Long-time Pennsylvania snowbirds and sports enthusiasts Paula and Peter Pala had already fallen in love with Miromar Lakes when they decided to build a place of their own. “It’s like living at the Ritz-Carlton,” Paula says. They wanted a light, bright Florida resort-style home where they could invite all of their friends over to watch a variety of games on multiple TVs with all the accoutrements: large open spaces, an indoor-outdoor flow, bars, wine storage and even a pizza oven fit the bill. So, they bought beautiful property on the water, pored over shelter magazines to come up with their desired style, and assembled their team: architects Randall Stofft and John Cooney, builder Matt Shull, interior designer Arlynn McDaniel and landscape architect Scott Windham.
“We decided upon a West Indies style,” Cooney says. Corbels and rafters under tongue-and-groove soffits, louvered grills between entry arches, and exterior plantation shutters architecturally define the exterior of this 11,755-square-foot home that supports the couple’s entertaining lifestyle. Inside, a great room incorporates the dining room, kitchen and an amazing clubroom that opens to a huge lanai and spa-like pool area.
Just through solid mahogany entry doors, the foyer is crowned by a Venetian-plaster barrel ceiling that transitions to a wood-beamed ceiling over the great room. A taupe color palette set off with true-white trim wraps two distinct conversation groupings in the living area. “The taupe hue ‘Drift of Mist’ will go green or beige,” McDaniel says. “I call it my chameleon color. It works with everything.”
Warm walnut flooring flows through to the kitchen and adjacent dining area. “We are big entertainers, love cooking, food and wine, and we often invite people over,” Paula says. “We had 50 people here for Super Bowl; we built the house to fit our lifestyle.” The party continues in the clubroom, just around the corner past the wine rack. Four entertaining areas are cleverly delineated via a series of inverted soffits and coffers that are offset with silk-shaded metal drum lights. “The clubroom is one of the most fun rooms that we’ve designed,” Cooney says. “It’s very large with a billiards table, home theater, card table and a sit-down bar — it feels like a small restaurant.” This fun space opens to the lanai, an outdoor living area with a summer kitchen.
The couple uses their summer kitchen often. “It’s really a full second kitchen, with the typical grill and sink, of course, as well as a cooktop, dishwasher, and an Evo-type hibachi grill,” Peter says. “Also, we imported a great wood-burning pizza oven from Italy, in which we’ve cooked everything from pizza to the Thanksgiving turkey.”
In the master suite, a private oasis in this house built for entertaining, soft blue accents take their cue from peaceful water views. “The window treatment is a custom cornice in blue linen and white trim. We kept it simple because the view out to the pool and lake is amazing,” the designer says. The master bath has a private outdoor shower with a waterfall wall that offers nothing short of a full spa experience.
“Paula and Peter tell me all the time how much they truly enjoy their home, and that they receive so many compliments,” McDaniel says. “With an emphasis on entertaining … this house definitely speaks for itself.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design: Arlynn McDaniel, Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL
Architecture: Randall Stofft and John Cooney, Stofft Cooney Architects, Naples, FL
Builder: Matt Shull, Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL
Landscape Architecture: Scott Windham, Windham Studio, Inc., Naples, FL
Photography: Lori Hamilton, Naples, FL
Text: Christine Davis
front exterior Pavers – Artistic Pavers, Able & Willing Pavers, Fort Myers, FL Balcony railings – Castle Services of SWFL, Naples, FL Wall sconces – Visual Comfort, Naples Lamp Shop, Naples, FL Fountain – Artesian Pool Construction, Fort Myers, FL foyer Entrance doors – Smith & DeShields, Naples, FL Cabinetry – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC Table lamps – Cyan Design, Fort Worth, TX Artwork and chandelier – Owners’ Collection Venetian plaster ceiling treatment – Molly Wooley Faux Finishing, Fort Myers, FL living area Sofas – Bernhardt Furniture, Hickory, NC Wood armchairs – Taylor King Furniture, Taylorsville, NC Cushion fabric – Kravet Fabrics, Anderson, SC Cocktail table, occasional tables, lamps and white cabinetry – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA Television – Gamma Tech Services, Naples, FL Wall covering – Phillip Jefferies, High Point, NC Club chairs – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC Cocktail ottoman – Jessica Charles, High Point, NC kitchen Cabinetry and wine rack – Tradewind Designs, Naples, FL Countertops – Stone Express, Naples, FL Counter stools – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC Light pendants – Arteriors Home, Carrollton, TX dining area Dining table – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA Dining chairs – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC Fabric – Cowtan & Tout, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL Chandelier – Corbett Lighting, City of Industry, CA clubroom Bar and shelving – Tradewind Designs, Naples, FL Countertops – Stone Express, Naples, FL Barstools and side chairs – Palecek, High Point, NC Game table – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA Artwork, billiards table and televisions – Owners’ Collection Counter stools – CR Laine, Hickory, NC Light fixtures – Stonegate, Lighting First, Bonita Springs, FL master bedroom Bed – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC Accent pillow fabric – Kravet Fabrics, Anderson, SC Bolster pillow fabric – Duralee Fabrics, IDS, Naples, FL Bench – CR Laine, Hickory, NC Chaise – Jessica Charles, High Point, NC Accent table – Century Furniture, Hickory NC Window treatment – Suncoast Window Fashions, Naples, FL Ceiling fan – Lighting First, Bonita Springs, FL master bath Vanities – Tradewind Designs, Naples, FL Countertops – Stone Express, Naples, FL Vanity chair – Cox Manufacturing Co., Hickory, NC Light fixture – Corbett Lighting, City of Industry, CA Wall sconces – Visual Comfort, Naples Lamp Shop, Naples, FL lanai and pool Area Dining table and chairs – Castelle Furniture, St. Augustine, FL Light fixture – Ro Sham Beaux, Charleston, SC Fireplace – Spark Modern Fires, Bethel, CT Fireplace wall treatment – Precast by Design, Bonita Springs, FL Sofas and armchairs – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC Fabric – Sunbrella Fabrics, Burlington, NC Cocktail table, garden drum, hanging Nest chairs and umbrellas – Owners’ Collection Deck – Able and Willing Pavers, Fort Myers, FL Pool – Custom designed by Windham Studio, Bonita Springs, FL Fabricated by Artesian Pool Construction, Inc., Fort Myers, FL throughout Area rug – Abbey Carpet & Floor, Naples, FL Recessed lighting – Halo, Mabry Brothers, Inc., Fort Myers, FL Windows – Andersen Windows, Florida Wood Window and Door, Inc., Fort Myers, FLOpen to see Interior Design Sources:
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