Inside an Elegant Winter Retreat in Lakewood Ranch

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After many years of making Naples their winter retreat, a Chicago couple turned their focus north when they fell in love with a half-acre lot in Sarasota’s Lakewood Ranch community and went on to build a 7,740-square-foot home with lavish outdoor spaces and plush landscaping that wraps both sides of the property. Collaborating first with their Sarasota builder, John Cannon Homes, the couple established a basic footprint and layout to present to the team of Beth Walker-Fenton and Janine Blume at Jinx McDonald Interior Designs, their trusted design firm in Naples.

“They wanted a British West Indies look, so we kept the exterior very light with the architectural details done in a rich, dark charcoal,” says Walker-Fenton. “We helped them select all the materials, including floor coverings, bathroom tiles, and cabinetry.”

The design team installed dark wood floors throughout the main living area, hallways, primary bedroom, and the guest bedroom, varying the great room and kitchen with a stylish herringbone pattern. Plush wall-to-wall carpeting lends an upscale feel to the three remaining guest bedrooms. Sherwin-Williams’ Incredible White and Extra White shades keep the aesthetic fresh and bright, and intricate ceiling treatments, including both painted and stained beams and tongue-and-groove, contribute to the dwelling’s alluring light-and-dark contrast.

“What I enjoyed most about our collaboration was working together on the great room wall,” says Blume. “The homeowners had a clear idea of creating an eye-catching focal-point wall clad in stone, anchored with a fireplace. And once we found a gorgeous quartz at John Cannon’s Design Center, the wheels started turning on how to bring their vision to life.”

Unveiling their final design, the design duo implemented Neolith Calacatta Gold porcelain slabs for a continuous veining effect that washes the entire wall with movement. They also incorporated oversized wood niches in a rich stain to match the ceiling beams, as well as a linear wood mantel to add architectural depth.

New furnishings in striking silhouettes, rich finishes, and sumptuous fabrics adorn the main living spaces, kitchen and dining area, and a bonus room, underscoring the team’s meaningful design objectives.

“Dynamic decorative lighting, custom window treatments, and bespoke area rugs brought the finishing touches to our client’s new Florida dream home,” says Walker-Fenton. “The clients use their new residence as a seasonal retreat and a family gathering place, so creating spaces that are welcoming, comfortable, and a breeze to host in was our top priority from the very start.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Beth Walker-Fenton & Janine Blume, Jinx McDonald Interior Designs, Naples, FL

Construction by John Cannon Homes, Sarasota, FL

Development by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Sarasota, FL

Landscape Architecture by Trent Culleny Landscape Contractor, Sarasota, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Nicholas Ferris, Sarasota, FL

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