Neutral Nuances Come to Life in Lakewood Ranch Home

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Certain interior designers often aim to make their work stand out, ensuring it commands attention rather than fade into the background. But Carrie Riley crafted the interiors of a Lakewood Ranch custom house with a different goal in mind—she let the views of the water outshine her design.

“There are a lot of whites and textures because I wanted your gaze to filter right through the space like it’s a canvas,” says Riley, describing the entrance to a 7,055-square-foot home in the Wild Blue at Waterside community. “I didn’t want bold or over-designed pieces to interrupt the view.”

Defined by neutral tones—beige, white, gray, and black— the residence’s quiet luxury emphasizes durability and investment pieces that will retain their value. Riley, who has perfected this understated elegance over her 30-year career designing Florida homes, executed the look with precision.

The original space presented little warmth or symmetry. Riley transformed it by anchoring the room with four-sided seating, including thick rattan chairs, suede-fringed ottomans, and channel-tufted sofas. Rough-cut stone side tables flank the arrangement, adding structure and balance. “I love creating symmetry in blank spaces,” says the designer. “It should feel composed yet inviting.”

Subtle glamour infuses the room, highlighted by a scallop-shell mirror, a beveled fireplace, and shimmery wallpaper that looks like it’s reflecting the lake’s light. Riley’s textural choices invite touch, from the rough stone to the suede accents.

As she does with all her projects, Riley ensured her timeless design approach aligned with the exterior architecture style chosen by the builder and architect. Perhaps that’s why Anchor Builders continues to partner with Riley on its clients’ luxury custom homes in this high-end planned community. “I’ve worked with Anchor for 22 years. I’m in lockstep with them by now.”

Refined yet low-key, Riley’s clients asked for luxury contemporary furnishings that wouldn’t feel out of place with bathing suits and bare feet. “In this home, I used a lot of wood tones with matching beams and flooring to keep an organic aesthetic and bring nature in,” she says. While the interiors are indeed luxurious, it still feels appropriate to kick off footwear and plop onto a sofa. The designer’s penchant for natural materials is made obvious throughout the home. The archways in the kitchen were custom-made with smooth stained wood that bends to the radius of the arches. This same grooved wood is repeated on the ceiling in the primary bedroom but painted in stark white. Although in different shades and widths, the beveled pattern is echoed in the living room fireplace, the low cabinets in the office, and in the primary bathroom’s walls and scalloped tub.

“Simplicity, cleanliness, and calm,” was the aim for the kitchen aesthetic. Riley purposely didn’t want this room to be overly designed or as textured as the rest of the house. “A kitchen can look cluttered when there are too many design elements,” she says. Sleek low-back stools are tucked away under the waterfall counter that has an underbelly of oak. As a result, the look here is clean but not overly utilitarian.

Despite all her efforts, Riley’s attempts to make her design approach take a back seat failed. This elegant, au courant, and livable house is proof of why her work resonates so strongly with Sarasota’s most discerning homeowners.

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Carrie Riley & Lea Lennox, Riley Interior Design, Sarasota, FL

Builder Roy Dupuis, Anchor Builders, Sarasota, FL

Text by Stephanie Smith

Photography by Blaine Johnathan, Naples, FL

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