When residential designer Richard Guzman and interior designer Faith Fix were commissioned to design the waterfront home of their seasonal client Dick Levi, they had no idea that the collaboration would be one of the most rewarding of their careers. The design duo joined forces with builder Aidan Weir to create a modern home with panoramic views of San Carlos Bay on Fort Myers Beach. “Dick was a dream client, involved and yet trusting and confident of his team,” Fix says. “He likes modern architecture and, being in the boating business, he found the perfect lot for a home on the waterfront.”
The team collaborated weekly over the two-and-a-half-year project to generate in-depth shop drawings for every system and design element in the home. Working and reworking the specifics until the entire team agreed on every aspect of the design and detailing, this 7,565-square-foot home is an orchestrated mix of organic materials like concrete, wood, glass and stone, resulting in a clean, contemporary look. “The architectural style is modern, but with a warm twist,” Guzman says.
Guzman designed the home to ensure that almost every living space has expansive views of the water. Interior designer Lucie Simmons suggested jewel tones of blue and turquoise to accent white, cream and soft gray backgrounds that invite the feeling of the surrounding water inside. Every detail is carefully curated to ensure flow, balance and comfort throughout the home, and to bring a smile to Levi and his guests.
The home’s modern design belies many carefully engineered solutions to seamlessly support the streamlined feel. Upon entry, the massive sapele wood door, cleverly balanced on an off-center pivot, makes a huge impact that sets the tone for the rest of the home. “At the touch of a button, the door effortlessly opens, and in a most unexpected way,” Guzman says. The interior doors forgo traditional casings to facilitate a clean look, while hidden pockets accommodate the doors when opened. At once stunning and sleek, the effect draws one’s interest to focus on the views. Similar attention is paid to accommodate the home’s expansive commitment to automation. Integrated design solutions allow for bespoke yet unobtrusive control of every aspect of the home’s technology.
In the foyer, the stairway captivates with stained oak steps and a glass railing that follows a custom rainfall pendant chandelier up a level and around to overlook the main social spaces below. The living area is Guzman’s favorite because of the stunning yet challenging custom DaVinci fireplace, a focal point with a geometric form and textured feel. A variety of materials was used, including stained white oak, quartzite, manmade concrete and white glass. “The rectangular shape of the wood portion is unique and noteworthy,” Guzman says. “The television is carefully concealed within and reveals itself with the touch of a button.” Alongside, a contemporary canvas by a local artist picks up the outdoor colors. Two-tone fabrics pull together blues in the rest of the room to give an abstract water feel to the playful yet sophisticated hearthside setting.
In the open dining and kitchen spaces, there are two separate eating areas for practicality. During parties, Levi hosts guests at the dining area’s custom 10-foot-long oak table lined with Vladimir Kagan fishbone chairs, a perfect design for the surrounding water theme. A seamless transition to the kitchen finds soft, gray blue leather-clad metal stools from Holly Hunt at an island styled for more casual fare. “Dick likes both settings,” Fix says. “He uses the island seating daily, and the dining area for entertaining. It is all part of the entire great room space with views of the lanai and glass-walled pool through floor-to-ceiling sliders.”
Lively conversation ensues as guests take a seat in the lounge area, where the wine room and bar sparkle center stage with understated glamour and an unusual curvilinear design. The custom bar is wrapped in wood cladding with warm materials for texture, while the social area is backlit in all directions to provide charm and cohesiveness. “We added a pop of color to the barstools with teal leather,” Simmons says.
Continuing the open-air vibe, the master bath exudes livable luxury with a sculptural soaking tub that overlooks a private patio and outdoor shower. The ceiling, designed in a geometric angular pattern, extends to the master bedroom, where the upholstered headboard wall in a dark gray dimensional fabric gives the illusion of rippling water. “The fabric is beautiful and finished with a modern metal edge,” Guzman says.
The ceiling motif flows onto the lanai, where the open-air living spaces spill out to frame the expansive pool area overlooking the bay. The lanai was a challenge because the team had to redesign the structural concrete decks, effectively lowering them beneath the elevation of the finished floor to allow a below-deck drainage system. “We used Esthec decking, a unique material made in Holland that was once offered primarily for boat decking,” Weir says. “The drains are concealed under the synthetic wood deck.”
