20 Oct FLORIDA DESIGN MAGAZINE: THE PERFECT BEACH RETREAT

One Couple Makes New Memories In An Elegant, Family-Friendly Naples Condominium By The Sea

INTERIOR DESIGN BY SALLY RICHARDSON, SALLY RICHARDSON INTERIORS, NAPLES, FL
BUILDER PARKER BORELLI, BORELLI CONSTRUCTION OF NAPLES LLC, NAPLES, FL
TEXT BY CHRISTINE DAVIS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GIOVANNI PHOTOGRAPHY, NAPLES, FL

Cherishing wonderful childhood memories of Sanibel Island, Canadian resident and owner Erica Eidt wanted to give her three children, Preston, Gracey and Parker, the opportunity to make their own memories of living on the Gulf of Mexico. So last year, she and her husband, Craig Smith, bought a sixth-floor unit in the Westgate Condominium in Naples. “I wanted my kids to see manatees, stingrays and dolphins,” Eidt says. “This is our winter retreat, our getaway from the hockey rink – all three of my kids play travel hockey. It’s non-stop.”

In a 1970s-era building with its Y-shaped configuration, this white-box 3,000-square-foot condo embraces spectacular sky and water views. To renovate and reconfigure it with an open floor plan, the couple commissioned builder Parker Borelli; and to style it like a beach bungalow, they brought interior designer Sally Richardson on board. “Erica and Craig did everything 100 percent, taking finishes to another level,” Borelli says. “I would say it now has a very coastal style, and since it’s right on the beach with windows all around, it feels like being on a cruise ship.”

An easy, relaxed interior scheme begins in the living area, where crisp white millwork and walls with a hint of a watery blue-gray hue wrap the space in seaside comfort. Here, Richardson chose sofas slipcovered in white washable linen topped with pillows that mix Manual Canovas’ bright-blue textured fabric with Kravet’s bold tie-dye accents.

ABOVE: Centering the living area’s social grouping, Vanguard Furniture’s cocktail table mimics the driftwood finish of Legno Bastone’s wide-plank, white oak from Naples Flooring. The CR Laine ottomans are clad in Kravet’s batik island print, while Hadinger’s over-dyed indigo, hand-knotted wool area rug anchors the beachy chic space.

ABOVE: A mesmerizing gulf view captivates in the kitchen, where glass art provides oceanic pops of color. Noir counter stools seated in burlap tuck neatly beneath the center island topped in UMI’s leathered blue calcite. Visual comfort’s simple lanterns keep the space open.

The coastal vibe continues in the kitchen, where bright white cabinetry lines the walls and frames a picturesque view of the aqua blue waters beyond. For a touch of elegance, Richardson chose arabesque white thassos marble tiles accented with mother-of-pearl to style the backsplash. “The island countertop is a leathered blue calcite that recalls the water and the waves,” the designer says. Nearby, natural elements combine as a raffia-wrapped chandelier casts a warm glow around the casual dining area set with woven rattan “Riviera” chairs.

In the master bedroom, a retreat bathed in blue and white, the tufted, textured-linen upholstered bed is dressed in cool white linens. “We wanted soft and washable, perfect to climb into after a day at the beach,” Richardson says. A deep-seated lounge chair and ottoman, slipcovered in a soft blue-gray blend, and the “Mariana” floor lamp styled with stacked silver spheres tuck casually into a corner sitting area.

A hand-carved mermaid presides over a full balcony, where friends and family gather to relax and enjoy impromptu meals. “Strategically placed seating allows the family to watch sunsets, passing sail boats and the occasional manatee,” Richardson says. A breath of fresh air, the couple’s condominium appears to float above water with the Gulf breeze, the sound of waves, and the seagulls as they fly by and swoop down to nab a fish. “It’s a magical space … the perfect beach retreat for our family,” Eidt says.

ABOVE: Strings of cloud-jade beads style a Ro Sham Beaux raffia chandelier that shimmers above the casual dining area. Here, woven rattan chairs by Phillips Scott circle Eero Saarinen’s “Tulip” table from Knoll. A John-Richards multi-blue, glazed centerpiece bowl and the large, mixed-media abstract by local artist Anna Rac mirror the colors of the Gulf of Mexico.

“We wanted beachy, light and mostly white, because in the winter, it’s so dark and dreary in Canada,” homeowner Erica Eidt says. “Here, I love opening the doors, listening to the waves and seeing the sunset … Every night it’s different and so beautiful.”

ABOVE: In the master bedroom, Vanguard’s bed takes center stage across from Bernhardt’s dresser finished in a light gray wash. Outside, teak “old steamer ship-style” chairs join a white rope-wrapped drum table from Made Goods.

ABOVE: Walls of glass slide open to allow soothing Gulf breezes into the main balcony. Accent pillows in Brunschwig & Fils’ blue-stripe dhurrie fabric add bold color to Summer Classics’ teak wood and woven wicker outdoor furnishings.

SOURCES

LIVING AREA
Sofas – Moss Studio, Codarus, Burbank, CA
Accent pillows – Manual Canovas, Cowtan & Tout, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL
Cocktail table – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC
Stools – CR Laine, Hickory, NC
Fabric – Kravet, Inc., Naples, FL
Cabinetry – Borelli Construction, Naples, FL
Artwork behind sofa – Barloga Studios, Aldecor Custom Framing & Gallery, Naples, FL
Throw – International Design Source, Naples, FL
Area rug – Hadinger Flooring, Naples, FL

DINING AREA
Dining table – Knoll, Miami, FL
Rattan chairs – Phillips Scott, Atlanta, GA
Centerpiece – John-Richard, Greenwood, MS
Chandelier – Ro Sham Baux, Charleston, SC
Artwork – Anna Rac Studio & Gallery, Aldecor Custom Framing & Gallery, Naples, FL
Settee beneath round mirror – Jessica Charles, Hickory, NC KITCHEN
Cabinetry and island – Borelli Construction, Naples, FL Countertops – UMI, Naples, FL
Counter stools – Noir, Gardena, CA
Light pendants – Visual Comfort & Co., Houston, TX Hood – Vent-A-Hood, Ferguson, Naples, FL
Cooktop – Wolf, Sub-Zero Group, Ferguson, Naples, FL MASTER BEDROOM
Bed and bedside tables – Vanguard Furniture, Conover, NC Table lamps – Regina Andrew, Riverview, MI
Armchair and ottoman – CR Laine, Hickory, NC
Fabric – Chesterdales Home & Garden, Naples, FL
Floor lamp and fan – Wilson Lighting, Naples, FL
Dresser – Bernhardt, Lenoir, NC
Area rug – Hadinger Flooring, Naples, FL.
Armchairs on balcony – Summer Classics, Pelham, AL Drum table – Made Goods, City of Industry, CA

MAIN BALCONY
Armchairs and side chairs – Summer Classics, Pelham, AL Accent pillows – Brunschwig & Fils, DCOTA, Dania Beach, FL Cocktail and dining table – Redford House, Carson, CA White accessories – International Design Source, Naples, FL Mermaid – Blue Ocean Traders, Louisville, KY

THROUGHOUT
Mirrors – Aldecor Custom Framing & Gallery, Naples, FL Recessed lighting – Superior Electric, Naples, FL
Custom drapery and upholstery fabricated by Elegant Design & Upholstery, Naples, FL
Tile distributor – Ruben Sorhegui Tile, Naples, FL
Flooring – Legno Bastone, Naples Flooring, Naples, FL