Text Mysty McLelland
Photography Robert Peterson
Longing to experience the natural beauty and ease of coastal living, the homeowners searched for their dream house in an ideal location. Empty nesters with four adult children, the couple had a clear vision for this new season of life—one which reflects their shared passions for art, entertaining, and seamless alfresco living.
When the couple learned this house located on the Pensacola Bay was available, they immediately contacted the home’s original architect, Linda MacArthur, to explore ways to reimagine it as their own. Shortly after their initial meeting, a creative collective consisting of MacArthur, interior designer Audrey Newsome, kitchen and bath design expert Matthew Quinn, and landscape architect Paul Fontenot was formed.
To capitalize on the home’s vibrant and serene coastal setting, MacArthur suggested relocating the staircase, originally designed to live in the center of the home, to the left side. While this structural alteration was quite an undertaking, MacArthur believes this decision was one of the project’s aha moments. “This significant change let the house speak more of its relationship to the water, creating a clear view of the gulf from the front to the back of the house,” says MacArthur. “This new layout also created an opportunity to design a staircase integrated into the everyday flow with an extended two-story window inviting light into the front of the home.”
The homeowners looked to Newsome, the wife’s longtime interior designer, to create a beautiful, stylistically refined, and warm environment adorned with the couple’s extensive art collection and thoughtfully selected accessories to evoke memories from their wide-ranging travels. Newsome chose a peaceful palette of soft white complemented with rich silver-blue accents to reflect the backdrop of the water’s luminous hues. Stone flooring specified throughout the main level was layered with a variety of rugs, further elevating the home’s luxurious simplicity.
Bringing his kitchen, bath, and dressing room design expertise to the project, Matthew Quinn—a longstanding collaborator with both Newsome and MacArthur, designed these spaces to capture the home’s natural abundance of light, speak elegance, and unify form with state-of-the-art function.
“The textures and colors of the kitchen were clearly inspired by the mesmerizing views of the sky, water, and sand as seen through the expansive glass doors and windows,” says Quinn.
When designing the primary bath, Quinn explains, “Every detail is celebrated in this elegant and highly functional space, capturing light while providing extensive storage.” With the dressing room located directly across from the primary bath, Quinn ensured the same mastery of sophistication and organization was implemented into the overall design.
The home’s exterior also received a renewed update of modern sophistication balanced with timeless classical elements. “While the bones of the house were there, the enhancements made to the exterior simplified the overall design. The final result is pure elegance,” MacArthur says.
Paul Fontenot of Garden Design Solutions, Inc. was brought in to complete the essential unification of the hardscape and landscape. He accomplished this through his contribution to the design of the infinity pool and implementation of a stunning variety of native trees and seasonal blooms—providing fresh-cut flowers and herbs to enjoy year-round.
Thematically, the end design reflects the homeowners’ passion for entertaining with its open floor plan perfectly balanced by intimate, conversational spaces. The outdoor spaces mirror this design concept and are ideal for large gatherings, cozy spots for two, or a private oasis for one. As Newsome points out, “This project is a testament to what’s possible when talented professionals collaborate with creative and vision-focused homeowners. This beloved home honors their passions and history with an eye to the future.”
