DUTCH WEST INDIES REINVENTED
THE CHARM OF WEST INDIES ARCHITECTURE WITH A MODERNIST DUTCH INFLUENCE
IIn Naples, West Indies architecture remains a popular choice — but this waterfront home introduces a Dutch-inspired twist on the familiar style. Architect John Cooney of Stofft Cooney Architects designs a Dutch West Indies exterior that strikes the right balance: tropical undertones, contemporary lines, and a subtle departure from the expected.
“Anything someone can dream, we can build,” says Nick Radick, Marketing Director at Knauf-Koenig Group. The architecture shines in the Florida sun with its crisp white façade and prominent parapet gables. A verdant, meandering courtyard leads to the front door, where a framed view of the cove draws visitors inside. u
Front Elevation: Painted in Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams, the crisp white gable end parapets give this Dutch West Indies home a striking presence. “We wanted something different, but not so avant-garde,” says Cooney. “This style still feels tropical, but fresh — and we knew it would be marketable.” Stone headers above garage doors add detail without overpowering the form. Turf inlays break up charcoal pavers, while two Medjool palms texture the skyline, counterbalancing the home’s geometric lines.
Entry: The cantilevered roof creates a welcoming pause in scale, where three columns establish a vertical rhythm that balances the offset walkway. Turf inlays add geometric interest underfoot, while a trio of Alexander palms on either side forms a soft canopy overhead. The meandering path is alive with layered greenery and bursts of fuchsia, as bronze-backed sconces enhance the entry’s glow. Beyond the front door, the view to the water awaits through Andersen Windows & Doors 400 Series windows sourced from Florida Wood Window and Door.
Cooney arranges the interior with an open-concept plan, ensuring a view of the water from every room. Internally, Design Director Liz Brown of Calusa Bay Design dubs the project Casual Elegance. “We want a prospective buyer to walk in and say, ‘I can picture myself living here!’” Brown says. “Thankfully, that is exactly what happened.” She credits the home’s appeal to a clear design direction: elevated and livable. “It may seem like an oxymoron,” she admits, but the contrast is intentional — streamlined millwork and architectural details are softened by furnishings and art, creating a juxtaposition that feels both refined and relaxed.
Medium-toned wood creates a striking impression, anchoring the foyer and defining the dining room with custom oak slats. Layered over this earthy material, Brown introduces organic textures and accents of denim blue, terracotta, and mustard — a palette that adds warmth and reinforces the home’s welcoming tone. u
Living Room: The stairwell is wrapped in white paneling — a classic detail that frames the staircase by Florida Stairworks & Carpentry. Ample natural light pours in through tall windows, illuminating Coreca flooring from the Dolce Vita Collection by Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring, sourced through Naples Flooring Company, which runs directly toward the water view. A hand-knotted rug from Bokara Rug Company anchors the space, its palette reflected in the denim blue Baker chairs and accented by terracotta and ochre pillows on the Century sectional. The built-in, framed by a wall-to-wall hearth, features cased-in shelving styled with textured accents, including a genuine terracotta pot that echoes the warm terracotta hue found throughout the home.
Dining Room: Brown alternates black and white window frames throughout the home, choosing black in this space to highlight the view as if it were a picture. Barrel chairs in a terracotta fabric from Vanguard Furniture surround a custom dining table. Overhead, a hand-beaded chandelier from Palecek brings coastal texture. Spaced oak slats line the flanking walls — one showcases a soothing Benson-Cobb artwork, while the other conceals a surprise: a hidden door integrated into the detailing.
Service Pantry & Bar: As a playful reverse of the kitchen cabinetry finishes, this bar features natural walnut cabinetry with painted, glazed interiors. Fully equipped with a dishwasher and refrigerator drawers from Ferguson Home, the space serves as a catering hub. The bar connects directly to the kitchen, while the hidden door blends seamlessly into the slat wall when closed, keeping the dining room perfectly styled.
Dual islands—one working, one dining—remain a kitchen staple. Here, Brown crafts the dining island entirely in walnut with tongue-and-groove detailing on its vertical wings for classic elegance. The working island features walnut cabinetry paired with UMI Stone quartzite, which is used for both the range countertop and backsplash. Meanwhile, the 700-bottle walk-in wine enclosure—with sleek black racks and walnut cladding—stands as a functional showpiece anchoring the space.
Hallway: The team collaborates on how best to dress this transition space, lining it with a sandy-hued wallcovering from Romo Fabrics. Pilasters introduce depth and shadow, adding sculptural interest to the long hallway. Overhead, brass and glass globe pendants are suspended from a series of floating ceiling clouds, creating a visual rhythm. Beyond aesthetics, these architectural moves also cleverly conceal AC vents — a functional detail the team prioritizes from the start.
Primary Bathroom: Honoring the oak finish flowing throughout the home, Brown selects medium oak cabinetry to warm the crisp white tile palette. Marble flooring flows into the shower, composing with the rule of thirds: terrazzo from Design Works occupies the lower third, while handmade subway tile above keeps walls light and luminous. Flecks of terracotta, gray, black, and white in the terrazzo carry the home’s colorway.
