
stairway entry
White planter – New Growth Designs, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Wine Room – Custom designed by WE Designs, Naples, FL
Stairway and wine room fabricated by SGM Building Group, Naples, FL
Light pendants – Hubbardton Forge, Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Stairway wall treatment – Phillip Jeffries, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Red artwork – Rosenbaum, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Console table – Revelation, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
dining area
Table and host chairs – Rene Cazares, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Side chairs – Vanguard, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Vases – Global Views, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Chandelier – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Ceiling treatment – Phillip Jefferies, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Area rug – Surya, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
living area
Sofas and cocktail table – Rene Cazares, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Chandelier – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Circular metal wall art – Phillips Collection, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Ceiling treatment – Phillip Jefferies, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Area rug – Surya, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
White bar cabinetry – Ruffino Cabinetry, Naples, FL
master bedroom
Bed and bedside chests – Swaim, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Lounge chairs, ottoman and cabinetry – Thayer Coggin, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Ceiling fan – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Ceiling treatment fabricated SGM Building Group, Naples, FL
Drapery fabric – Kravet, WE Designs, Naples, FL
Area rug – Surya, CDH, WE Designs, Naples, FL
master bath
Tub, faucet and shower head – Ferguson Enterprises, Naples, FL
Vanity – Ruffino Cabinetry, Naples, FL
Countertop, shower enclosure and flooring – Ruben Sorhegui Tile, Naples, FL
Light pendant – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
throughout
Recessed lighting – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Flooring – Real Woods Floor, Naples, FL
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