From the Ground Up — YOUR HOME MAGAZINE

The Naples area has a variety of unique neighborhoods from beach side enclaves to some of the best golf course communities in the country. It also has a large sector that has been developed for homes set on acreage. From Golden Gate Estates to Livingston Woods, to the Rural Estates, Collier County offers people the opportunity to live on larger lots, usually ranging between 1.5 to 5 acres. These home sites give families plenty of room to grow, and, since these communities are not deed restricted, they offer the privacy and freedom that gated communities usually can not. People move to these communities to build their dream homes so they can have larger workshops for their hobbies, gardens, tree houses for their children, host bonfires, and many other considerations.

Winding Road

“One of the reasons we loved working with Gulfstream Homes was their ability to bring our vision to life,” explains Sullivan. “When we started to design the house, we knew we wanted a driveway that wound through the beautiful trees on the lot to give the impression of a country road.” Part of building on your own lot in the Estates is the clearing process. While non-native vegetation must be removed, you should be able to work with your builder to choose the native trees you want to keep on your lot. Trees shade your property, keeping temperatures down while protecting the soil from erosion.

Setting the Stage

The home’s entry was designed to be a beautiful focal point. A bank of large windows illuminate and open up the hallways that lead to guest and master bedrooms. By displaying vibrant, modern pieces in the long hallway, the Sullivans set their color palette for the rest of the home.

Space and privacy were the reasons Melinda and Paul Sullivan decided to purchase their 2.5 acre lot on Oakes Boulevard. “We were so excited to find this land; it was the perfect lot in the perfect location,” says Melinda Sullivan. They wanted to move out of their gated community and build the home they had dreamed of for years. “We are both real estate agents so we’ve been listing and showing homes throughout Naples for quite a while. I’ve always made mental notes of the layouts I’ve liked in different homes so when it came time to design our own, we knew exactly what we wanted to incorporate.” That decisiveness helped the Sullivans and their custom builder, Gulfstream Homes, as they developed design plans. Having some idea of what you are looking for, both in size and in lifestyle needs, can help as you meet with your builder to design your home. Having the ability to make changes in real time is a huge help. “When clients come in to either modify one of our existing floor plans or to create a totally custom design, we are able to show them the changes as they are made. They can watch us move virtual walls around and then walk out with the finished plan in hand,” says Gulfstream Homes’ Director of Business Operations and Managing Member, Jeneane Bennett. Bennett also takes point on the other design aspects of the home, and assists her clients in choosing everything from their pavers to their bathroom paint colors.

Color Pop

The interior is built on a foundation of neutral tones with touches of bright colors that match the Sullivan’s dynamic personalities. “A home should be a place that reflects you, your tastes and personality,” says Sullivan. They chose easy-care tile that resembles wood planks since it is simple to clean. They also worked with the Gulfstream team to create architectural details like the floating ceiling and wall panels that break up the long expanses. LED rope lighting illuminates the space between the panels creating a soft glow in the evenings.

Dine in Style

Candy apple red is sprinkled throughout the home. Here, the plush fabric of the dining room chairs adds softness to the modern silhouette. The glass table with chrome legs is modern but subdued so it does not draw attention away from the chairs which are the star of the space. Glass bubble lights above are in keeping with the playful feel.

Floating Walls

Having a uniquely designed kitchen makes it a focal point in the home. The floating middle wall, with easy-access open shelving, creates a walk through pantry behind the double oven, stove, and refrigerator. A wine and coffee bar area is topped with more storage space for kitchen gadgets. “I saw this design in a home years ago and always remembered thinking how functional it was. I love to cook and to bake so it’s important that I not only have ample storage, but that the kitchen also looks great. This was an excellent solution,” says Sullivan. White Quartz counters and cabinetry keep the kitchen light and open.

When building in the Estates and surrounding areas, where clearing and infrastructure needs are different, it is important to find a builder who has experience with these types of lots. From wells to septic tanks, many people are not familiar with the unique water and sewage needs the Estates presents. Working with a builder who is accustomed to dealing with these differences can make the process much smoother. “We were going to interview three builders but after talking with the team at Gulfstream Homes, we knew we would be working with them on our home,” says Melinda. With a long history of on your lot construction, Gulfstream brought the knowledge and experience the Sullivans desired.
They also appreciated Gulfstream Homes’ commitment to communication, which is an important part of the building process. “When you build a home, the unknowns are the stressful part. We think that this should be a fun and exciting time so we do our best to make sure our team is communicating on a daily basis with the new homeowners,” says Michael Peel, co-founded of Gulfstream Homes. This commitment includes limiting the number of projects supervisors manage and using special software that clients log into to check on daily progress reports. The Sullivans enjoyed that level of personal attention during their build. “Our supervisor, Dominic Buzzy, checked in with us constantly and was available anytime we had a question or concern. He actually became a friend to us during the process. This is probably the most expensive purchase one will ever make, so for us, having someone like Dominic available when we needed him was such a stress reliever and allowed us to enjoy the process and the final result.”

Mixing Styles

The master bedroom combines traditional and modern design aspects. A tufted headboard in a metallic silver cloth updates a very familiar bedroom item. The classic shape and muted tones of the bedside table plays against the vivid colors of the roman shades. “We wanted to make sure every room in the house had a view of this great lot. As you go from room to room you will notice the windows are all fairly large to take advantage of the beauty outside,” says Sullivan.

Tranquil Tile

The theme of bright colors mixed with neutral tones is carried into the master bath to create a tranquil room. “The Sullivans were smart in their choice of finishes. They understood that you don’t have to break the bank to get something that looks amazing and functions well,” says Bennett. You can spend all the money in the world on fine finishes but it really comes down to how they are used and installed. Tricks like adding an accent wall for color and interest, as seen here in the vertically installed blue glass tiles, means you can create a beautiful space that actually makes the room feel larger.

Parks and Rec

The Sullivans chose to keep most of the lot wooded. “We wanted to create a park-like setting here. Moving from a community, we were looking for something private. I love to garden so for me, it was important to have a mix of open and natural spaces,” says Sullivan. They also created a pool and lanai area that takes advantage of the home’s beautiful setting. To facilitate an easy transition from inside to outside, Sullivan kept the flooring level of the lanai and the great room the same so there is no step down to differentiate between the spaces. She also selected furniture and accessories that look and feel like indoor pieces so there is continuity between living areas. Seating groups make the lanai the perfect place to entertain during the cooler months.

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