Arielle Valle emerges from her studio with her long, brown hair tied into a bun, concrete smudged on her face and flaking off her skin from elbow to fingertip. “Today's a concrete day; we're like, ‘Pretend I'm not here.’ I'm locked in my little cave like a gremlin all day long,” the multihyphenate maker says.

Arielle and her mother, Beth, run Cape Coral’s The Wallflower Shoppe, where they sell their handmade ‘soulful essentials,’ including Arielle’s concrete pottery, Beth’s natural beauty and home products, and the duo’s signature eco-friendly, nontoxic candles, which they mix and pour in house.

On 47th Terrace, just a few blocks from Cape Coral’s Midpoint Memorial Bridge, the shop is marked by a mural from Fort Myers artist Gabrielle Kesecker. The whimsical doodles of mushrooms and flowers span the windows of the 1976 former real estate building the Valles renovated over seven months. The women spent five years building their brand of sustainably minded home decor and wellness products at artisan markets nationwide before opening their shop.

[ngg src="galleries" ids="436" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]The peaceful, eight-month-old boutique prompts guests to linger, explore and try the goods. A rattan seating area, dubbed the ‘day room’ for its sunny exposure, fronts a coffee bar with brews from Cape Coral’s Bones Coffee Company and gluten-free and vegan treats from the next-door Sweet Real bakery. In the center of the spacious front room, tables and shelves house a mix of Wallflower’s artisan wares alongside goods from other makers with a similar ethos (think: sustainable yoga mats and blocks from the Cape’s 42 Birds).

Opposite the day room is the cozy ‘green room,’ named after the many plants surrounding the space’s plush, burgundy furniture. Mood lighting from a farmhouse chandelier and a nearby floor lamp make this area a perfect reading and study nook. “We have a group of high school girls that comes every week,” Beth says of the growing band of regulars the Valles nurture. “To take a break, they wander around, smell things and have tea.” They’re so cute,” Arielle adds.

Arielle started making candles as a way to unwind after years of working multiple jobs in her 20s. She was living at her parents’ house with her brothers, sisters-in-law and a few close family friends. “It was like everyone decided, ‘Well, she's got this big house, we’ve got to fill the rooms,’” Beth says with a laugh.

To help Arielle out of a funk, she and her sister-in-law went to Hobby Lobby on a whim for candle-making supplies. Soon, Arielle started selling her organic, minimalist products at local markets. Mom would often help, and she brought along expertise from her lifelong interest in healing essential oils. After Beth retired from her career as a firefighter-paramedic in Broward County earlier this year, she moved to Cape Coral and went all in on her daughter’s venture.

Behind the coffee bar, two separate workspaces help the tight-knit duo keep up with Wallflower production. In the lab to the right, Beth translates her obsession with plant-derived oils into a beauty line, with an aloe-based shampoo and conditioner, moisturizing cold-pressed face oils and vitamin E-infused hand scrubs. Both women produce the flagship coconut soy-wax candles, and Arielle hand-casts the containers for their Signature Concrete Candles line. The younger Valle woman added concrete pottery to her repertoire a few years ago, eager to offer eco-friendly, refillable vessels.

[ngg src="galleries" ids="437" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]Working on-site, Arielle mixes rapid cement concrete with water to pour into molds, sourced from a fellow artist on Etsy. She manipulates the industrial material into organic shapes using plant-based pigments to yield earthy hues and marbled effects on miniature busts of Michaelangelo’s David, sculptural vases inspired by historic aristocrats, and an assortment of dinnerware and trinket catchalls. She’s now also dabbling in furniture-making, starting with a concrete tabletop for her home kitchen.

Arielle finds magic in the craft. “Literally, it was a bag of frickin’ sand a few hours ago, and now look how pretty it is,” she says, palming an in-process desert-hued candle jar. A water-based, food-safe sealant—her ‘secret ingredient’—gives the pieces their satin appearance, a nod to the collection’s Old World sensibility.

On the opposite side of the Valles’ workspaces, a moody hallway covered in dark, botanical wallpaper leads guests to a more experiential side of Wallflower: a yoga studio and workshop. The intimate studio—outfitted with 42 Birds’ biodegradable, chemical-free, grippy cork mats—hosts yoga classes and full moon meditation sessions. In the nearby candle-making workshop, another mural by Gabrielle cheekily plays off the shop’s name with the title of Stephen Chbosky’s book The Perks of Being a Wallflower. There, small groups learn mindfulness-centric practices, like the Hindi tradition of henna tattooing, terrarium building and candle-making. “If you take a candle class with me, I give you the science—the firefighter in me comes out—the measurement and why we do this,” Beth says, laughing. “[Arielle’s] just like ‘Eh, pour it in.’”

The space also serves as a DIY refill station for regulars who’ve got the process down and like to experiment with the add-ons from the shelf, stocked with scented oils, crystals, dried flowers and aromatic herbs. Everything in the space is designed around the women’s mission to promote holistic, Earth-friendly practices locally. “It’s always about the community,” Arielle says.

