Contemporary coastal, modern, and eclectic is how Toronto snowbirds Marilyn Shesko and her husband DH describe their home in Old Naples. Contemporary with art deco sensibilities is how Bonita Springs interior designer Faith Fix, founder and principal of Freestyle Interiors, characterizes it.
Clearly, there are multiple styles at play. The owners were closely involved in the design and called on experts they trust to pull it all together, resulting in a house that fits into its neighborhood effortlessly, but with an interior that mirrors the couple’s European aesthetic.
After purchasing the property in 2017, the original plan was to renovate the larger, existing home on the lot. But when the homeowners realized the cost involved, they decided to start over. As DH puts it: “To get exactly what we wanted, building from scratch was the only option.”
“We looked at more than a 100 model homes before we built this one and initially liked the Key West style,” DH notes. “We ended up with contemporary coastal, but you can still see some elements of Key West on the exterior in the Bahama shutters and tin roof. But inside, it’s completely modern, with some vintage pieces mixed in.”
Once they made the decision to work from the ground up, the couple brought in Fix to help them realize their vision for the interior. “From the start, they told me they would be taking a buying trip to Europe and we exchanged emails and photos of items they found,” she says. “It was fun; I felt like I was on the trip with them.”
Thanks to that trip, every room in the house now houses a memento from Europe in the form of art deco accessories the couple purchased at places like Paris’ famous Marché aux Puces (the massive flea market just outside the French capital), as well as shops in the South of France. In Italy, they stopped at Murano for its famous artisan glass in the form of sconces, floor lamps, and various colorful sculptures now proudly displayed on tables and shelves throughout the interior.
Bill Angst, a hairstylist and salon owner in Toronto who has also worked in fashion (“I’m an idea guy with a good eye!”), acted as a consultant for the homeowners. Mostly using FaceTime sessions—about 100 of them—Angst assisted with proportion and details, including the placement of light fixtures and art. Angst believes the interior of a home—from the color of the walls to the “jewelry” of light fixtures and accessories—should be a backdrop for the homeowners’ personal style and they should feel good living in it. “I love how open and light their space is,” says Angst. “[The Murano glass collection] helps move light through the house, creating positive energy.”
In terms of backdrops and surfaces, walnut accents and oak flooring warm up the modern all-white walls and black-and-white color scheme to keep it from being too stark. Because of said decision, certain furniture and decorative selections come into view thanks to their bold character. There’s the breakfast nook with its tall and statuesque lime banquette, a piece that’s both stylish and utilitarian. There’s the painting titled The Big Orange Fish (with its bold shades of blue and red) that was a gift from DH’s uncle and which now hangs in the dining room. There are pops of navy blue in the forms of pillows and blankets in the primary bedroom. There’s the sculptural bathtub and graphic mosaic and onyx mural in the master bath, which makes it obvious that no room was overlooked in this home. And just about everywhere one turns, there are Marilyn’s cherished Murano figurines and accessories, exclamation marks that tie everything together.
“All the elements in this home work together to create an experience,” says DH. “It’s not just rooms with expensive furniture. Everything is personal to us and I think that’s what makes a home.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design by Faith Fix, Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL
Design Consultant William Angst, Angst Design, Toronto, Canada
Architecture by Rich Guzman, RG Designs, Bonita Springs, FL
Landscape Architecture by Christian Andrea, Architectural Land Design, Naples, FL
Text by Judy Martel
Photography by Venjhamin Reyes, Miami, FL
Open to see Interior Design Sources:
Sources
Front Exterior
Door – FL Impact Door Systems, Riviera Beach, FL
Decorative shutters – Liberty Aluminum, Fort Myers, FL
Breakfast Nook
Table and chairs – Paula Buffa, Paris, France
Banquette – Grafton Furniture, Miami, FL
Living Area/Bar
Sofa – Minotti, Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Club chairs – Minotti, Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Cocktail and side table – Minotti, Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Decorative floor lamp – Murano, Lumicharme, Murano, Italy
Bar wall cabinetry designed by Freestyle Interiors,
Bonita Springs, FL and fabricated by Abbot Hill Cabinetry, Naples, FL
Bar – Owner’s collection
Kitchen
Cabinetry designed by Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL and fabricated by Abbot Hill Cabinetry, Naples, FL
Hood – Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Naples, FL
Island designed by Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FL and fabricated by Abbot Hill Cabinetry, Naples, FL
Stools – Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Dining Area
Table and chairs – Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Artwork – Aba Bayefsky Collection, Toronto, Canada
Black/white artwork – Judith Liegeois Design, Inc., Naples, FL
Game Area
Table and chairs – Marché aux Puces, Paris, France
Artwork – Allison Luedike, St. Louis Park, MN
Vignette
Glass console and mirror – Owner’s collection
Sconce – Murano, Italy
Fish sculpture on console – Murano, Italy
Primary Bathroom
Tub – Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Naples, FL
Tile wall covering – Ruben Sorheghui Tile, Naples, FL
Flooring – Ruben Sorheghui Tile, Naples FL
Primary Bedroom
Bed, headboard and side table – Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Glass lamp and sculpture – Murano, Italy
Loggia
Dining table – Aldo Castillo, Naples, FL
Seat grouping – Casa Italia, Naples, FL
Fireplace designed by Freestyle Interiors, Bonita Springs, FLand fabricated by Classic Pools, Naples, FL
Pool designed by Architectural Land Design, Naples, FL
Water elements – Grate Fireplaces, Bonita Springs, FL
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