“We want a prospective buyer to walk in and say, ‘I can picture myself living here!’” Design Director Liz Brown of Calusa Bay Design says. “Thankfully, that is exactly what happened.”
In the living room, large sliders open to the covered lanai and infinity-edge pool, while ceiling beams align from indoors to out, creating a visual rhythm that draws the eye toward the cove. Building on Matt Knauf’s carpentry background as a luxury home builder and co-owner of Knauf-Koenig Group, Radick highlights the custom woodwork built on-site throughout the home. In the kitchen, Brown leans into the richness of natural walnut — using it on the cabinetry, second island, and ceiling beams — and takes a fresh approach to tongue-and-groove, installing it on the diagonal to introduce subtle pattern and movement overhead. In the club room, the look reverses: natural wood above with white box beams, lending a relaxed, informal atmosphere. u
Primary Bedroom: Heavy timber trusses fill the voluminous ceiling, delineating the seating area. Brown chooses white paint for the window frames to preserve the soft, serene retreat atmosphere she envisions. Gauzy drapery further enhances the room’s gentle tone. Serene artwork by Benson-Cobb hangs above the Baker bed, dressed in Pom Pom at Home bedding. A Loloi area rug pulls together the room’s palette, while warm wood furnishings anchor the airy space.
Guest Bedroom: Texture and warm hues define this corner suite with a wall-to-wall custom headboard. Textural art pieces from Loloi nest with a reproduction print from Wendover Art Group, forming a marvelous juxtaposition of texture, color, and subject matter on a terracotta wallpaper backdrop. Contemporary nightstands from Douglas Jennings add sophistication to this casual space, echoed by rattan stools and a beaded chandelier.
In both the primary bedroom and guest accommodations, the design maintains a focus on organic textures, architectural detail, and unobstructed views. The palette in the primary bedroom mirrors the rest of the home, but with softened tones for a serene, restful effect. That same sense of comfort continues just beyond the glass doors, where Brown selects fully upholstered outdoor furnishings — extending the feel of the living room into the lanai for a natural indoor-outdoor connection.
From the rear, the home’s Dutch-inspired gables echo across the water, while the midnight-blue hue of the infinity-edge pool blends into the cove beyond. “For us, success is all about the architecture,” says Cooney. In this case, it struck the right balance — elevated, livable, and distinctly Dutch — and the home sold within two weeks. n
Club Room: Cooney designs this multi-purpose space in response to the evolving needs of modern homeowners — spaces that serve as lounge, office, or retreat, all while connecting to the natural surroundings. Brown layers the palette with terracotta, greens, and soft blue. Glass-suspended Black Sea fans from WJC Design offer a tribute to Florida’s coastal ecology. The textural wallcovering from Holly Hunt becomes part of the artwork itself, with its watery color as the backdrop.
Outdoor Kitchen & Outdoor Living: As a testament to functionality, the outdoor kitchen is located just off the main kitchen, featuring a sophisticated plaster hood that remains intentionally understated. Shellstone flooring and a cypress ceiling extend throughout the covered area, creating visual continuity, while a teak table and chairs offer a tropical touch. Fully upholstered furniture from Century makes the space feel cozy, while pops of terracotta and denim blue carry the color scheme outdoors. Castle Services of Southwest Florida completed the installation of four motorized hurricane shutters, four motorized insect screens, and the access panels, enhancing both comfort and protection.
Rear Aerial & Pool View: Dutch-style gables with parapet ends extend across the rear façade. Ocean-to-midnight blue waterline tile defines the pool, while Brown echoes the cove’s hue with a darker finish to deepen the natural connection. “When choosing a site, access to open water is everything — and this home is in the ‘Nifty Fifty,’ one of the lots in The Moorings with no bridge clearance,” says Radick. “It’s under five minutes to the Gulf.”
Written by Rachel Seekamp
Photography by Amber Frederiksen Photography
Interior Designer:
Calusa Bay Interior Design
5121 Castello Drive, Suite 2 Naples, FL 34103
239.325.2800 www.calusabaynaples.com
Luxury Home Builder:
Knauf-Koenig Group
5640 Taylor Road, Suite 3 Naples, FL 34109
239.592.9900 www.kkgbuild.com
Resources:
Castle Services of Southwest Florida
3963 Enterprise Avenue Naples, FL 34104
239.304.4620
www.castleservices.net
Design Works
2082 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239.378.5219 www.floridadesignworks.com
Ferguson Home
38 Goodlette-Frank Road South Naples, FL 34102
239.963.0087 www.build.com/ferguson
Florida Stairworks & Carpentry
7800 Drew Circle, Suite 15 Fort Myers, FL 33967
239.489.1177 www.floridastair.com
Florida Wood Window and Door
Andersen Windows & Doors
5691 Halifax Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33912
239.437.6166 www.fwwdinc.com
Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring 168 Commercial Boulevard Naples, FL 34104
239.206.1898 www.legnobastone.com
Naples Flooring Company 900 5th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 239.263.1213 www.naplesflooring.com
UMI Stone
1615 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239.593.6995 www.umistone.com