Sweeping Vistas Stun in Sarasota Penthouse

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The Sarasota penthouse that Curtis Jordan and Paige Petersen feel fortunate to call home for a large part of the year is so open to expansive vistas, it seems to levitate over the surrounding ocean panoramas and tropical cityscapes. And leaving the views to dominate the interior aesthetic was the aim when it came time to personalize the residence with the help of interior designer Judy King.

The idea to snap up the condominium came to Jordan and Petersen when they were working with King to finish a residence in an adjacent high-rise. As they watched the building they now occupy begin to obstruct the views they had in their former home, they didn’t hesitate to jump to even greater heights. 

“Paige thought we’d need to purchase a significant amount of furniture because this new residence is so much larger,” says King. “But I knew we didn’t want to add too much more because the spaces shouldn’t be about the furniture; it should be about those magnificent views.”

Petersen and King (who has also designed homes for the couple in Princeton, New Jersey) have developed a shorthand that Jordan can’t help but admire: “I usually have a lot of opinions, but I’ve learned through this process to trust my wife and Judy to do the right thing,” he says. “The vision they bring to every home we’ve owned has created spectacular and livable spaces.” 

King was intent on a rather clean backdrop. “We purposely used a neutral palette in the materials and on the walls so that the colorful art and accessories would pop,” she says. “The upholstery fabrics and rugs are very important because they are pet-friendly, but soft and comfortable.”

One of the homeowners’ musts was that there be distinct areas for conversation nooks. King delivered by breaking up the large main living room with 12-foot ceilings into three seating clusters. The middle grouping has swivel chairs with a mid-century modern feel and has become Jordan’s go-to spot in the home. 

Although a second home per se, the couple spends around eight months of the year and most holidays in Sarasota, including New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July when they marvel at the fireworks splashing over the bay. “Right now, there is a regatta going on and the sailboats are racing beside Ringling Bridge,” notes Petersen. “It’s so spectacular to watch!” 

Jordan adds that when he walks through the door and the seascapes open up before him, he can’t help but sigh: “Each time I enter, I find myself saying, ‘I can’t believe we get to live here.’”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Judy King, Judy King Interiors, Princeton, NJ

Text by Saxon Henry

Photography by Andrea Hillebrand, Sarasota, FL

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