Thoroughbred Heritage Celebrated in Ocala Home

Masterful in design, an Ocala residence built to observe staid thoroughbred traditions is far from conventional in form and style

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set within a serene equestrian enclave in Ocala, a new home for Bob and Sue Martin does more than simply reflect the bucolic views of the rolling hills, it serves as the perfect backdrop for the entertaining this Michigan couple enjoys while they are in town. This is the second Florida residence interior designers Nancy Short and Saidia Kane have completed for the couple. The span of nearly a decade between the two projects ushered in a refreshed stylistic direction for the couple on this 11,107-square-foot home. “The first house was quite traditional,” Kane says. “This one, though not extremely modern, is more contemporary by far, which was great fun for us.”

The Martins asked the design duo and lead architect Tim Miller to provide them with a home that would seamlessly connect the indoors and outdoors. Because they like to entertain, it was important to give their soirées an equestrian feel that showcases their passion for equine activities. Miller notes the Martins brought ample savvy to the table on this point. “To their credit, they knew what they wanted and they did a good job of expressing it,” he says. “The focus for the design of the house was to situate the home so it could overlook the arena where equestrian events would be taking place. I’m very pleased that Ervin Lovett Miller could make this happen while also saving the majestic oaks on the property.”

The scale of the interior spaces with the high dramatic ceilings also left the views unencumbered. “We kept the main living spaces serene by not filling every inch of space,” Short says. “What we chose to introduce included the exceptional work of local artists, who are so important to us that we always try to introduce them early on in the design process.” This included artwork and custom fabrications within the home.

From the entry to the dining and living areas, and through to the kitchen, earthy elements clad walls and floors to further a seamlessness with nature. “Natural materials were important for us — an abundance of stones, rift-cut white oak and the steel on the fireplace with its wonderful patina,” Kane explains. “When you walk into the home from the outside, it’s not a complete left turn. The materials reflect the trees and grasses and fences.”

With its grand surround as a focal point, the fireplace creates such a segue as stonework runs along each side and wraps around to the screened lanai. This ease of transition makes the home an exemplary backdrop for when the Martins host their fellow equestrian enthusiasts, which can be as often as weekly when they are in town. “We tend to choose organic styles, mix high and low elements, and intermingle textures,” Short says. And this holds true in the home’s private spaces, including the guest room suite with its adjacent sitting area where Ansana’s talent for mixing styles shines.

“One of the most beautiful aspects of the house is how the designers created such a kinship between the large great room and the outdoors,” Miller says. “It is stunning when you walk into the house on a beautiful day — it’s difficult to immediately feel where the inside ends and the outside begins.”

Story Credits: 

Interior Design by Nancy Short and Saidia Kane, Ansana Interior Design, Winter Park, FL

Architecture by Tim Miller, Ervin Lovett Miller Architects, Jacksonville, FL

Builder Chris Luetgert, Luetgert Development Corp., Ocala, FL

Landscape Architecture by John Olters, Michael Pape & Associates, Ocala, FL

Text by Saxon Henry

Photography by Stephen Allen, Winter Park, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources:

