Pelican Bay Condo Exudes Graceful Allure

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with much creative license, interior designer Wendy Berry devised this residence with a casual opulence characteristic of a luxury high-rise condominium in Downtown Chicago or Manhattan. It seamlessly nestles right in with the lavish livability that the Mystique tower in Naples’ Pelican Bay community is known for, while taking advantage of the ocean views that act as a strong anchor in both design and atmosphere. Coming in at 4,200 square feet, this condo is designed in a way sure to appeal to empty nesters who love the finer things in life. “It’s casual elegance,” Berry says. “You feel like you’re somewhere that is expensive and special, yet it exudes comfort.”

Panoramic ocean views speak for themselves as Berry’s organic and neutral interior scheme heightens the peaceful and calming natural tones outside. “The whole unit is organic in color and it’s peaceful,” the designer says. “The colors that you are seeing out the window, flow through in muted shades. There is nothing terribly strong. The most important thing we were trying to emphasize is the dark and the light of the architectural features.”

Dark wood with a metal counterpart is a repeated motif throughout the home. Still, each space holds its own, adorned in a definitive way. A tray ceiling steps up in the dining room, where a circular table of rift oak with an espresso stain finish shapes the space below.

An asymmetrical design, due in part to the off-centered position of the fireplace, pulls the eye into the living room. High-gloss white paneling extends to the right of the fireplace, and built-in,  stained walnut shelving accented with a metallic gold finish and backed in a dark, textured wall covering wraps around to the left. The ceiling is outfitted with simple beams in a high-gloss almond hue that ever so subtly brings a bit of warmth.

Berry incorporated a bridge-like element via a solid stone waterfall island that delineates the main living areas while keeping the spaces open and accessible. “Between the family room and the dining room we created this bar counter to increase the seating area. The island gives a bit of separation between the areas because it is one long rectangle. It gives the feel of three separate spaces — family room, dining room and living room before you get into the actual kitchen.”

Beyond, balconies speak to the organic and calm vibe of the home as a window to the sea, while a cozy breakfast nook takes full advantage of the seascape. Berry envisions the homeowners entertaining company in a space she designed to be intimate and personal. The area’s embellishments pay homage to the coastal exterior without detracting attention. The serene hues of a painting entitled Summer Mist are reminiscent of the horizon. The nature of the painting works well with the striations in the wall coverings that mirror the view. Flooded with light blues, greens and a dusty gray taupe, the eyes capture the ebb-and-flow of the ocean inside and outside the home. There are no interruptions.

Calm continues down the hallway as a herringbone pattern of white oak wood flooring leads the way to the private spaces. Once again the horizon is the focus, as the painting Blue-Gray Ocean pulls the seascape into the master bath, and oversized daybeds in the master suite provide the perfect spot to lounge and enjoy the view in real time. To the right of the daybeds is a niche mirror build out flanked by vertical metal columns with gold fixtures. In between, there is a floor-to-ceiling mirror with no base molding “so it almost looks like it’s a doorway. This reflects all the water views,” the designer says. With the sea as her muse, Berry has composed a livable luxury that celebrates the allure of a lavish coastal lifestyle and the calming mystique of the ocean beyond.

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Wendy Berry, W Design, Naples, FL

Builder Chad Smith, C.R. Smith, Naples, FL

Text by Alexandra Roland

Photography by Venjhamin Reyes, Miami, FL

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