Elegant Naples Home On Par with Spectacular Views

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boasting scenic views of the 14th hole of the South golf course at Mediterra, this exquisite Naples residence offered the perfect solution for a couple searching for an airy property filled with brilliant light. Homeowners Ellie and Jeffrey Scott were immediately drawn to this incredible lot for its spectacular views as well as the set-back positioning of the house.

“This home looks out onto a lake with tall pines on the far side, and through those trees, the 14th fairway with no other homes is our direct line of sight,” Ellie says. “When we first walked in the front door and were able to see the incredible vista and privacy the lot offered, we saw the possibilities of renovating the house to incorporate the more modern design features we envisioned for our new home. Little did we realize that our design journey would lead to several major structural changes that necessitated a complete gut job,” she says.

Built in 2008, the original structure would actually require the equivalent of brand-new construction to achieve the Scott’s specifications for large, open rooms, clean lines and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows. The couple called on builder Aidan J. Weir to work through the details and bring their vision to life. “The original home was heavy in Mediterranean design and the new home is more transitional,” Weir says. “We are pleased in the way we were able to incorporate a variety of unique spaces, both interior and exterior, that flow together seamlessly.”

In addition to planning and building the new 8,000-square-foot home, Calusa Construction constructed replicas of selected design elements. “We discovered early on that the homeowners were very visual and wanted to see potential design elements firsthand,” Weir says. “This resulted in many mockups from cabinetry to furnishings, and even artwork and lighting placement.” Seemingly tedious, the time and money saved from these crude prototypes — the likes of 3D cardboard cut-outs covered in bubble wrap to represent crystal chandeliers, and whiffle balls suspended by yarn two stories from the foyer ceiling — proved priceless.

Given the strong lines of the house, Ellie designed an interior palette combining cool and warm tones with a canvas of furnishings that incorporate softness through textures and shapes. Her selections took more than three years in order to customize the modern furniture designs to fit the personality and scale of the home. Though elegant, the fabric choices were challenging due to the need to be pet friendly as both of the couple’s cats test every piece of furniture as a potential napping spot.

“Much like when you put on that fabulous designer dress, Ellie wanted our home to elicit the same feelings of casual elegance, chic fashion and glamour,” Jeffrey says. “She is a true believer in finding one thing you love and building off that as your inspiration piece.” In this home, it is the living room fireplace and wall treatment. “Ellie hand-selected two large Azul stone slabs to complete the stunning feature wall,” he says.

“Delays and design changes resulted in a two-and-a-half-year construction period, but the wait was well worth it,” Ellie says. “Our home is our sanctuary.”

Story Credits:

Design by Ellie Scott, Naples, FL

Builder Aidan J. Weir, Calusa Construction, Inc., Naples, FL

Landscape Architecture by Mike Cintron, Cintron Landscape, Fort Myers, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Matt Steeves, Fort Myers, FL

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