This lovely riverfront home, gracefully situated on the shores of the Manatee River in Parrish, Florida, was designed with an empty nester in mind.
The house, located in The Islands subdivision, incorporates today’s most sought-after home design trends with a comfortable interior that embraces the beauty Mother Nature provides.
According to Missi McCombs, Director of Design for Javic Homes, one of the things homeowners are looking for is an open design plan without the segmented floor plan of many older homes. Instead of a formal dining room and a separate breakfast nook, this house includes an oversized eating area adjacent to the kitchen that is large enough to accommodate a table for 6 or 8 diners. “Our clients tell us they don’t need a room that they are only going to use two times a year,” McCombs says. “We wanted to maximize the square footage into areas that get utilized on a daily basis.”
With the large open spaces created by the floor plan, ceiling treatments are one way to help differentiate living areas. “In the great room, we used a box and beam, coffered ceiling,” says McCombs. “It dresses it up and also helps delineate the great room space.”
In addition, the great room, kitchen and dining areas are all designed with large windows overlooking the lanai and pool enclosure, as well as the winding river beyond.
At 3,517 square feet, this three bedroom, three bathroom home also offers a bonus room off of the pool lanai, a den adjacent to the foyer, and a three car garage. It is a one-story home built on a spacious quarter acre lot—a true bonus for those looking to escape the aching knees caused by numerous trips up and down the stairs of their former multi-story homes.
The colors and design of the home were selected to be easily adaptable to an incoming homeowner. “We wanted an elegant, coastal look with clean lines. We didn’t want whimsical. This is more of a West Indies feel versus a Key West Casual feel,” McCombs explains.
However, it is adaptable. “The main features of the house are neutrals, so you could envision your own things in this house,” McCombs says. “Some people go all new when they buy a new home and some want to incorporate antiques. Either style would work in this house.”
The rich, dark hardwood floors help to tie the spaces together. Most of the rooms feature Nuvelle Maple Twilight stained wood, which are hand-distressed for extra textural elements. Another unifying feature is the elegant use of crisp white, as seen in the custom cabinetry and rich crown molding that was used throughout to play nicely off of the neutral, earthy sand hue of the walls. Bright pops of color were brought in with the rich blue pillows, furniture and accent artwork as well as lush rugs which glow against the dark wood floors.
The kitchen is also part of the open floor plan design with easy access to the living and dining area. The chef’s domain features stainless steel KitchenAid appliances, including a 36-inch gas stove and built-in, 42-inch refrigerator. A built-in oven with a separate dual microwave/convection oven give plenty of cooking capability without the need for two full ovens. A spacious island with rich Blue Flower granite countertops offers an abundance of counter space as well as a casual counter eating area for four. Dark gray Silestone quartz is used for the perimeter countertops and the space is finished off with a neutral, Silver Shadow marble subway tile. Oil rubbed bronze fixtures and overhead lighting complement the rich colors of the granite. This scheme is repeated on the adjacent built-in buffet.
A nearby door offers access to a walk-in pantry and full laundry room.
The large master suite is truly a master retreat. This spacious room accommodates a full suite of furniture decorated in restful neutral colors and watery blues as well as a full seating area and windows overlooking the pool and lanai.
The master bath is tiled with a handsome beige porcelain tile which mimics the look of travertine without the cost, maintenance or the slipperiness of marble. Black vanities, topped with Brown Fantasy quartzite, add an air of sophistication to the space.
A freestanding Jacuzzi soaker tub is the central focus of the room but a close second is the large walk-in shower with curb-less, door-less entry, a seamless glass wall, built-in seating, and a huge rain showerhead.
This home is designed using Universal Design principles making it friendly to “aging in place,” a growing factor for home builders as the baby boom generation reaches new age milestones.
No discussion of this house would be complete without mentioning the beautiful screened-in lanai overlooking the river. This space features a large seating area, a full outdoor kitchen and lagoon style pool with spa spill over.
The pool was specifically situated so that when you enter the front door, you have a view of the pool and are welcomed by the burble of water as it spills in a gentle waterfall. Not a bad way to come home.
Resources: Builder: Jon Solomon, Javic Homes; Kitchen designer: Dave Veal, PGT Cabinets; Interior decorating: Missi McCombs, Javic Homes; Lighting: LightStyles; Furniture and accessories: Dwell Interior Staging & Redesign; Hardwood: Nuvelle Maple Twilight, Manasota Flooring; Kitchen cabinetry: Mid-Continent Cabinetry, PGT Cabinets; Kitchen countertops: Blue Flower granite; Gray Expo Silestone, Florence Marble & Granite; Kitchen backsplash: Silver Shadow marble, Tarmak; Kitchen faucets: Moen, Ferguson Enterprises; Appliances: KitchenAid, Famous Tate; Pool: Hive Outdoor; Landscaping: ERW Landscaping; Garage doors: Banko Overhead Doors
