When a Manhattan couple set their sights on Boca Raton, they knew exactly what they wanted: a home with a contemporary West Coast sensibility infused with dramatic sightlines, custom detailing, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. For interior designer David Charette, principal and co-founder of Britto Charette in Miami, the project was not only a chance to deliver on that vision but to collaborate with homeowners who were already familiar with his work in a surprising way.
“I was on a Zoom call with the clients, and I noticed one of our mirrors behind them,” says Charette, referring to his and partner Jay Britto’s home furnishings collection. “It turned out they had purchased it a year prior for their Hamptons home and had been following us on Instagram ever since. They knew our aesthetic and had been passively stalking us on social media for the right opportunity.”
That opportunity to collaborate came in the form of a single-family, two-story residence with 7,800 square feet of space in a Boca Raton golf community. The fact that the homeowners decided on a new build and called on Britto Charette early in the process meant the designers were able to collaborate with the architect and builder from the very start. Because of that, the new home is carefully zoned between public and private spaces, with an emphasis on long sightlines that draw the eye to the pool and golf course beyond. The ground floor includes a family room, dining room, and kitchen designed for entertaining, as well as a VIP guest suite. “Even if clients prefer their primary bedroom upstairs, we always advise having a full suite on the main level for guests or future resale,” says Charette. “In Florida, that’s especially important.”
Materiality and palette were central to the project. The couple requested a bold use of charcoal, black, and gray in the kitchen, steering away from the ubiquitous white box. “We were inspired by the drama of 1980s interiors, but we interpreted it through a contemporary lens,” says Charette. “Believe it or not, the TV show Remington Steele served as inspiration. Throughout the home, layers of texture—ribbed wood millwork, sculptural marble, and innovative porcelain surfaces—create a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere.”
Also reflected in the interiors are the clients’ passions. A dedicated mahjong area provides a chic gathering space for the wife and her friends to play the game. Custom millwork in the closets incorporates clerestory lighting that bathes the wardrobes in natural daylight. Sculptures and paintings from the couple’s impressive art collection are highlighted and easy to rotate, while a dramatic three-ring chandelier in the foyer doubles as a sculptural focal point.
For Charette, custom design is the soul of his firm’s work. In this home, it is found in details such as the vertical ribbed wood in the primary suite, the monolithic kitchen island paired with an elliptical banquette, and the central bookcase that connects the upstairs and downstairs with a spine of glass and wood. “We want each project to be unique, with pieces that no one else has,” he says. “The more personal the details, the more timeless the home feels.”
From the sculptural chandelier in the foyer to the serene primary suite wrapped in layers of wood and stone, every element reflects a careful balance of drama and comfort. Spaces flow effortlessly from indoors to out, encouraging evenings by the pool, intimate dinners with friends, and afternoons surrounded by art. The result is a home that captures the essence of California modernism while embracing the tropical lifestyle of South Florida.
“The clients spend fall and spring in Manhattan, summers in the Hamptons, and winters in Boca, so this house is about extending their outdoor living,” says Charette. “We’ve given them a refined retreat that feels as timeless as it is contemporary.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design by Jay Britto & David Charette, Britto Charette, Miami, FL
Architecture by Colestock & Muir Architects, Boca Raton, FL
Developer Cudmore Builders, Boca Raton, FL
Text by Stephanie Davis Smith
Photography by Gabriel Volpi, Miami, FL
Open to see Interior Design Sources:
Sources
Dining Room
Table – DDC
Chairs – StudioTwentySeven, Miami, FL
Wall buffet designed by Britto Charette, Miami, FL, and fabricated by EVM, North Lauderdale, FL
Chandelier – Todd Merrill Studio
Sconces – 1stdibs
Conversation Area
Sofas – Maisonjaune Studio
Drink table – Wescover
Link chandelier – Todd Merrill Studio
Sculpture – Annie Morris
Living Room
Sofa – Christian Liaigre, Miami, FL
Chairs – The Invisible Collection
Sofa back console – Jader Almeida
Cocktail table – Britto Charette Studio, Miami, FL
Drink table – Holly Hunt, Miami, FL
Floor lamp – StudioTwentySeven, Miami FL
Fireplace designed by Britto Charette, Miami, FL, and fabricated by EVM Woodwork, North Lauderdale, FL
Area rug – Twill & Texture, Miami FL
Breakfast Area
Table and banquette – Morada Furniture, Miami, FL
Chair – Tom Dixon
Chandelier – Apparatus Studio
Kitchen
Cabinetry and island – The Private Collections, Miami, FL
Marble – Marmol Export, Miami, FL
Pendant lighting – Prandina
Chairs – Tom Dixon
Family Room
Sofa – Arravanti, Miami, FL
Island designed by Britto Charette Studio, Miami FL, and fabricated by EVM Woodwork, North Lauderdale, FL
Stools – Maiden Home
Game Area
Table – Britto Charette Studio, Miami, FL
Chairs – Design Within Reach, Miami, FL
Guest Bedroom
Bed, headboard, night tables, and lighting – Morada Furniture, Miami, FL
Area rug – Surya
Primary Bathroom
Cabinetry – EVM Woodwork, North Lauderdale, FL
Primary Bedroom
Bed, headboard, bedside tables, and wall treatment designed by Britto Charette, Miami, FL, and fabricated by EVM Woodwork, North Lauderdale, FL
Pendant lighting – Atelier de Troupe
Bench – J Nelson, Hollywood, FL
Pool and Patio Area
Sofas and lounges – Clima Home, Miami, FL
Pool – Cudmore Builders, Boca Raton, FL
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