With such attention to detail, Guzman understands why he got some gray hair during this two-and-a-half-year project but concedes that Levi was a “once-in-a-lifetime client who gave us carte blanche to fulfill his vision.” Prioritizing form and function over tradition, and implementing innovative design solutions, the team’s creativity and dedication truly delivered their client’s wish for a modern masterpiece. “It felt like a grand finale,” Fix says. “This home is one of those pinnacle projects you appreciate forever.”
Story Credits:
Residential Design: Richard Guzman, R.G. Designs, Bonita Springs, FL
Interior Design: Faith Fix and Lucie Simmons, Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL
Builder: Aidan J. Weir, Calusa Construction, Inc., Naples, FL
Landscape Architecture: Christian Andrea, Architectural Land Design, Naples, FL
Photography: Daniel Newcomb, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Text: Linda Marx
foyer Door, stairway and railing – FEIL, Inc., Fort Myers, FL Chandelier – Blackbody, New York, NY Wall treatment – Ford Drywall & Stucco, Inc., Naples, FL living area Sofa and club chairs – Roche Bobois, Miami, FL Chair fabric and occasional table – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL Cocktail table – Christopher Guy, New York, NY Grand piano – Steinway, Naples, FL Wall treatment – Ford Drywall & Stucco Inc., Naples, FL Media unit – Harbinger Woodcraft, Inc., Fort Myers FL Artwork – Owner’s Collection Fireplace – DaVinci Custom Fireplaces, davincifireplace.com Area rug – Tai Ping Carpets, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL lounge area Bar – Custom designed by R.G. Designs, Inc., Bonita Springs, FL Fabricated by Harbinger Woodcraft, Inc., Fort Myers, FL Countertop – Coastal Stone, Naples, FL Wine room fabricated by Calusa Construction, Inc., Naples, FL Barstools – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL Fabric – Moore & Giles, Forest, VA kitchen Cabinetry and island – Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry, Ontario, Canada Countertops and backsplash – Coastal Stone, Naples, FL Counter stools – Holly Hunt, Fort Myers, FL Light pendants above island – Solesdi USA, Boffi Studio Miami, Miami, FL dining area Dining table – Owner’s Collection Dining chairs – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL Centerpiece – 50Fifty Creative Services, Naples, FL Lights – Solesdi USA, Boffi Studio Miami, Miami, FL Artwork – Kevin McPherrin Gallery, Boca Raton, FL master bath Vanity – Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry, Ontario, Canada Countertop – Coastal Stone, Naples, FL Light fixture – Tom Dixon, London, UK Tub – Kohler, Kohler, WI Shower enclosure – All Glass Products LLC, Naples, FL Bench and stools – Designs Within Reach, Miami, FL Garden wall – Esthec USA, Fort Lauderdale, FL Flooring – 3rd Generation Tile & Marble, Naples, FL master bedroom Bed, bedside chests and chaise – Owner’s Collection Chaise fabric – Chivasso, JAB Anstoetz USA, Inc., New York, NY Upholstered wall treatment – Arte USA, Inc., Kennesaw, GA Fabric – Moore & Giles, Forest, VA Table lamps – 1stdibs, 1stdibs.com Bench – Michael Taylor Designs, Downey, CA Display shelving – Custom designed by Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL Drapery fabric – Romo, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL Corner planter – Silk Designs, Fort Myers, FL Area rug – Lee Jofa, Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL Flooring – 3rd Generation Tile & Marble, Naples, FL lanai and pool area Sofa – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL Armchairs at fireplace and blue freeform chairs at fire pit – Janus et Cie, Miami, FL Firepit and fire bowls – Grand Effects, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Pool – Custom designed by Architectural Land Design, Inc., Naples, FL Fabricated by Nassau Pools Construction, Naples, FL throughout Recessed lighting – WAC Lighting, Port Washington, NY Windows – ESWindows, Barranquilla, Colombia Flooring – FEIL, Inc., Fort Myers, FLOpen to see Interior Design Sources:
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