Virginia may have its charms, but azure water and swaying palms are not among them. So when a Virginia family sought a coastal escape, they landed on Marco Island, creating a retreat that feels worlds away from their Mid-Atlantic-area life.
The 6,600-square-foot, five-bedroom home was designed by HLevel Architecture and built by BUILD, with interiors by David Fruscione of Republic of Decor. Conceived as a spec house, the structure quickly became a personalized sanctuary once the buyers came aboard. “The clients wanted something dramatically different from their traditional D.C.-area primary residence,” David says. “They wanted that casual, coastal, transitional feel while maintaining the sophistication they appreciate.”
That intent plays out in a palette of blues and neutrals, echoing the water just beyond the windows. A blue metal roof crowns the exterior, while the two-story glass entry shows off an 11.5-foot-long blown-glass chandelier from Hammerton. Wide-plank oak floors ground the main spaces, where floating shelves and reclaimed beams add warmth against soaring 11.5-foot ceilings and walls of glass.
Photography by Tristan Heeb
marco island republic of decor bold coastal design entry way
Conceived as a departure from the owner’s primary D.C.-area residence, the space immediately sets the tone with a lofty foyer. In the study, the navy built-in, grasscloth wallpaper and brass sconces exemplify an elevated approach to coastal design.
The kitchen anchors the home in commanding fashion. A custom hood in blue and brass presides over a Wolf range, balanced by a porcelain tile backsplash and a 10.5-foot island, finished in blue-black paint and topped with quartz with soft gray veining that adds subtle movement and balances the kitchen’s bolder gestures. Antiqued mirrored glass disguises Sub-Zero refrigeration, while brass accents on Arteriors pendant lighting and fixtures carry warmth throughout.
The theme continues in the adjacent study, framed in black metal and fitted with a built-in finished in the same blue-black tone, with grasscloth insets for texture. Illumination was a priority, David notes, and the lighting plan—from brass pendants to sculptural sconces—delivers a layered glow across the home.
In the primary suite, subtle textures keep the focus on the Bay view. Phillip Jeffries wallcovering defines the headboard wall, while the ensuite bath layers porcelain tile and quartzite countertops with penny tile shower flooring in soft putty and mushroom tones, maintaining the home’s neutral foundation. The scene’s lit by alabaster sconces from Chapman & Myers.
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Photography by Tristan Heeb
marco island republic of decor bold coastal design living
Designer David Fruscione deployed blue strategically throughout, varying textures and tones and balancing with contrasting elements like reclaimed beams and walls of glass. The cerulean metal roof carries the strategy to the exterior of the 6,600-square-foot retreat.
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Photography by Tristan Heeb
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Upstairs, bedrooms introduce more personal expression, including the couple’s teenage daughter’s suite with Laura Park wallpaper in pinks and corals under a bubble-glass fixture. “We made this room ultra-feminine for her,” David says. “I wanted to make sure it still worked for her as she got older.”
Personal touches run throughout, from the layered mix of art and accessories punctuating the great room to the distinct family photo wall between the entry and the kitchen. As a surprise for her husband, the owner had David curate the wall, distilled from over 300 images, celebrating decades of memories.
Outdoors, a raised pool and spa front a Turkish limestone-clad loggia with an open-air kitchen, dining and living area, extending the family’s waterfront life. The pool bath offers a showstopping moment, with a burst of pattern from Stroheim wallpaper. “I wanted the wallpaper to pop and really get your attention when you walk in,” David says. A Stone Forest vanity with a solid marble top over knurled brass and wood shelves provides sculptural weight, a distilled example of David’s talent for turning function into theater.
From the roofline to the pool deck, the house embraces blue in a way that feels distinctly of the place. For this family, it’s a clear departure from Beltway formality—a getaway designed for easy days by the water.
Photography by Tristan Heeb
Photography by Tristan Heeb
Photography by Tristan Heeb
Photography by Tristan Heeb
Photography by Tristan Heeb
marco island republic of decor bold coastal design patio
Turkish limestone clads the backdrop, offsetting a Platinus Quartzite backsplash and NatureKast shaker cabinets in a Cobalt Linen finish. Woven dining chairs and the round table strike a balance between comfort and polish for serious poolside entertaining.
Architect: HLevel Architecture
Builder: BUILD
Interior Design: David Fruscione of Republic of Decor
Photography: Tristan Heeb