Peaceful Fluidity Breeds Serenity on Longboat Key

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The serene drive into Longboat Key sets the tone for the tropical splendor that unfolds on this pristine offshore barrier island enclosing the western boundary of Sarasota Bay. Slow traffic, lined palm trees, waterfront golf courses, white-sand beaches, and euphoric glimpses of the Gulf of Mexico have shaped this slice of Florida into a world-renowned resort community that offers an elite and elegant lifestyle. The scenery is a living painting of one of the most idyllic places on Earth for many vacationers who flock here seasonally. And for the island’s privileged residents, Longboat Key is a paradise they call home.  

Such was the sentiment for a couple who chose to make this destination their escape to a never-ending summer. “For these clients, whose main residence is up north, the scenery of their new vacation home could not have been painted any better,” says Chloe Harlan of Emcy Interior Design in Sarasota, who spearheaded the project with fellow designer Meg Carson. “The already-built home came to us in its bare bones with builder-grade finishes begging for a sense of curation. We brought it to life using layers of neutral textures, dramatic decorative lighting, and custom built-ins.” 

Cleverly named Channelside for its private waterfront location, the property’s coastal environment drove the inspiration for the interior décor. With a generous flow of natural light, the home focuses on complementing the exterior elements of the Florida landscape through sea-inspired materials and furnishings. “Organic, soft, and elevated, this home will remain timeless for its many years of family vacationing,” adds Harlan. 

Built as a spec house by Perrone Construction, the property was purchased by the owners upon completion. Harlan specified finishes in addition to builder-provided materials and managed a team of tradespeople to implement custom built-ins in the stairwell, great room, and study. Bespoke ceiling embellishments and signature wallpaper treatments create visual interest throughout, and special lighting features lend warmth and texture to every room. A high-contrast neutral color palette with tone-on-tone accents ensures a soft and cozy aesthetic.

“Although the home has a very open floor plan, it was important to make each landing spot have its own special moment,” notes Harlan. “Upon entry, guests are greeted by a second-story foyer and stairwell outfitted with a pair of stunning beaded chandeliers. The space guides you into the great room, which we completely transformed with a custom built-in feature wall and LED-lit display nooks.” 

Harlan achieved a casually livable yet elegant feel with performance fabrics from Perennials applied to upholstered seating pieces from RH. Two oversized coffee tables ground the great room and allow various seating options for entertaining. “This style of ‘livable beauty’ became a theme as we jumped from room to room,” says Harlan. “Performance fabrics also appear on the kitchen counter stools and dining room chairs to create a cohesive flow.”

An all-white palette in the kitchen and dining area generates a clean, minimalist aesthetic that also provides a high-impact contrast to the gray porcelain tile floors. Sculptural statement lighting creates bold accents proportionate to the grand scale of the spaces and their soaring ceiling heights. Wide-plank wood floors give the family room a rustic yet refined feel, along with generous seating, a plush area rug, and three-dimensional wall art. 

The primary suite offers a serene escape all its own—a space Harlan admits she could move right into and never leave. Wrapped in pin-striped wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, the bedroom is dressed from the floor up to a dramatic vaulted ceiling that highlights an eye-catching Palecek chandelier sporting a textured scale-like skin. “A sitting nook engulfed in ethereal white sheers whisks you away from reality, inviting dream-like relaxation, and that’s the precise feeling we wanted to project in this room,” says Harlan. “As the sun sets, the sheers can easily pull to the side for a peek at the boats on the water channel and the soothing poolscape surrounded by elegant lounge furniture.”

The owners love fleeing to their new forever-summer home multiple times throughout the year, hosting special family gatherings and an endless parade of friends who gladly come to experience everything Longboat Key has to offer.  

“The home gets rave reviews every time someone new visits,” says Harlan. “As one of the designers, that’s the best endorsement you can get.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Meg Carson & Chloe Harlan, Emcy Interior Design, Sarasota, FL

Builder Perrone construction, Sarasota, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Laura Henry, Sarasota, FL

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