Old Made New

It’s no secret that land is at a premium in southwest Florida. With a new community springing up seemingly every day, and growth pushing further east, buyers often feel like they have to sacrifice location to get a home they will love, especially if they are looking for new construction. Jennifer Springer of The Orchid Group at Premiere Plus Realty and Mike Soule of Gulfshore Homes are here to say that isn’t true. With a little imagination and the right team, it’s possible to transform a home into the perfect place for you and your family. A great example of a buyer getting everything they wanted is this project located in Miromar Lakes. “Miromar Lakes is a wonderful, established neighborhood and people love the community and the amenities. This home was built in the early 2000’s and like many in the neighborhood, it needed updating. The buyers fell in love with the location and the premier lot with amazing views but knew the home wouldn’t fit their growing family’s needs,” explains Springer. With older children beginning to start their own lives, the buyers wanted to create a private space for each new family unit so everyone could enjoy southwest Florida and their vacation home. Springer suggested they partner with Gulfshore Homes to create their dream home. 
“We were brought in before they even purchased the home to help them both see the possibilities and reassure them that their ideas could be implemented in this location,” Soule explains. “We understood what they saw in the lot and agreed that this could be a fantastic location for a family retreat. We were also able to assure them that we could work within their budget.” In fact, the budget informed their decision to make a fresh start from the ground up. Only two walls from the original structure remain, while the rest of the home is now completely new. As the buyers began to tell the team what they wanted, it became apparent that it would be more cost-effective to simply start over than to work around the existing layout.

Effective Elevation

At the front of the home, the older style Mediterranean accents were replaced with more modern elements. The tower was raised, the arches squared off, and stone was added to create a beautiful elevation that is now contemporary and clean. “We also extended garage by four feet to create room for a larger master bath and then added an extra garage and golf cart bay,” says Soule. The new paver driveway matches the colors found in the flat concrete tile roof and stone facade. Lush landscaping and details like the Bahama shutters are used to create the feel of a far-off resort and sets the tone for the home’s vacation purposes.

Welcome Home

Throughout the home, elegant neutrals were used to create a serene and sun-filled home, and the foyer sets the tone for the rooms beyond. The foyer’s crown jewel is the unique lighting feature with crystals that seems to drip from the ceiling like beads of water. Channeled walls are accented by metallic wallpaper that adds shine to the space. A white-lacquered console with plenty of movement pairs well with the dark wood of the front door and the decorative stone inset.

Seeing Double

Two different types of stone, Pompeii quartz and graphite marble, were used on the kitchen’s double islands creating the perfect place to prepare a meal or host a party. No matter how large a home is or how great the other rooms are, the kitchen is where people congregate, so Gulfshore Homes created a space that could hold the whole family. The double islands also solve the storage problem open kitchens present by making up for the storage lost when there is only one wall for upper cabinets. Tile was added to the main kitchen wall to create a feature wall that not only adds a beautiful visual element but also helps balance the marble and large fireplace on the opposite wall. Wolf and Subzero appliances finish this important room.

Open Interiors

The home is bright and welcoming thanks to the updated great room designed by Gulfshore Homes. The original room had a distinctly dated vibe with coffered ceilings, dark tile, and walls that closed in the main living areas. Now, this area has been transformed into a modern, open space perfect for both entertaining and family time. Toffee-toned wide plank oak floors provide the foundation for the room, while a large sectional with deep and comfortable seats facilitates relaxing conversation. Above, decorative trusses were built on-site to ensure a perfect fit. “Originally we had a much more detailed ceiling planned but as we got into the renovation we decided to scale it back to create a clean look that makes a big impact,” says Soule. The soft blues, seafoam green, and grey found here, and throughout the home, are inspired by its waterfront location.

Dinner and a View

One space that takes full advantage of the view is the dining room with expansive sliding doors that open to create the perfect dinner party setting. The dark and modern table is accented by ivory upholstered chairs. Elegant drapes in a steel-toned fabric frame the windows and are a wonderful companion to the blue and ivory area rug. The ceiling is a contemporary study in color and texture as dark crown molding, backlit with LED lights, and tongue-and-groove accents provide a beautiful depth to the room.

Movie Night

The theme of unique ceiling details is carried into the versatile club room. This is the perfect place for a gathering, reading a book alone, or for a family movie—the new owners wanted a room could be used for multiple purposes. “This room wasn’t a part of the original home but it made sense given the space we had and the owner’s need to create another gathering area,” says Soule. The room overlooks the lake, so whether they are watching a movie on the 110-inch screen which comes down in front of the custom Maple wood built-ins, or playing a family game, the water is never out of view.

Sweet Dreams

French doors and the addition of four windows on the headboard wall create a light and bright master bedroom. Roman shades are used for privacy and bring in a pop of aqua that is accented by the light bedding. Behind the headboard, a champagne-colored folding screen gives the room a little shimmer. Coffered ceilings were removed and a more modern white wood ceiling was added.

Home Spa

The master bath represents one of the biggest changes in the home. Now larger and more functional, the spa-like room features inlaid natural stone, glass tiles, and a large steam shower with a fantastic rain shower head that was a last minute addition to the bathroom. While in Europe, the owners experienced a Grohe electronic shower system they loved and wanted to incorporate one into their new home. Mid-framing plans were changed to accommodate the new shower and the ceiling was built to house the electric system and pipes leading to the shower head. Thanks to newly bumped out garage space, the vanities are now larger for more function and visual impact. A beautiful freestanding tub finishes the space.

Take a Lap

Outside, the task was to create a pool for a homeowner who loves to swim. “We wanted to make it beautiful but also keep in mind that she was a college swimmer and still uses the pool as a main form of exercise. We needed to make a pool that would also facilitate relaxation since this is a family home, so we added a seating edge around the perimeter. Once that was added, we then had to think about how she would make her turns in the water so the length and depth had to be calculated correctly for a comfortable swimming experience,” says Soule. The large lanai was updated to create enough space for the family to gather and the outdoor kitchen and grill now provide the perfect kitchen experience when the weather is comfortable.

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