Key Largo Home is a Refined Seaside Dream

1 of 8

Surrounded by water on three sides, Ocean Reef Club is a self-contained tropical sanctuary where privacy and community co-exist. Encompassing 2,500 acres and roughly four miles long, the Key Largo enclave has been a Philadelphia couple’s yearly retreat for more than 20 years—two decades of holiday celebrations, family milestones, and cherished memories. And when a prized site to build a forever home became available in the members’ only community, the couple didn’t hesitate. Once the land was theirs, the husband and wife assembled the ideal design team to bring their dream house to life.

“Spanning 8,000 square feet, the waterfront residence is a study in elegance and ease,” says interior designer Hank Page, owner of Pennsylvania-based Hank Page Design, who, along with his sister, Chere Onofrio, has executed multiple projects for the homeowners.

“The architectural team delivered a beautifully proportioned envelope—a canvas that invited our team to bring the couple’s vision to life. After many design sessions and curated vision boards, a distinct aesthetic emerged, which we called French coastal elegance.”

A collaborative effort of the highest order, the process involved the owners working closely with local architect Timothy James Slawson to shape a floor plan that would suit their social lifestyle and multi-generational needs.

Now complete, the house’s palette, drawn from nature, reflects the soft blues of the sea and the shifting tones of the sky. Cultivating serenity and intimacy, the interiors never compete with the spectacular views that first captivated the clients. Throughout the home, the design is both personal and worldly, informed by the couple’s love of travel, diverse global cultures, and fine art. “We were inspired by the living room’s high ceilings and magnificent views,” says Onofrio. “Our goal was to combine classic style, dramatic flair, and cultural influences while creating a space to entertain friends or just sit and enjoy the sounds of the piano. Every detail—down to the intricately coffered ceilings—was crafted to frame and honor the natural surroundings.”

Clad in custom trim profiles scaled perfectly to suit each space, the rooms compose a veritable showcase of bespoke millwork. Marble flooring, selected and designed specifically for the home, reinforces the sense of thoughtful proportion and quiet grandeur. Romantic chinoiserie wallcoverings flank a magnificent limestone fireplace, influencing the living room’s palette and furnishings, while the opposing wall gleams with a Chippendale-style bar with mirrored panels reflecting the sea and sky.

“No ceiling was left untouched,” says Page, “each one uniquely expressive yet designed in harmony with the rest.” In the family room, arched beams and wood planking evoke the hull of a ship, and the primary bedroom is astonishing, featuring a barrel ceiling with custom tracery. Paneled walls segment a mural wallcovering, enveloping the bedroom in a dreamlike aura.

“The primary suite was all about transporting our clients to a private bubble,” says Onofrio. “No matter where they are in the room, they’re surrounded by beauty and detail—an oasis all their own.”

In the end, the project was all about cooperation. “Our ability to interpret the clients’ aspirations and their willingness to trust our creative energy made all the difference,” says Page. “It ultimately brought a home to life with clarity, beauty, and meaning.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Hank Page & Chere Onofrio, Hank Page Design, Berwyn, PA

Builder Stathis Construction, Key Largo, FL

Text by Jeanne de Lathouder

Photography by Dan Cutrona, Miami Beach, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources: