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Photography: Brantly Photography
I like to think I can spot the area homes of fellow New Yorkers. And this beautiful West Indies-style property designed by Ficarra Design Associates immediately piqued my interest.
With a mix of styles, colors and textures, the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom, 4,264-square-foot Coquina Sands home is the perfect blend of elegance and comfort.
“We really wanted something that when friends and family come stay, they would feel at home and feel comfortable and yet it would still be like a retreat and be beautiful,” says Michele Stockel, who owns the home along with her husband, Andy. “And we are so happy with the result. We got exactly what we wanted and more.”
Of course, it would have been easy for the couple just to hire their New York interior designer to fly down and handle the project, but they wanted the Naples vibe.
To that end, the Stockels asked designer Lisa Ficarra and her associate, Carrie Brighan, to work with a blue and white theme to create a look that wasn’t standard Florida. They created a cohesive look that utilized a range of blues and whites in a mix of patterns and uses. It’s coastal but not contemporary; elegant yet approachable.
“When you look at it, it does incorporate a little West Indies feel,” says Ficarra. “With the black dining room chairs and the darker woods and entry door. And we added planking in the ceiling and added some embellishments to the fireplace.”
There’s a refined elegance to the space but still pops of color, such as the cobalt blue rug and the persimmon lamps in the living room, with a vibrancy that continually engages. And the patterned upholstery and linen drapes bring a warmth and charm to the home that make everyone immediately feel welcome. Best of all, it’s livable. At no point do you feel like you can’t sit down and relax.
“It’s beautiful and comfortable,” Ficarra says. “It flows really well. It’s very welcoming and it draws you in. … Some places you walk in and you don’t want to step into the living room because you’re afraid.”
Nowhere is the livability more evident than the home’s study/music room, which incorporates all of the aforementioned design cues: blue and white bold print drapes, raw wood ceiling inserts, traditional accents, touchable upholstery, a sisal rug and a cushioned coffee table that virtually begs to have you kick up your feet.
Meanwhile, the gorgeous master bedroom continues the theme of soft tones and welcoming textures, perfectly tied together with a faux-vintage rug that incorporates subtle blues, greens and tans that have been lightly washed to reveal their gentle nature. That allowed a range of colored furnishings to take their place in the room, alongside printed linen drapes, woven lampshades and custom bedding.
Overall, the home is a terrific blend of traditional and coastal, making guests feel right at home—especially if they’re from Westchester.
“Everyone who comes here just gets it,” Michele says. “And that’s what we’re so happy about.”
Builder: Naples Bay Builders
Interior designer: Ficarra Design Associates
Photography: Brantly Photography
Brantley Photography (©Brantley Photography 2016)
Stockel Residence 12