SOURCES

dining room

Dining table – Century Furniture, Hickory, NC

Dining chairs – Taylor King, Taylorsville, NC

Fabric – Weitzner, New York, NY

Chandelier – Shakúff, Brooklyn, NY

Countertop – Mystic Granite & Marble, Orlando, FL

Fabricated by Zsolt Granite Corporation,

Longwood, FL

Backsplash wall – Walker Zanger, Atlanta, GA

Artwork – Fine Arts 807, Orlando, FL

Round sculpture – Phillips Collection,

High Point, NC

Bench – Vanguard Furniture,

Conover, NC

Fabric – Kravet, Inc., Bethpage, NY

foyer

Console – Arteriors Home, Carrollton, TX

Artwork – Axiom Fine Art Consulting,
Winter Park, FL

Chandelier – Shakúff, Brooklyn, NY

Metalwork – Qui Studios, Orlando, FL

living room

Sofa and lounge chairs – Vanguard
Furniture, Conover, NC

Sofa fabric – Bernhardt, Hickory, NC

Barrel chair – McGuire, DCOTA,

Dania Beach, FL

Cocktail table – E.M. Soberon, DCOTA,
Dania Beach, FL

Fireplace – Luetgert Development Corp., Ocala, FL

Fireplace surround – Qui Studios,
Orlando, FL

TV wall treatment – DuChateau Wood
Wallcoverings, San Diego, CA

Area rug – Kalaty, Addison Dicus,
Orlando, FL

kitchen/breakfast area

Countertops – Zsolt Granite Corporation,

Longwood, FL

Backsplash – Stone Tile Group,

Orlando, FL

Counter stools – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC

Light pendants – Shakúff, Brooklyn, NY

Hood – Modern-Aire Ventilating, Inc.,

North Hollywood, CA

Double ovens – Thermador, Irvine, CA

Banquette – Interiors by Lou,

Orlando, FL

Table – Robert James Collection,

Chula Vista, CA

Side chairs – Interlude Home,

High Point, NC

Drapery fabric – Fabricut, Tulsa, OK

powder room

Pedestal sink – MTI, Sugar Hill, GA

Faucet – Newport Brass, Santa Ana, CA

Quartzite stone wall – Mystic Granite and Marble, Orlando, FL; fabricated by Zsolt Granite Corporation, Longwood, FL

Textured wall covering – Phillip Jeffries, High Point, NC

Light pendants – Studio Italia, YLighting,

Walnut Creek, CA

guest bedroom

Bed and bedside tables – Vanguard
Furniture, Conover, NC

Table lamps – Made Goods,

City of Industry, CA

Bench – Roberta Schilling Collection,
Miami, FL

Barn doors – Craftsmen in Wood, Phoenix, AZ

Carpet – Fabrica, Britannia Flooring, Winter Park, FL

sitting area

Sofa – Brownstone Furniture, Richmond, CA

Fabric – Perennials, David Sutherland Showroom, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL

Print accent pillow fabrics – Zinc Textile, Romo, Inc., Chagrin Falls, OH

Striped and orange/gray accent pillow

fabric – Squarefeathers, Austin, TX

Wood-framed armchair – Selamat

Designs, South San Francisco, CA

Cocktail table – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC

Sculpture figurine – Fine Arts 807, Orlando, FL

Occasional table – Interlude Home,

High Point, NC

Drapery fabric – Fabricut, Tulsa, OK

Carpet – Fabrica, Britannia Flooring, Winter Park, FL

master bath

Vanity – Mystic Granite & Marble,

Orlando, FL; fabricated by Zsolt

Corporation, Longwood, FL

Sink – Kohler, Kohler, WI

Faucet – Graff, Milwaukee, WI

Mirror and shower enclosure – Luetgert Development Corp., Ocala, FL

Light fixture – Arteriors Home,

Carrollton, TX

Flooring – Walker Zanger, Atlanta, GA

study

Entry wall covering – Arte, Jeffrey

Michaels, Hollywood, FL

Desk – Robert James Collection,

Chula Vista, CA

Table lamp – John-Richard,

Greenwood, MS

Scenic wall covering – Phillips Jeffries, High Point, NC

Lounge chair – Bernhardt, Hickory, NC

Fabric – Casamance, New York, NY

Accent table – Arteriors Home,

Carrollton, TX

Area rug – Niba Designs, Inc.,

Hollywood, FL

lanai/pool area

Sofa, side chairs, barstools and chaise lounges – Janus et Cie, DCOTA,

Dania Beach, FL

Lounge chair and ottoman – Lee

Industries, Conover, NC

Fire table – RH Modern,

West Palm Beach, FL

Dining table – Qui Studio,

Orlando, FL

Bar island – Zsolt Corporation,

Longwood, FL

Grills – Wolf, Sub-Zero Group,

Madison, WI

Hood – Modern-Aire Ventilating, Inc., North Hollywood, CA

Planters – Foliage Design Systems,

Ocala, FL

Pool – Paradise Pools by Design,

Altamonte Springs, FL

throughout

Cabinetry and wood wall panels – Busby, Orlando Design Center, Orlando, FL

Windows – Pella Windows, Pella, IA

Flooring – Charles Bowen Ceramic

Tile & Glass Block, LLC, Ocala, FL

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