Sumptuous Luxury and Comfort Play in Alomar Family Home

Traveling around the world or entertaining at home, high style and luxurious living are always at play for Roberto and Kim Alomar

2006

harmonious is how interior designers Dee and Jennifer Marksberry describe their collaboration with MLB Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and his wife Kim. The inspiration for the transformation of a number of areas in the couple’s Tampa home was obvious to the designers from the start. “Kim and Robbie are well-traveled and have a high sense of style,” Jennifer says. Travel was also on the homeowners’ minds when approaching the decor, particularly the lavish resorts they enjoy when they take excursions with their daughters, Robyn and Lourdes. “When we walk into our home, we want the same sumptuous feeling of comfort and luxury we experience when we’re away,” Kim says.

With this in mind, the foyer, the master suite, the kitchen and the family areas in this 18,700-square-foot residence were updated. Focusing on the couple’s desire for opulence, the design duo chose high-quality materials to create a neutral interior scheme enlivened by pops of color.

An interplay of light and dark is woven throughout the design scheme to beautiful effect. The flooring in the foyer, for instance, is Crema Marfil with black granite lozenges, which served as inspiration for other elements in the space. “We expanded the black and white theme and made it crisper,” Jennifer says. “We lacquered all the millwork in the entryway in ‘Glacier’ white to accentuate the architectural details and lacquered the doors in black for a striking contrast.” The high-gloss finish on the millwork in the grandly scaled foyer, the designer notes, has a beautiful shimmer to it that illuminates the space.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Roberto’s study, which is filled with memorabilia from his lauded baseball career, is stunning in rich black and lush blues. The feats of the MLB Hall of Famer illustrated on every wall celebrate a 16-year career during which he contributed to winning seasons with the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks. “Each piece of the memorabilia is so much more powerful on the black backdrop,” Kim says. “He is very happy with the room because it gives him a place to enjoy drinks and cigars with his friends.”   

Everything continues the dance between light and dark that flows from the living room to the kitchen and the dining room, where an illustrious custom piece in the home is the 12-foot-long dining table. “Robbie and Kim wanted seating for 14 and asked us for something that addressed the palatial scale of the dining room. The table is a stunning combination that makes for a magical dining experience,” Dee says about the piece stained in ebony and edged with blown-glass faceted mirrors. “We worked seamlessly with Dee and Jennifer to accomplish this,” Kim says. “I’m a visual person and I could tell they understood what we wanted early on. From our first interactions, it was an instant connection.”

Most reflective of the Alomar’s sense of high style, the master suite invites resort-style relaxation at the day’s end. Replacing the standard square fireplace with a linear one and cladding the surround in white marble, the design team shaped a cozy sitting area. “All the wood flooring in the master bedroom is refinished in ebony,” Dee says. “The surfaces on the cabinetry are white lacquer for a crisp contrast.” And a personal favorite of Kim’s because it has plenty of room for her collection of shoes and purses, the two-story master closet presents the ultimate “wow” factor.

With the home gleaming to its full potential, Kim continues to curate art for the interiors, tapping one Miami artist to bring added personality to its rooms. “Alejandra Estafania’s art, including her portraits of us, makes the house feel complete to me,” she says. “The compositions are finishing touches that top off the beautiful spaces Dee and Jennifer created.”

Story Credits: 

Interior Design by Dee Marksberry and Jennifer Marksberry, Gage-Martin Interiors, Tampa, FL

Builder RJL O’Connell, Inc., Tampa, FL

Text by Saxon Henry

Photography by Nickolas Sargent, West Palm Beach, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources:

SOURCES

entry sitting area

Circular waiting bench – Tomlinson Companies,

Thomasville, NC

Fabric – Kirkby, Romo Fabrics, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Vase – Michael Aram, North Bergen, NJ

Side consoles – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA

Glass candleholders – Global Views, Dallas, TX

Wall sconces – Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, Miami, FL

Chaises – Chaddock, Morganton, NC

Print fabric – Jane Churchill, Cowtan and Tout, DCOTA,

Dania Beach, FL

Cocktail tables – Oly Studio, Reno, NV

Corner planters – Emissary Trading Co., Atlanta, GA

Wall covering on balcony – Harlequin, Nessen Group,

Dania Beach, FL

Area Rug – Loloi, Inc., Grapevine, TX

study

Club chairs and cocktail ottoman – Tomlinson Companies,
Thomasville, NC

Fabric – Designer’s Guild, Ammon Hickson, DCOTA,

Dania Beach, FL

Tray on ottoman – Made Goods, Baldwin Park, CA

Nesting accent tables – Owners’ Collection

Display shelving and wall treatment – Custom designed by
Gage-Martin Interiors, Tampa, FL

Fabricated by Merino Family Construction, LLC, Tampa, FL

Area rug – Fabrica, Santa Ana, CA

reception area

Center table – Interlude Home, Trumbull, CT

Chandelier – Italamp, Lighting Reps, Coral Gables, FL

Vase with daisies – New Growth Designs, Greenville, NC

Cabinetry – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA

Artwork – Charles Harold Company, Tampa, FL

Area rug – Saddlemans, Sante Fe, NM

living room

Sectional sofa – Minotti, Miami, FL

Ottoman and bench – Tomlinson Companies,

Thomasville, NC

Ottoman fabric – Chaddock, Morganton, NC

Bench fabric – Romo Fabrics, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Cocktail tables – Christopher Guy, High Point, NC

Planter – Emissary Trading Co., Atlanta, GA

Console – Plexi-Craft, New York, NY

Grand piano – Owners’ Collection

Wall sconces – Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, Miami, FL

Chandelier – Italamp, Lighting Reps, Coral Gables, FL

Drapery fabric – Holland & Sherry, DCOTA,

Dania Beach, FL

Artwork – Charles Harold Company, Tampa, FL

Area rug – Delos Rugs, Calhoun, GA

Flooring – Through the Woods, Tampa, FL

kitchen

Cabinetry and island – Neff Cabinets, Studio Luxe Custom Cabinetry, Naples, FL

Countertops and backsplash – Europa Stone, Tampa, FL

Counter stools – Jessica Charles, High Point, NC

Hood – Pro-Tools, Tampa, FL

Stove – Wolf, Sub-Zero Group, Madison, WI

Flooring – Europa Stone, Tampa, FL

dining room

Dining table – Old Biscayne Designs, Americus, GA

Banquettes and chairs – Tomlinson Companies, Thomasville, NC

Fabric – Holland & Sherry, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Candleholders – Global Views, Dallas, TX

Chandelier – Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, Miami, FL

Drapery fabric – J.F. Fabrics, Tonawanda, Canada

Area rug – Delos Rugs, Calhoun, GA

master suite

Bed and bedside chests – Old Biscayne Designs, Americas, GA

Light fixtures – Schonbek, Lighting Reps,

Coral Gables, FL

Club chairs – Tomlinson Companies, Thomasville, NC

Fabric – JAB Fabrics, Jeffrey Michaels, Hollywood, FL

Fireplace – Mexxo, A-Plus Fireplaces, Port Richey, FL

Fireplace wall treatment – Europa Stone, Tampa, FL

Bar cabinetry – Neff Cabinets, Studio Luxe Custom Cabinetry, Naples, FL

Draperies – Romo Fabrics, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Closet shelving – Southern Closet Systems,

Tampa, FL

Closet stairway – Merino Family Construction, LLC, Tampa, FL

Railing – Borter Glass, Inc., Tampa, FL

Flooring – Through the Woods, Tampa, FL

throughout

Window treatments – Karen Lockwood Designs, Tampa, FL

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