Whether it’s a pool or a beach, water is Florida’s love language—and the state’s top designers are well-versed in creating enviable spaces next to all that soul-soothing fluidity. From charming pergolas to catch some rays to full-on living areas for alfresco celebrations, here are eight examples of the good life under the sun.
A spacious guest house and new pool were two of the new additions that the homeowners of this Vero Beach home requested from their designer, Lisa Erdmann. “They wanted it to feel very much like Florida,” she says. “It’s a home for friends and family. What says that better than a comfortable guest house and an amazing pool?”
Envisioning lazy weekends for two under the sun, seasoned designers Heather Weisz and Lisa Hynes crafted this pergola near the pool of a Wellington residence with landscaping assistance from Armstrong Landscape Design Group. It’s now the residence’s most cherished spot when good weather beckons.
Exquisitely landscaped, the grounds of this Pinecrest home encompass thriving layers of palm trees and fruit trees (banana, mango, avocado, lemon, and lime), as well as a fragrant herb garden, hammocks suspended in shaded areas, winding paths, and even a miniature golf course. But nothing beats the superior living area designers Nicole White and Arianne Hill created outdoors—complete with bronze sculptures at both ends of the pool.
In this Tampa area home, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen from interior designer Rebekah Johnson makes alfresco entertaining a breeze. The concrete dining table is from Williams-Sonoma and the wicker chairs are from Four Hands. Oyster shell mirrors and planters from Made Goods create beach-inspired textural accents.
The pleasantly familiar scent of salt air constantly drifts into the pool area of this Gulf Coast family home, which sits within walking distance of the beach near Old Naples. Here, designer Amanda Lantz incorporated upholstered seating for ultimate comfort and a custom green-and-white striped rug that adds color and pattern. Artwork by Barry Lantz makes a dynamic statement above the fireplace.
Against a backdrop of the pool’s cool blues and lush tropical foliage, woven rocking chairs reflect the warm wood tones of the benches in the dramatic—and water surrounded—sunken fire pit, a focal point in the backyard of this model residence in Naples.
“Features like these were added to make the eventual owners feel like they are in a tropical five-star resort,” says interior designer Megan Hickman of Freestyle Interiors. “That’s what Florida living is all about.”
“Wet swimsuits and sandy feet are common here,” says designer Ashley Gilbreath of this Rosemary Beach home. We’d be surprised if that wasn’t the case. Gilbreath perfectly captured the essence of the Emerald Coast in every area of the house, including its blissfully serene terrace, which features plenty of seating to take in the made-for-Instagram view of the Gulf.
For help with the fuss-free pool area and backyard of this Palm Beach townhouse, designer Caitlin Kah enlisted the expertise of the landscaping firm Parker-Yannette Design Group and pool builder Brosseit’s Pools. Did the three-pronged collaboration work? Absolutely. While the salty charm of the Atlantic is just steps away, this pool’s quiet luxury always wins.
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Text by Christopher Day
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