Stylish Serenity in Lakewood Ranch

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Lakewood Ranch, a master-planned community near Sarasota and Bradenton, is ideal for homeowners who want large estates located within driving distance to city-centric culture, dining, and shopping. And that’s exactly what a couple was looking for when they purchased a 4,000-square-foot house built by Stock Luxury Homes and designed by Lisa Guild of LMG Design Consulting.

Together with two of her associates, Casey O’Brien and Amanda Bugar, and in collaboration with Stock’s Pizzazz Interiors, Guild set out to deliver an au courant four-bedroom home meant to be shared with family and friends.

First up: color. “We decided on a neutral palette that juxtaposes the masculine with the feminine,” says Guild. “This helped us come up with a design strategy in which furnishings and finishes at eye level or lower were kept subdued and then get more decorative the higher they go.”

Case in point: the flooring. The white porcelain tile used throughout the home goes easy on the veining and proved to be a low-maintenance option for a home that frequently hosts large and small gatherings. Neutral (from charcoal to dove white) was the way to go with the rest of the furnishings, while accents turn up the volume on color with oversized abstract artwork on the walls, and golden accessories in the form of chandeliers, mirrors, pendants, and frames. “Nothing is too bright, garish, or in any way overwhelming,” says O’Brien, LMG’s resident digital 3D modeling expert.

Because the home’s floor plan is open, the designers employed paint to help anchor and delineate the different spaces. As such, an accent wall in taupe defines the dining room. “It’s a beautiful tone that has an undercurrent of pink,” says Guild. “It’s one of those colors that everyone looks better in.” The shade also lends an air of femininity to the dining space, which houses an oval white lacquer table surrounded by chairs upholstered in brown velvet.

As gender vibes go, the living room leans into the masculine with sculptural lounge chairs and a reeded ebony console table. The dark-and-light approach to tones continues in the kitchen with all-white cabinetry, light gray stone surfaces, and gold detailing (on the drawer pulls, chandeliers, and island stools). The same is true of the bedrooms, which Guild says she approached with five-star resorts in mind. “One of the things I’ve learned is that when you have a home in Florida, people will come visit you,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to have well-equipped guest spaces for them.” With that in mind, the design team crafted the bedrooms with ample storage for suitcases and plenty of surface space for lifestyle musts. In the primary suite, which opens to the outdoors, a cozy reading nook epitomizes the notion of me-time. “Bedrooms are all about individual experiences,” says Guild. “That’s what makes them personal.”

Outside in the patio, the neutrals that define the indoor spaces also work effortlessly here. “We wanted a connection between interior and exterior both in tone and in vibe,” says Guild, referencing the area’s dark sculptural elements, stone lanai floor, and black and gray furniture.

“Our overall approach with this home was to carve out individual spaces and infuse them with personality,” says Guild. “It’s not just about selecting pretty things. Our goal is always to ensure that what we are providing is comfortable and long-lasting, and that we are showcasing each space in the most positive and aesthetically pleasing way.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Lisa Guild, Casey O’Brien & Amanda Bugar, LMG Design Consulting, Naples, FL

Builder Stock Development, Naples, FL

Text by Kelley Marcellus

Photography by Amy Vischio, Naples, FL

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