The post Cape Coral’s Best Shop for Eco-Friendly Homewares appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC) serves nearly 800 people per year. The waiting list consistently hovers at around 80 riders, who wait as long as a year to get into the equine therapy programs. Last year, a 2-acre lot to the south of the main campus went for sale, and the board quickly voted to purchase the land to expand the center over the next few years. “We’re hoping to bring more riders on campus; we’ll need more horses, more volunteers and more staff,” NTRC’s vice president of the board of directors Caroline Ridgway says. Though the expansion is in its early phases, Ridgway says they hope to clear their waitlist once construction is complete. With the new lot and a house that came with it, the board plans to add a new paddock and a home base for staff to stay on property for 24/7 care.

“It’s an exciting time for NTRC, thinking about our future,” Ridgway says, adding that the next step is to recruit more volunteers to help with expanding programs, which range from The Naples Players’ improv-based courses to the mental health-focused Operations Strides for military families to occupational therapy sessions with the animals. “Some people don’t think about what NTRC can do for them, but once they come, we can see how engaged they are with the horses and how they start to benefit from that interaction,” Ridgway says.

The post Greener Pastures appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Metals have always been an essential element of good design. We’ve come to expect brushed and burnished brasses, nickels, chromes and coppers in beautiful hardware, plumbing and lighting. But what if you want to up the heavy metal levels by way of a floor-to-ceiling installation without having to deal with sourcing a vault’s worth of solid gold? Mariusz Dejcz can help. The owner of Luxe Surface Design Studio applies liquid metal coatings that result in metallic finishes fit for most surfaces, including backsplashes, oven hoods, accent walls and furniture. According to his wife and business partner, Justyna, “Mariusz can work with objects in any shape, size and material.”

[caption id="attachment_37780" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Textured, 3D surfaces are having a big moment in design, and in Naples, Luxe Surface Design Studio’s Mariusz Dejcz uses liquid metal to create one-of-a-kind metallic finishes like the Vulcano Blue. (Erik Kellar; Dennis Wright)[/caption]

After a particularly enjoyable vacation, the Dejczes decided to relocate to Naples from Germany, and they brought their European-made liquid coating with them. They opened their Naples Design District studio and showroom five years ago, and the change of scenery has clearly been good for creativity. While Mariusz has spent hours crafting metal surfaces and panels, producing at least 600 textures in 30 finishes including brass, gold, bronze and copper, Justyna takes on client services, working with homeowners, builders and designers and helps get the word out about her husband’s abilities. “We can create the look of any metal in any number of patinas, colors and textures,” she says. “With every project we work on, we make a brand-new texture. Everything is customizable.”

[caption id="attachment_37897" align="aligncenter" width="468"] The metal skin—as Mariusz refers to it—might look solid, but it’s light and thin. Unlike a sheet of metal, it can go on just about any surface, including doors, large accent walls and furnishings. He also blends the liquid metal with resin to make 3D panels, like the Rocky Planet, Blue Waters and Amazon Islas (from left; Photos by Dennis Wright)[/caption]

Because the liquid solution is so delicate and versatile— unlike a large, thick and heavy sheet of metal—the coating can be applied to almost any kind of surface of any size or form, including countertops, cabinets, doors, oven hoods, bars, crown molding, screen dividers and even desks. Clients get the look of beautifully crafted brass doors without the inherent difficulties that come with transporting and sculpting the weighty metal. “We apply the finish, and it looks like it’s solid, but it’s really a very light, thin layer applied over the existing door,” Justyna says. And while it’s incredibly difficult to bend and stretch a piece of metal over a plain set of cabinets, Mariusz can apply his coating (which he calls skin) for wholly original casegoods.

[caption id="attachment_37896" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Mariusz pours hours into crafting the surfaces and panels. He’s created as many as 600 textures in 30 finishes including brass, gold, bronze and copper. (Photos by Dennis Wright)[/caption]

Mariusz has also become noted for his three-dimensional panels, which are metal mixed with liquid resin that make for a striking wall installation, backsplash or cabinet front. Homeowners and designers often commission him to create original works of art, too. Recently, a couple asked for a design inspired by Key West—the island where they met—so Mariusz created a 5-by-10-foot panel in gold, green and blue hues that mirror the coastal setting. Whether it’s massive artwork or the legs of a chair, Mariusz handles the whole maker process. “We don’t have subcontractors,” Justyna says. “Mariusz says ‘My hands are my signature.’ Each product has a different consistency, and he’s very picky. He just never gives up, and he’s always looking for new ideas and solutions to challenges.”

The post Full Metal Jacket appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

A well-appointed primary bathroom has long been a must-have amenity in the high-end home. Over the past decade, sprawling square footage, his-and-hers everything, coffee bars and closets outfitted with cabinetry and displays that rival the finest boutiques have become de rigueur. “In million-dollar-plus homes, it’s expected,” Robert Mongillo, principal of JMDG Architecture Planning + Interiors in Naples, says. “Many clients want to feel as pampered in their homes as they do when they’re going to the day spa.”

