There’s a sense of power in designing a home purely for yourself, without the worry of resale or passing trends. When Laina and Tom Kennedy began building a traditional estate in Talis Park for themselves and their four kids in 2013, they approached the process with confidence and a clear vision, completing the project over three years.
Laina, who owns several Mister O1 pizzerias in Naples and on Florida’s east coast, has had a flair for design since childhood, when she was known for rearranging her parents’ furniture. She learned early that small changes can make a big impact. So, for this home, she was hands-on with every decision, from the flooring to the wall plate covers, determined to create a house that felt grounded and lasting—the kind of home you could spend a lifetime in.
Designed by Stofft Cooney Architects, the more than 10,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, nine-bath residence allowed Laina to channel her love of design while striking a balance between modern comfort and a sense of heritage. “My design choices are traditional at the bones, but I do like those trending fillers that I won’t get sick of,” she says.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park Estate Dining Room black chairs
The owners made bold choices throughout the home to give it a custom feel. Geometric Italian marble tile flooring sets the tone in the entry, while herringbone hardwood runs across much of the first floor.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park Estate gold table setting
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park Estate piano and staircase
At the entry, geometric Italian marble tiles make a striking first impression. Laina had seen a similar pattern in a design magazine and kept the idea tucked away until she found the perfect place to use it.
A reflective niche sets the tone for the rest of the home, with large-scale molding, an acrylic-and-wood table over an upholstered bench, acrylic-shaded sconces and an ornate gold mirror set against a shagreen wallcovering.
Throughout much of the first floor, the couple chose herringbone-patterned wood flooring. “The floors were a bold choice, but I wanted it to feel custom,” Laina says. “I wanted it to be comfortable for everyone, but still be different.”
Across from the foyer, a turn-of-the-century Steinway piano that belonged to Tom’s grandmother now undergirds the dramatic staircase—and serves as the instrument on which their youngest son is learning to play.
Photography by Tina Sargeant
Laina Kennedy in her Talis Park Estate
Laina was hands-on throughout the process. “My design choices are traditional at the bones, but I do like those trending fillers,” she says.
Nearly every piece in the home has a story. Years ago, she spotted a blue velvet sofa in Sex and the City: The Movie and became determined to find one like it to anchor the formal living room. “I went on this wild goose chase looking at literally hundreds of blue velvet fabric samples that would make that couch the star of that room,” she says.
Her most personal piece, though, is a large, pink velvet Knole-style sofa that once stood in her Kappa Alpha Theta sorority house at the University of Oklahoma. When she heard the house was being redecorated, she went straight to the auction and bought it. The piece became the backdrop for her wedding photos. “We put it in the street for a photoshoot, and then it went to the wedding venue so my sisters could all take pictures on it,” she says. Back home, they added a room just off their primary bedroom to house the sofa.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis park estate pink velvet sofa
Many of the furnishings were chosen for their sentimental value. The pink sofa off the primary suite was bought at auction from Laina’s college sorority house.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park estate white master bath
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park Estate white bedroom
The instinct to honor memory through design shaped Laina’s approach to the entire property. She wanted a place that celebrated life’s moments, large and small—a setting where family and friends could gather and traditions could take root. One year, she decided to host a cookie-decorating party for neighborhood families on Christmas Eve. “Tom said no one would come,” she recalls with a laugh. “But I’m big on tradition and thought, ‘Why not?’
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis park estate white kitchen
The home was designed for entertaining, with an open-concept kitchen that flows into a casual dining nook and comfortable living room for gathering with friends and family.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis park estate living room white interiors with pops of color
The casual get-together soon became a ritual, drawing more than 100 guests, with food on the table and an obstacle course for the kids out back.
The Kennedys have since moved from Talis Park, but the home still reflects Laina’s sensibility: warm, classic and built to feel like the kind of place you could spend a lifetime in.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park estate outside living area
Out back, Old World formality is translated through a modern lens with clean geometry and a restrained palette of colors and materials.
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Photography by Tina Sargeant
Talis Park estate pool area
Architect: Stofft Cooney
Builder: Borelli Construction of Naples
Designer: Jessica McIntyre Interiors and homeowner
Photography: Tina Sargeant