BUILT TO LAST
INNOVATIVE COASTAL DESIGN AND STORMREADY ENGINEERING ARE REDEFINING HIGH-END LIVING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
FFort Myers Beach is celebrated for its pristine white sands and turquoise Gulf views. Yet this idyllic stretch of coastline has long contended with the challenges posed by hurricane damage. Now, a new wave of luxury residences is redefining the area’s story — melding elevated coastal architecture with cutting-edge, stormresistant engineering. Among the most striking is this Aurora Award-winning modern beach house designed by Interior Designer Sherie Weidner of Clive Daniel Home. It masterfully balances resilience against nature’s fiercest forces with sophisticated, resortinspired living.
Luxury Home Builder Curtis Gunther champions this resilient philosophy. “We go at least a foot higher than FEMA’s minimum elevations,” he says. “If you’re building new, why wouldn’t you add that extra level of protection? It just makes sense.”
That forward-thinking approach permeates every detail — from breakaway walls that mitigate storm surge, to native landscaping and turtle-friendly lighting that protect the coastal ecosystem — while elevating critical systems like HVAC and electrical panels above flood lines, ensuring lasting performance without compromising aesthetics. u
Kitchen: Sleek cabinetry conceals a spacious walk-in pantry, while the unique custom-designed island and dining table combination fosters easy conversation between cooks and guests. Quartzinspired Dekton surfaces by Cosentino and lighting from Visual Comfort lend enduring style and durability against Florida’s intense sun. “Everyone ends up in the kitchen,” Weidner notes. “It needed to be both beautiful and highly functional.” Hidden storage and integrated luxury appliances from Ferguson Home emphasize clean lines and a sense of effortless elegance.
Bar: Just beyond the kitchen, the bar features a sculptural ceiling reminiscent of beach boardwalk planks. The countertops, backsplash, and even drawer fronts are clad in Dekton, creating a seamless, sun-resistant surface. “We wanted something earthy yet refined — a casual elegance suited to Fort Myers Beach,” Weidner remarks. Luxury home builder Curtis Gunther describes it as “one of the most talked-about features of the home,” often drawing praise during open houses for its craftsmanship and cohesive design.
Martini Lounge: What began as a formal dining room, Weidner reimagined as a west-facing martini lounge designed for sunset gatherings. A 60inch coffee table from Baker Furniture anchors the space, encircled by distinctive woven chairs from Palecek — perfect for evening cocktails and conversation. Soft lighting, water views, and coastal hues create an atmosphere that’s both elegant and effortlessly relaxed.
Great Room: An airy great room opens to sweeping Gulf views through expansive sliding glass doors. Oak, linen, and stone introduce organic texture, reflecting the home’s coastal setting, while a plush McCreary Modern sectional and chairs by Adriana Hoyos bring effortless comfort and a relaxed, beachy vibe. Clerestory windows above the fireplace from Andersen Windows & Doors, sourced through Naples Lumber, fill the space with soft southern light. “I extended the kitchen’s cabinetry finish across the living area so the rooms feel unified,” Weidner notes. Woven fixtures from Visual Comfort, sourced through Wilson Lighting, add sculptural texture without weighing down the room. The result is a tranquil, sun-drenched gathering space that embodies coastal ease.
Game Room: Adjacent to the bar, the game room extends the home’s beach-chic aesthetic with wide-plank ceiling details and relaxed furnishings, including a Vanguard game table and chairs from Laskasas. Layered natural textures and artwork inspired by sea and sand infuse the space warmth and energy. A connected guest bedroom completes the setting, offering the comfort and privacy of a VIP suite.
Primary Bedroom: Serene and sophisticated, the primary bedroom layers soft neutrals and woven Wall Quest wallpaper over the same striking white oak flooring found throughout the home’s main living areas. To create a seamless transition, Weidner extended the wood-look tile from the first-floor stairway onto the private balcony, enhancing the room’s sense of continuity. A pair of Lily Koo chairs form a cozy reading nook, while oversized nightstands, a textured Clive Daniel Home rug, and sweeping gulf views complete this luxurious retreat.
Primary Bathroom: The spa-like bathroom merges functionality with artful design. A freestanding Ferguson Home tub anchors the expansive shower, lined with textured porcelain tile and complete with dual benches and rainfall showerheads. “We widened the shower and brought the tub inside — it completely changed the experience,” notes Weidner, whose expertise reshaped the space beyond the initial drawings. Crisp white cabinetry provides a fresh backdrop, while marble-look tile adds subtle luxury and durability. Warm lighting enhances the calming ambiance, and the framed shower glass specified by Weidner ensures an open, elegant finish.
