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The living room and dining room flow seamlessly together to create one expansive room — walls and columns that once stood in between the two spaces were removed. The achromatic sectional and swivel chairs from Robb & Stucky offer a backdrop of neutrality. Geisdorf explains, “Most of the finishes are pretty neutral, and then the color is in the artwork and the accent pillows,” as well as the muted undertones in the rug from Rugs As Art.
COASTAL COLLABORATION
LOCAL COMPANIES UNITE TO TRANSFORM LONGBOAT KEY CONTEMPORARY CONDO homeanddesign.net
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As full-time residents of the northeast, the owners of this 3,080-square-foot top-floor condo wanted to use the space as a vacation home. Built in the 1990s, the condo — just three miles west of Sarasota on the barrier island of Longboat Key — needed a complete upgrade to current times. “They didn’t want to live in the 1990s anymore, functionally or aesthetically,” laughs Jill Geisdorf, Senior Designer. Geisdorf teamed up with local companies Light Up Your Life, Oracle Flooring & Design, The Plumbing Place, Robb & Stucky, and Rugs As Art to create a contemporary space with hidden functionality throughout. The partnership with local, reputable companies is an important one. “I am always open to their suggestions. Those are the things that make for a good outcome for the client,” explains Geisdorf. “When I have a good relationship and rapport with them, we are able to act as a team with a common and cohesive goal for our clients.” Contemporary, neutral, and openness quickly emerged as the main goals for the space. The first step was tearing down walls, specifically between the dining room and the great room to create one large living and entertainment area. The third bedroom was turned into a den using a unique effect. “We put up a glass enclosure to let light pass through the spaces and to give them more connection,” describes Geisdorf, but one interior wall in particular was left up. “For functional reasons, we wanted to keep division of space between the kitchen and living room. That allowed us to have a fireplace and television feature wall in the living room.” u
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Geisdorf teamed up with local companies Light Up Your Life, Oracle Flooring & Design, The Plumbing Place, Robb & Stucky, and Rugs As Art to create a contemporary space with hidden functionality throughout. Foyer: As with most of the home’s décor and accessories, the entryway showcases a console from Florida-based home store Robb & Stucky. The rug was made with leftover pieces from another room, sourced from Rugs As Art. “We don’t want anything to go to waste,” explains Geisdorf, “and we liked it.” The den sits off the foyer, and its glass enclosure provides an abundance of light as you enter the home. Dining: The backlit shelves set the tone for the dining room. “The non-decorative lights are the ones that set a mood and a feeling, more so than a decorative fixture,” explains Geisdorf. “They make things glow.” The granite countertop flanking the Sub-Zero wine cooler is the only space where quartz is not used because of the countertop’s chiseled edge — an edge that can only be achieved with natural stone. “They wanted something a little more masculine, a little more substantial.”
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Dining Room: Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende Lounge: Nequat. Officium sundae voluptaquid moditatem remporem. Pa conest, simolendis et labo. Nemquianis ea sequasite plam, ut accusae re nonsequam, ommodis nosam verrum liquis et esti doluptiis sima vento eat. Bitat. Ga. Vit exceptae lant enti derem dis alitat hilignis et mi, volupidio. Nam, saperestium fugiandes nulpa quis et vollis placern atures dolore sundandit volore volende
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Quartz countertops run seamlessly into the backsplash, paired with painted white shaker cabinets to create a clean, contemporary look. “The island serves to ground the room with its medium- to dark-brown stained rift-cut oak cabinetry,” explains Geisdorf. Adding to the functionality is a secret door leading into the laundry room, a built-in espresso maker, and hidden outlets built into the backs of the upper cabinets.
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Neutrality throughout the interior is achieved with Sherwin-Williams Pure White, and Geisdorf explains that “it’s all one big space, so we wanted it to feel very open and connected.” The same Travertine stone-look porcelain tile from Oracle Flooring & Design was used throughout the condo to enhance the space’s connectivity and neutral undertones. Bold touches throughout the condo juxtapose the overall neutrality of the space. The truest example of bold contrast is the addition of a drop-in sink in the powder room from The Plumbing Place. “It has a taupe shagreen texture that is reminiscent of a stingray,” dishes Geisdorf. “This is a nice addition because it shows a connection to their location overlooking the gulf waters.” More bold color comes into play with custom-made orange and purple accent pillows and artwork, namely the piece above the sofa, which serves as the focal point of the home. To accentuate it, LED strip lights from Light Up Your Life were integrated into the drywall. “We put them in the ceiling and wrapped them down on the wall above the sofa, so they flank the artwork,” describes Geisdorf. n
Master Bedroom: The master bedroom is a breathtaking ode to the sea, even with its neutral overtone. The owners didn’t want window treatments because they didn’t want anything to obstruct their view of Sarasota Bay, so “I thought we should keep things really quiet in here,” explains Geisdorf. Some blue hues in the rug from Rugs As Art offset the white bedding and soft pendant lighting from Swank, while the understated Fanimation fan overhead provides movement in this subtle space. 162
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Master Bathroom: A main goal in the master bathroom was to add light. “We put double glass pocket doors between the bedroom and the bathroom,” says Geisdorf. “When the doors are closed, they will get some light into the bathroom because it’s an interior room.” Lighted mirrors from Eurofase also provide ample lighting above the double sink with stark white countertops, and the light tile backsplash is a neutral juxtaposition of the dark wood veneer cabinets. One of the most unique features in the condo is the overhead tub filler that adds subtle drama to the freestanding tub, both from The Plumbing Place. Porcelain tile adorns the floor and wall, while the matching tile on the vanity backsplash and steam shower wall serve as accents. Home décor from Robb & Stucky add a contemporary touch while maintaining the neutral intentions.
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Guest Bedroom: To accommodate visits from the couple’s two grown children, comfort is key in this guest room. The rectangular upholstered wall panels tie the two beds together in a contemporary way. “The panels are silvery gold metallic, so it’s not very bold in color, but the design, being the width of the two beds, creates a pretty dramatic effect,” explains Geisdorf. Guest Bathroom: The guest bathroom boasts a lighted mirror from Eurofase that is “functional because the light is directed onto your face instead of from up above,” delights Geisdorf. A blue-gray stone accents the wall behind the sink, complementing the dark wood cabinetry. “It’s bold but also calming and soothing at the same time.”
Written by Amy Sward Photography by Piper Creative Group Resources: Light Up Your Life 1620 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 941.330.0422 www.lights-sarasota.com
Robb & Stucky 7557 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 941.702.8400 www.robbstucky.com
Oracle Flooring & Design 2030 Harvard Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941.302.4414 www.oraclesurfaces.com
Rugs As Art 6650 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 941.921.1900 www.rugsasart.com
The Plumbing Place 5678 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34232 941.378.5678 www.theplumbingplace.com
Powder Room (Left): The Taj Mahal quartzite countertop cascades down low enough to cover the plumbing. “It makes for an impactful look, but also has a floating feel since there are no cabinets,” says Geisdorf. Light Up Your Life is responsible for the radiant ambiance in this powder room — seen in the backlit mirrors that illuminate the gold glass-tile wall, bringing out soft blue and purple undertones, and pendant lights that hang from the far side to visually balance the space.
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