Longboat Key, Florida

Perched high above the Gulf of Mexico in a condominium tower on Longboat Key, our Waterclub project replaced an awkward 1980s interior with an airy and serene space that celebrates the deep blue and green hues of the Gulf.

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We began by gutting all existing interior finishes, fixtures and wall framing to establish a clean slate for the project. Though we had to work around existing plumbing, HVAC chases and structural elements, we were able to reconfigure the floor plan to establish clear sight lines and better circulation.

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Smooth white walls are grounded by white oak flooring which provides warmth and texture throughout the space. We incorporated the same white oak material on the dropped ceilings in the Kitchen and Hallway to reinforce the more intimate nature of those spaces and to create a feeling of being enveloped in natural materials. The wood clad spaces also heighten the experience of the Great Room, where a high expansive ceiling plane and large glass sliders focus the gaze toward the shimmering blue horizon.

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To keep the ceiling plane as clean as possible and avoid the visual clutter of recessed downlights, we created a cove detail along the perimeter of the ceiling, where hidden LED strip lighting illuminates the soft white walls and creates a separation between horizontal and vertical planes. In addition, we incorporated minimalist linear pendants to illuminate the ceilings of the larger spaces.

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Threaded through the project, a series of custom built-ins create a cohesive language of oak and bright accents. A block of gray oak cabinets defines the space between Entry Hall and Kitchen and frames a visitor’s first view across the Great Room. This cabinet serves as a “working wall,” with a bench and entry storage on one side, and kitchen appliances and pantry space on the other.

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Finishes were selected to complement the shimmering blue and green gradients of the surrounding water. The back wall of the kitchen is clad with ceramic tile that is hand-glazed in a soft periwinkle and is angled toward the Breakfast Nook window to catch the rays of the morning sun. An internal window in the tile wall opens up views from the Den and provides a visual connection between spaces. Small details, such as the ocean landscape that envelopes the Foyer walls and the glossy blue faucet in the Powder Bath create bright and whimsical moments in the otherwise serene space.