By joining the project from the beginning, Weidner combined her interior and architectural expertise to collaborate with local residential designer Mario Suarez and refine the house plans. Her interiors reflect an effortless blend of coastal ease and refined sophistication. “It’s a modern beach house — contemporary and relaxed, but not your grandmother’s beach cottage,” she says. Natural woods, layered textures, and soft hues of sand, sea glass, and blush weave an elegant tapestry of inviting serenity.
The open-concept main level fluidly unites the kitchen, bar, and west-facing martini lounge — a sunset gathering retreat. A sculptural white oak staircase anchors the architecture boldly, while custom ceiling and wall treatments imbue each space with distinct character. “I never want a house to feel predictable,” Weidner says. “Every space should have a memory point — a detail that makes it stand apart.” u
Powder Room: Tucked beside the martini lounge, this powder room makes a striking impression with its confident style. Linen-look tile rises to the 12foot ceiling, complemented by gold fixtures and a sculptural arm light from Wilson Lighting above the vanity. The design balances coastal textures with modern refinement — creating a bold statement in a compact footprint.
Guest Bedroom: Soft shades of green and blue evoke the shoreline, while a custom wood wall feature introduces texture and depth behind the Stanley Furniture bed. Draperies in oversized botanical prints infuse the room with a lively, tropical energy. Weidner completed the space with a softly hued abstract rug from Clive Daniel Home and curated artwork from Four Hands for a refined, resort-inspired finish.
Throughout the home, storm-resilient features weave seamlessly into the design. Microbial tile on the lower levels resists mold, while cypress ceilings were chosen for their natural resilience. Composite decking delivers the warmth of wood with superior water resistance, and even the furnishings were thoughtfully scaled to fit within on-site storage units during hurricane season.
The result is a home that embraces coastal living without surrendering to its challenges—a testament to the harmony between elegance and resilience. “When you walk in, you sense the beach atmosphere, but also the precision of fine craftsmanship,” Gunther says. “It’s a home that looks stunning, lives comfortably, and is built to last.” n
Guest Bedroom & Bathroom: Midcentury influences define this blush-and-gray bedroom, anchored by a geometric feature wall behind the Universal Furniture leather bed. Walnut furnishings and a soft mohair bench introduce layered tones and texture. In the adjoining bathroom, playful sophistication continues with a wrapped-frame mirror from Clive Daniel Home, terrazzo-style porcelain tile flecked with pink, blue, and black, plus a black-pebble shower floor. Together, the spaces strike a balance between refined design and the breezy charm of Fort Myers Beach.
Guest Bedroom & En-Suite Bathroom: A painted wood feature wall anchors this serene blue-and-white retreat, offering a striking focal point. Textured linen wallpaper and striped Vanguard draperies introduce subtle dimension without disturbing the room’s calm balance. In the en-suite bathroom, Moroccan-inspired porcelain tile echoes the home’s geometry, complemented by framed shower glass and warm wood cabinetry that grounds the crisp palette. “I love bringing natural wood into these spaces,” Weidner notes. “It keeps them feeling organic and timeless.”
“I never want a house to feel predictable,” Interior Designer Sherie Weidner of Clive Daniel Home says. “Every space should have a memory point — a detail that makes it stand apart.”
Office: Designed for productivity with sweeping water views, the office reveals a striking ceiling detail visible from the driveway below. “Knowing the ceiling would be visible from the street at night, I made sure it was nothing less than extraordinary,” Weidner explains. A commanding Woodbridge Furniture desk, sculptural lighting from Clive Daniel Home, and thoughtfully curated artwork lend the workspace both style and purpose.
Front Elevation: Raised two feet above code, the home’s façade balances resilience with refined character, combining storm-rated windows and richly grained cypress siding that will age gracefully in the coastal air. Native landscaping and turtle-friendly lighting help preserve the island’s delicate ecosystem while enhancing the home’s crisp, modern lines. “We wanted it to feel coastal but elevated — fresh, not fussy,” Weidner says. Every exterior material was selected to withstand salt, sun, and storms without sacrificing style.
Written by Heather Shoning
Photography by Amy Vischio Photography
Interior Designer:
Clive Daniel Home
2777 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL 34103
239.261.4663 www.clivedaniel.com
Resources:
Ferguson Home
38 Goodlette-Frank Road South Naples, FL 34102
239.963.0087
www.build.com/ferguson
Naples Lumber | Andersen Windows & Doors
3828 Radio Road Naples, FL 34104
239.643.7000 www.napleslumber.com
Wilson Lighting
2465 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239.592.6006 www.wilsonlighting.com