Anna Maria Island Vacation Home Lets the Light In

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Interior designer Jessica Holmes Holiday of HSH Collective in Holmes Beach has an immense appreciation for the quality of the natural light that bathes the homes she creates for clients on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“I watch with fascination as illumination becomes the art for a room,” she explains. “It also helps to capture little peek-a-boos of water or vegetation as highlights beyond the windows.”

This aspect of her work was certainly front of mind when she was envisioning the interiors of a 3,600-square-foot residence on Anna Maria Island. “The clients demanded that the house must engage in a natural conversation with its surroundings,” says the designer. “The focus was to achieve such a seamless flow that it wasn’t immediately clear whether you were on the inside or the outside of the home.”

Comfort was also a paramount priority, so spaces for the multigenerational family members to gather and relax together were a must. “Giving the homeowners a variety of seating areas creates flexibility—everyone can be together when the entire family comes to town or the husband and wife can feel cozy when it is just the two of them,” says Holiday. “I planned the seating in a way that I knew some spots would be perfect for someone wanting to quietly read while others would appeal to those looking to gather.”

Installing the kitchen in the middle of the main living spaces is one of the project’s greatest successes. “This is the happiest moment in the house,” she explains. “The kitchen is front and center when you walk through the front door, which in the floor plan made zero sense, but it makes the home feel magical. I chose a white oak for the vertical surfaces and hung a gorgeous but restrained chandelier over the large island.”

Because the designer had completed previous residences for this family, she knew many of their desires upfront. “This house is used as a vacation retreat, a place to nourish the soul, so a relaxed Zen vibe was very important,” says Holiday. “The entire property has a calmness to it, and each space melts into the next. I wanted to embrace that energy by using mostly neutrals in the common areas and diving into some bolder colors in the bedrooms to react to the views through the windows. Each of these spaces feels like it dipped its toes into the color palette that surrounds the house.”

While the beauty of the residence speaks for itself, Holiday says ensuring function was key. “I always approach design from the needs of the clients first,” she explains. “Knowing how they will use the home is initially the most important thing; then I make sure I reflect the personalities of the homeowners and the natural setting.” The envelope she is working within also provides inspiration. “I love honoring the architecture surrounding my interiors,” she adds. “An example in this case is that with the kitchen being the focal point and the soul energy of the home, it was important that the room relate to the wide expanse of glass sliders that lead to the terrace. This creates a true sense that it’s the heart of the home.”

Holiday’s use of neutrals, the disciplined sprinkling of textural details, the clean-lined but roomy furniture, and her restraint with pops of color coalesce into a serene setting she celebrates for how certain she is the home will be thoroughly enjoyed. “Each space needed to be its own moment,” she notes, “a special place to connect with family or curl up with a book.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Jessica Holmes Holiday, HSH Collective, Holmes Beach, FL

Text by Saxon Henry

Photography by Tara Correa, Sarasota, FL

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