Château Chic in Talis Park

A New York couple creates the luxurious second home of their dreams

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New Yorkers Larry and Marisa Biondi weren’t looking to move out of their second home in Talis Park. But when someone wanted to buy their residence, the Biondis took it as a sign that it was time to create something new in a community they had come to love.

“We were always running out of bedrooms on vacation anyway,” says Larry, a New York–based trial attorney whose family loves Naples because of the area’s plentiful golf, tennis, sailing, and equestrian opportunities.

After selling their home, the Biondis hired Diamond Custom Homes to build a 16,000-square-foot modern French château that includes six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a bar, a theater room, a pool area, and a four-car garage.

Then, the homeowners brought in Pacifica Interior Design to create open, elegant rooms with a clean, black and white palette for its modern appeal and adaptability.

“We felt it was a good basis for a very stunning home because we could add color where we wanted, and in this case we chose blue,” says Lou Shafran, Pacifica’s founder. “With black and white as your base, you can change the home completely by substituting in another color, or by removing and replacing some of the art.”

Diamond Custom Homes and WDG Architects worked with Pacifica Interior Design to ensure that everyone was on board with the home’s plans.

“Sometimes as you move forward, you have to be flexible,” says Michael Diamond, of Diamond Custom Homes. “When things don’t match the vision, that’s when the builder and interior designer step in and make adjustments.”

Those adjustments included improving the home’s flow by opening up the first floor living spaces, and turning what was originally intended as a fitness room into a bar area that opens up to the pool.

“We were going for a high-end resort feel,” Larry says. “Some of our neighbors close themselves in with their landscaping, but we wanted to leave it pretty open, because we’re on a pond and there’s a golf course here so we wanted to be able to enjoy it. We only wanted to do enough to the outside to accent the house without going overboard.” 

Shafran developed her design aesthetic in Los Angeles, where high-drama looks and elegant custom pieces are de rigeur. In the Biondi home, she flexes this sensibility with bold geometric patterns, elegant lines, statement-making chandeliers, and a fusion of old and new. 

The entire project took two years, but the Biondis loved the end result. “We moved in right after the first of this year,” Larry says. “The flow is great and convenient. You can go from the kitchen to the breakfast nook and then, boom, you’re right outside. The views are so nice, and the theater is a pleasure. This is just a very livable house.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Lusia “Lou” Shafran, Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Builder Michael Diamond, Diamond Custom Homes, Naples, FL

Landscape Architecture by Christian Andrea, Architectural Land Design, Naples, FL

Text by Paige Bowers

Photography by Lori Hamilton, Naples, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources:

Sources

Living Room

Sofa and club chairs – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Pillows – Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Occasional chairs – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Fabricut, Tulsa, OK

Pillows – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Cocktail table custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Side table – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Drink tables and table lamps – Global Views, Dallas, TX

Sculptures – Global Views, Dallas, TX

Art above sofa – Leftbank Art, La Mirada, CA

Fireplace custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Artwork above fireplace – Wendover Art Group, Largo, FL

Drapery fabric – Jim Thompson, Jerry Pair & Associates, Dania Beach, FL

Area rug – French Accents, New York, NY

Dining Room

Table – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Hostess chairs – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Brunschwig & Fils, Kravet Fabrics, Bethpage, NY and Fabricut, Tulsa, OK

Chairs – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Kravet Fabrics, Bethpage, NY

Buffet – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Lamps – Visual Comfort, Houston, TX

Mirror – Carvers Guild, West Groton, MA

Drapery fabric – Jim Thompson, Jerry Pair & Associates, Dania Beach, FL

Family Room

Sofa – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Maxwell Fabrics, Blaine, WA

Club chairs – Ambella Home, Archdale, NC

Fabric – Maxwell Fabrics, Blaine, WA

Cocktail table custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Abstract artwork – Global Views, Dallas, TX

Area rug – French Accents, New York, NY

Kitchen

Island designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Stools – Vanguard Furniture, Hickory, NC

Pendant lighting – Ralph Lauren, MP Interiors, Estero, FL

Breakfast table – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Chairs – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Chandelier – John Richard, Greenwood, MS

Abstract artwork – Trowbridge Gallery, London, UK

Bar/Lounge

Club chairs and ottomans – Hickory White, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Cowtan & Tout, Dania Beach, FL

Sofa – Hickory Chair Furniture, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Moore & Giles, Forest, VA

Cocktail table custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Bar custom designed and fabricated by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL and Edge Cabinet & Space Creators, Naples, FL

Stools – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Pendant lighting – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL

Area rug – Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL 

Powder Room

Cabinetry custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Hanging lights – John Richard, Greenwood, MS

Wall coverings – York Wallcoverings, York, PA

Floor custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Loggia

Seating grouping – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Cocktail table – Azzurro Living, Dallas, TX

Side table – Emissary, Atlanta, GA

Island custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Stools – Summer Classics, Pelham, AL

Host chairs – Lane Venture, Conover, NC

Chairs – Summer Classics, Pelham, AL

Pendant lighting – Visual Comfort, Houston, TX

Fireplace and ceiling custom designed by Pacifica Interior Design, Naples, FL

Throughout

Front sconces – Visual Comfort, Houston, TX

Cabinet and closet designer – Edge Cabinet & Space Creators, Naples, FL

Exterior architect – JMDG Architecture Planning + Interiors, Naples, FL

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