ELEVATED COASTAL RETREAT AT BAY COLONY
CLEAN LINES, LAYERED BLUES, WARM WOODS, AND SMART DESIGN CRAFT A SOPHISTICATED HIGH-RISE CONDO
AA move within the same building rarely sparks a complete reinvention. Yet for a Chicago couple upsizing within Bay Colony, it ignited a bold vision for refined Naples living. The Brighton high-rise had been their cherished seasonal escape from the Midwest — a bright haven for family gatherings with their four grown children — but the new unit’s dated layout, closed-off rooms, and obstructed views demanded a top-to-bottom transformation aligned with their evolving chapter.
The homeowners knew exactly who could realize their vision. Impressed by prior J. Lynn Design Group projects in the building, they enlisted Creative Director Jenna Getchell to reimagine every inch of the space. “They selected this unit for its generous floor plan and solid original buildout, targeting a top-to-bottom renovation,” Getchell explains. The aim: a fresh, tailored coastal home — free of thematic excess, with technology seamlessly integrated into the architecture, accommodating quiet days for two or lively family weeks.
To set that transformation in motion, Getchell first tackled the home’s most significant constraint: bulky, low soffits that visually weighed down the rooms. Collaborating with the mechanical team, she specified a low-velocity, high-pressure HVAC system — “a typical A/C needs 12- to 15-inch soffits; with cutting-edge technology, ours measure just 8 inches, maximizing ceiling heights” — for cleaner lines and superior proportions. With walls removed, rooms reimagined, and circulation paths redrawn, the once-dated condominium emerged with the clean, modern bones of a fresh coastal retreat.
From the entrance onward, each detail embodies the couple’s vision of elevated yet relaxed coastal living. A rift-white-oak key-drop cabinet extends a warm welcome, echoing the natural wood tones threading throughout the space. A reimagined structural column, wrapped in smoky mirror, deftly conceals a television while amplifying Gulf views, visually expanding the room.
The kitchen now serves as the heart of the home, anchored by dual islands that fostering seamless cooking and conversation. White cabinetry contrasts navy islands accented by polished-nickel X inlays, marrying modern sophistication with transitional edge. Ferguson Home appliances integrate flawlessly, while Dekton Trance countertops and backsplash offer understated elegance and durability; the front island reimagines a farmhouse sink via a sleek, mitered apron from the same slab. “We specify a 9-inch mitered apron in front of the sink — a crisp, modern take on the farmhouse style,” Getchell explains. u
The working island hides one of the home’s smartest features: an Invisacook induction system embedded directly beneath the countertop. “Our client loved exploring cutting-edge technology, so we incorporated Invisacook for a hidden induction cooktop,” Getchell explains. “The cooking surface is completely invisible — it just disappears.” Discreet ventilation preserves the island’s pristine lines overhead, Visual Comfort lighting casts a refined glow, and Hickory Chair barstools add natural warmth atop Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring in Lancaster finish from the European Elegance Collection, sourced via Naples Flooring Company, threading consistently throughout the home.
The living room flows seamlessly from the kitchen, oriented to capture the breathtaking Gulf horizon. A minimalist drywall coffered ceiling adds subtle architectural interest — forgiving in a shifting high-rise structure where wood could crack. “For our coffer ceiling we opted to use drywall instead of the standard wood coffer. When a high-rise building moves, the wood is not as forgiving as drywall can be,” Getchell notes. Furniture marries comfort and style, anchored by a deep sectional amid streamlined silhouettes, with Mary McDonald-upholstered swivel chairs facing the windows or pivoting toward sunset views, weaving the Gulf into daily life.
Nearby, the dining area crafts an inviting setting, its stepped ceiling detail cleverly resolving mechanical constraints while adding quiet architectural interest. Mirrors and recessed wood niches amplify natural light and visually link indoors and out, reinforcing the home’s connection to its coastal surroundings. An oval Studio A table softens the layout, paired with Designmaster Furniture dining chairs in navyedged indoor-outdoor fabric that balances easy care with tailored sophistication. u
In the primary bedroom, Getchell softened the palette to a serene, refined blue — coastal in spirit yet subtly muted. The ceiling steals the show as an architectural highlight: nickel-gap tongue-and-groove paneling curving into an LED lighting reveal, accented by rift white oak beams. “This design is intended to have some of the comforts of a coastal classic, but modernized with clean lines throughout,” she explains. “The use of stained rift white oak beams and paint grade nickel gap tongue and groove is a classic combo, but adding the mitered edges and clean lines keep it modern.” Trimless Lutron integrates flawlessly, while a Burton James bed, Vanguard bench, and Old Biscayne Designs nightstands harmonize quietly against a Philip Jeffries wallcovering.
The primary bathroom replaces the original tub with a spacious steam shower, pocket doors preserving Gulf views through rising steam. Porcelain tiles sheath walls and ceiling for enduring performance, paired with a sleek quartz floating bench and marble mosaic floor from Design Works adding subtle pattern underfoot. Tall storage towers in the vanities keep counters clear, while vertical marble slabs behind Hudson Valley sconces create sculptural accents, finished with polished-nickel hardware that adds a jewelry-like gleam. u
Guest accommodations deliver thoughtful sophistication for visiting adult children. The main guest bedroom layers Philip Jeffries grasscloth behind a Bernhardt bed, paired with Vanguard nightstands and John-Richard lamps, with built-in cabinetry creating furniture-like closet alternatives. The en-suite bath pairs striking Ariostea Ultra Crystal Sky tile in a striking blue crystalline porcelain tile with matching blue cabinetry, quartz counters, and a touch-latch mirror concealing storage.
Adaptability defines a dedicated lounge that doubles as a fourth bedroom with a custom Murphy bed. By day, it serves as a cozy retreat for leisure and conversation; by night, the bed folds down seamlessly. “When we design a Murphy bed, our goal is to make it feel like a seamless part of the room — a comfortable, beautifully finished piece that invites relaxation,” Getchell says. “Upholstered panels introduce softness and warmth, making the space feel welcoming.” Floating rift-oak shelves and a mirrored backdrop brighten the room, while tailored Roman shades conceal the Lutron solar blackout shades.
Just outside the primary bedroom, a compact vestibule reveals an office with show-stopping Gulf views. A Harmon Hinge door seamlessly integrates into the wall for effortless openness or privacy, while a light, airy desk framed in satin nickel and Lucite preserves an expansive feel. Custom cabinetry conceals office essentials behind sleek doors, and a mirrored backsplash reflects beach scenery, visually doubling the room’s footprint. u
Throughout the home, design circles back consistently to core principles: warm wood textures, layered blues, clean lines, and thoughtful transitions. Materials exude quiet luxury — durable for daily life yet refined for this high-rise coastal perch. “It’s a modernized coastal design, timeless for Naples,” Getchell says. “It carries a tailored Ralph Lauren sensibility, balanced with casual familyfriendly touches.”
Ultimately, the renovation elevated a dated condominium into an effortless home — open yet intimate, streamlined yet rich with character, attuned to the Gulf Coast’s easy, airy rhythm. Crafted for sunsets and gatherings, quiet mornings and lively retreats, it embodies unfussy coastal refinement. n
Written by Heather Shoning
Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography
Interior Designer:
J. Lynn Design Group
2403 Trade Center Way, Suite 6
Naples, FL 34109
239.784.7134 www.jlynn-design.com
Resources :
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
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
Naples Lumber
Andersen Windows & Doors
3828 Radio Road Naples, FL 34104
239.643.7000
www.napleslumber.com
UMI Stone
1615 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109
239.593.6995
www.umistone.com