Massive Moxie in Modern Miromar Lakes Home

Expert construction, superlative architecture, and on-point design add up to a modern marvel of a home in Southwest Florida

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The true testament of a job well done is repeat business. That’s a scenario Gulfshore Homes, the luxury residential builder based in Bonita Springs, is rather accustomed to. Just ask company Vice President Matthew Shull. When a Gulf Coast homeowner whom Shull met about 12 years ago wanted a new, built-from-scratch estate for him and his dynamic family, he didn’t hesitate to call the team that had constructed his previous dwelling to perfection.

“This time, he wanted something that looked like nothing else in Miromar Lakes,” says Shull. “We took on the project, [and set out to build what’s essentially] a modern masterpiece.”

With Gulfshore established as the builder, the rest of the team came together when Stofft Cooney Architects and the Collins DuPont Design Group joined the project. The directive? “A place of  joy and relaxation for the owner and his family,” says Shull. “Every detail for the build had to be carefully considered, from how it would feel when the residents walked through the front door to how art would be featured in the best possible lighting.”

From a construction standpoint, the 10,112-square-foot home is special for many reasons, including its all-concrete structure from the foundation to the roof.

Equally impressive is the house’s architecture. “Our objective was to create a warm, yet modern home that fit comfortably in the neighborhood,” says architect Randall Stofft, who had worked with the owners before. “We wanted a tropical indoor-outdoor approach that would give that ‘we’re in a resort’ feeling. And we used single-story, mid-story, and two-story massing to give the property a very sculptural aesthetic, both in the front and rear.”

When it came to the interior design, Collins DuPont Design Group co-principal Kim Collins came to the table with a keen understanding of what the husband and wife wanted. “From the moment the first-floor plan was printed at our office, the clients’ personal art collection had been carefully drawn in each room, making sure the structure and design were built around every piece, similar to the staging of art exhibits for a gallery,” says Collins. “A playful undertone erupts through color, line work, and a complex mixing of materials. You can see how the vibrant personality of this family shines through each room, but carefully allows the art to lead the conversation.”

Avid collectors of art that leans to the abstract and figurative, the homeowners are proud of their acquisitions, but not too forthcoming with the details, preferring for the imagery and color to speak for themselves.

Collins’ expertise and on-point decisions speak volumes, however. For the overall palette, she opted for cool whites with dark neutrals for the most part, but with small bursts of bold shades for visual interest. “An example of this is in the living room where we used blues in the throw pillows to balance the blues on the artwork that can be seen on the second-floor gallery wall,” she says. “This helped to ground the space and circulate color use.” In terms of flooring, another element that serves as backdrop, large-format porcelain tile with subtle design movements was chosen for both its aesthetic qualities and easy maintenance. And to address the home’s grand scale, a rather tactical and charming solution: “We needed to bring some interest to the 26-foot ceilings to ensure you engaged with them from the moment you entered the home,” says Collins. “Floating circular [panels] do just that, as well as provide acoustic features to help soften echoes.”

The design team also made savvy and eye-pleasing choices related to structural details and ornamentation. Impossible to miss is the free-floating spiral staircase in the center of the main living area, which was designed with a curved glass railing system that does not compromise the views up to the second level of the house. Just as noticeable is the Graypants chandelier that hangs from a series of concentric circles atop the second level via dozens of wires interspersed with triangular glass shards. “We chose it because of its ethereal quality and delicate fragility,” says Collins. “We wanted to keep the feeling light and not distract from the impact of the artworks.”

And yes, while the art collection is top-notch, the design surrounding it is far from an afterthought. “Staying focused on the goal yielded a bold yet [fuss-free look],” says Collins. “We wove a natural earthy thread that made stark contrasts comfortable and warm for the family. It was my honor to capture that [essence for them].”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Kim Collins, Collins Dupont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL

Architecture by Randall Stofft & John Cooney, Stofft Cooney Architects, Naples, FL

Builder Matthew Shull, Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL

Landscape Architecture by Windham Studio, Bonita Springs, FL

Text by Luis R. Rigual

Photography by Venjhamin Reyes, Doral, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources:

Stairway

Stairway designed by Stofft Cooney Architects, Naples, FL, and Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL

Chandelier – Graypants, Seattle, WA

Dining Area

Table – Arditi Collection, Lake Worth, FL

Chairs – Casa Italia, Naples, FL

Buffet – RC Furniture, City of Industry, CA

Wine room designed by Collins DuPont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Tradewind Designs, Naples, FL

Ceiling designed by Collins DuPont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL

Kitchen

Cabinetry and island designed by Collins DuPont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Tradewind Designs, Naples, FL

Stools – Elite Modern, Santa Fe Springs, CA

Pendant lighting – Kuzco, Lighting First, Bonita Springs, FL

Teen Daughter’s Bedroom

Platform bed – RC Furniture, City of Industry, CA

Night tables – Designs By Giorgio, New York, NY

Table lamps – YLighting, Walnut Creek, FL

Chandelier – Sonneman, Lighting First, Bonita Springs, FL

Area rug – Kaya Carpet, Cartersville, GA

Primary Bathroom

Tub – MTI Baths, Ferguson Enterprises, Naples, FL

Cube – Phillips Collection, High Point, NC

Wall designed and fabricated by Alex Turco, The Art of Alex, Miami, FL

Shower wall designed by Collins DuPont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL

Loggia

Table, chairs and stools – Vondom, Miami, FL

Wall designed by Collins DuPont Design Group, Bonita Springs, FL, and fabricated by Gulfshore Homes, Bonita Springs, FL

Back Exterior

Lounge chairs and seating grouping – Dedon, Greensboro, NC

Fire elements – Windham Studio, Bonita Springs, FL

Sconces – Hubbardton Forge, Castleton, VT

Pool designed by Windham Studio, Bonita Springs, FL

Throughout

Front door and wine cellar – Royston Metal Works, Cape Coral, FL 

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