Coastal Ease and Refined Comfort in Venice Home

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For more than two decades, Cindy Sinn and her husband, Russ, held onto a modest beachfront property in Venice on Florida’s Gulf Coast knowing it could one day become their retirement home. Originally a small concrete beach house built in the 1970s, the structure had served many lives as a family getaway, a spring break hub, and a gathering place for their children over the years. When retirement finally arrived however, the Sinns were still enthusiastic about the site, but not so much the house on it. As they envisioned the next chapter of their life, the couple decided a complete rebuild was the only way to go.

“We wanted to do this the right way,” says Cindy. “It would have cost the same to remodel as it did to build new, so we decided to go the way that gave us the most options.”

To help them with the endeavor, Cindy turned to Michele Koken, an Indianapolis-based designer who had worked on the Sinns’ Indiana home years before.

“Looping in the designer at the beginning of a construction project is instrumental to getting everything the client wants,” says Koken. “When you are involved from day one, you avoid backtracking and holding up the process. That was critical here.”

Critical because the new home was designed with features that support aging in place. Doorways were widened to meet ADA standards, and the primary bathroom includes a curb-less, zero-threshold shower with a built-in bench. “Those details were important to us,” says Cindy. “We want this home to work for us for many years to come.”

Despite its modest footprint (the first floor is 2,332 square feet), the home was laid out to feel open and flexible. Multifunctional spaces were key, including a utility room that doubles as a butler’s pantry, complete with a sink, dishwasher, drawer freezer, and storage space.
In terms of design, the interiors strike a balance between coastal ease and refined comfort. “We wanted it to feel like the beach but upscale,” Cindy explains. “I was okay with nautical nods, but I didn’t want anything cliché.” The design team incorporated window casings and architectural details more commonly found in Midwestern homes, adding a layer of traditional sophistication not often seen in Florida residences.

In the living room, a modern fireplace filled with driftwood anchors the space, flanked by built-ins crafted by an Amish cabinetmaker in Indiana and a reclaimed beam mantel the couple transported south themselves. Shelving displays art, travel mementos, and even shark teeth collected along Venice’s shoreline, grounding the home in personal history. Comfort guided every furnishing decision. Soft blues, taupe, and layered neutrals create a calm palette, while mixed metals keep the home feeling relaxed even in the most formal of rooms.

For Koken, the project was as much about the people as the place. “Russ and Cindy have collections with beautiful stories, and that makes the home feel warm and welcoming,” she says. “This is a house that reflects who they are. It’s a refined coastal retreat designed for family, longevity, and a life well lived by the water.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Michele Koken, MBK Design, Noblesville, IN

Construction by Caithness Construction, Osprey, FL

Landscape Architecture by Trentalange Landscape, Venice, FL

Text by Stephanie Davis Smith

Photography by Sarah Shields, Indianapolis, IN

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