Text: Lydia Somerville
Photos: Carmel Brantley
When developer Rob Thompson brought his latest real estate purchase to designers Lisa Peterson and Melanie Hayes, they quickly realized he had gifted them with a significant design challenge. The house in Jupiter, Florida, stood out for its incongruous look in a neighborhood of light, bright waterfront dwellings. From the street, the house was squat and dark, with a glowering facade. “It was built of Northern redbrick,” says Peterson. “It didn’t fit in with the Florida vernacular at all. Painting the house white and adding blue shutters freshened it up and made it so much more suitable to the area.”
7. From Gloom to Glam
6. From Gloom to Glam
5. From Gloom to Glam
4. From Gloom to Glam
3. From Gloom to Glam
2. From Gloom to Glam
1. From Gloom to Glam
The transformation indoors was equally dramatic. Gloomy wood furniture, bare floors, and outdated lighting were just a few of the design flaws Peterson and Hayes sought to remedy. First, they installed French white oak flooring, instantly brightening the spaces. “We replaced all the windows, opening the house to the pool deck with sliding doors,” says Hayes. Rooms were merged and enlarged, creating spaces for gatherings of Thompson’s grown children and grandchildren. “We tore down the wall between the kitchen and breakfast room to make a large family room where they can watch tv and hang out,” says Peterson.
Throughout the house, the designers explored shades of blue, from the lotus leaf wallpaper in the dining room to the sitting room’s artwork that inspired the house’s palette of khaki, watery blue, and turquoise. In the master bedroom, the designers used various Ralph Lauren fabrics to ensure the tones flowed together. “We like to mix fabrics from the same brand to ensure the tones all work together,” says Peterson.
The master bath received a major makeover. “There were two small closets right inside the door and hardly enough space to turn around,” says Hayes. “One closet became the shower, and we put vanities on each side of the room to give it an open look.” The symmetry of double vanities flanking a freestanding tub gives the space serious drama as well as elbow room.
The pool house, with a kitchen, living area, and dining table, gave the designers an opportunity for a bold statement. “The pool house was the most fun,” says Peterson. “We raised the ceiling, replaced the existing fireplace, removed the upper cabinets in favor of open shelving, and painted everything white.” The interior transitions seamlessly to the pool deck, where the designers continued the palette of multiple shades of blue. “Rob calls it his resort,” says Peterson, and the comparison to a luxury hotel is apt. Multiple lounging and seating areas encourage extended family to gather in infinite configurations, from napping in the shade to splashing in the pool. “There’s nothing off-putting about this house,” says Hayes. “It’s always full of people. It’s an easy lifestyle indoors and out.”