Designers are being asked to make room for freestanding baths, saunas, yoga areas and massage tables. Locally, Jenny Provost, K2 Design Group’s CEO and design principal, says her team is currently awash in primary bath designs that range from refreshes at $35,000 to total renovations costing upward of $200,000. Washroom square footage is trending on the sprawling end of the spectrum, Provost says. In fact, she’s now working on one of the biggest baths she’s ever seen. “It was so large that I actually reduced the square footage by making part of it a private walled garden with an outdoor shower,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_37840" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Inspired by luxury hotels, high-end bathrooms now call for upgraded fixtures and plush amenities like an in-room sauna. Aesthetics are of the essence, too, and artistic tubs, lighting and vanities make a washroom downright indulgent. Brands such as Boca do Lobo—which has a line, Maison Valentina, dedicated to bath products—specialize in the matter. Pictured, above: Boca do Lobo Symphony Washbasin, Ring Round Filigree Mirror and Hera Round 1 Suspension Lamp (Courtesy Boca do Lobo) Pictured below: Maison Valentina Koi Double Washbasin, Mirror and Tub. (Courtesy Maison Valentina)[/caption]

But not everything is big-picture. Local design star Dwayne Bergmann advises clients to pay special attention to the powder room. It’s a space anyone visiting is likely to see, he posits. His bathrooms and powder rooms are bathed in attention-grabbing elements. “I’m typically looking for a statement piece of art, a color that may not be reflected broadly in the other rooms, something oversized or simply a different scale than might be expected in the space,” he says. The designer may incorporate unorthodox vanity cabinet profiles or lighting presented in an unexpected way, “like hanging a chandelier from a metal arm, creating light ‘pockets’ out of wall moldings and treatments, or creating shadow lighting behind mirrors and vanities.”

The modern bath doesn’t shy away from spectacular—and expensive—accents that were once saved for more public areas. Surfaces—flooring, backsplashes, walls and floors—remain an obvious way to make an impact in a bathroom. Experts say that while the form and function hasn’t changed much, the materials are constantly changing. Victoria Magilewski, project coordinator at Natural Stone Concepts of Naples, seconds that. She says granite—the go-to stone of the early 2000s—has been replaced by quartzite, dolomite and marble, all of which lend themselves to a more contemporary design. “These materials are very fitting for today’s current style, which is composed of predominantly cool, earthy and neutral tones with a luxuriously clean, European-inspired simplicity,” she says. Ultraluxe surfaces like Taj Mahal quartzite, Mont Blanc marble, Olympus White marble are popular at Natural Stone Concepts, while Cristallo Extra Prime—a slab with a minimum price tag of $12,000—is in demand at UMI Stone in Naples. Homeowners looking for more dramatic selections can try Calacatta Viola and Breccia Capraia, which are white Italian marbles with deep mauve, violet and teal veins running through them.

[caption id="attachment_37843" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Walls talk in the modern bath: Luxe stones like quartzite, dolomite and premium marbles are coveted for washroom surfaces, as are hand-painted tiles and reclaimed wood. The Bonita Springs-based K2 Design Group likes to incorporate dimensional vinyl wall coverings into their bath designs—just look for microperforated styles that can breathe in Florida’s humid climate. (Courtesy National Bath & Kitchen Association/Younique Designs [above]; K2 Design Group/Doug Thompson [below])[/caption]

And there are plenty of alternatives to choose from. Porcelain and ceramic tiles work in bathroom designs that range from traditional to ultramodern. Some designers are loving zellige—handmade tiles with an iridescent and organic texture—and using it everywhere: on walls, floors and ceilings. Other natural fit for bathroom counters (so long as it’s sealed properly) are limestone and travertine. Oliver Bleich, of noted bathroom product purveyor KEUCO, also extols on the abundance of composites and mixed materials that incorporate renewable resources in traditional products, like wood chips and resin fabricated into sinks. “We’re seeing more matte and wood finishes being used in bathrooms, like reclaimed oak being repurposed for custom vanities,” he says. Mosaics, architectural features and coquillage are other big washroom wow factors. “We recently applied natural plaster to a wall and worked with an artist to insert shells. It’s completely impervious to the elements and the masonry and shells are works of art,” says Naples- and Chicago-based designer Frank Ponterio.

Of course, you can make a statement with manmade materials, too. Hand-painted wallpapers from brands like Gracie and de Gournay create the perfect backdrop for bathing beauties like the copper Clothilde tub by Waterworks (priced at $55,233). Makers like Cerasa, York and House of Scalamandré offer vinyl selections that are stylish and hardworking enough to hang in the bath. “We love the new dimensional vinyl wallcoverings, but it’s imperative that they’re microperforated when being installed in Florida. The wallcovering needs to breathe to prevent potential mold growth behind it,” Provost says.

[caption id="attachment_37842" align="aligncenter" width="850"] In addition to upgraded materials, doubled (and, in some cases, tripled) square footage, and high-tech integrations like automated baths that you can start to run as you cruise back from the beach, baths have also gotten decidedly more glam. (Courtesy Maison Valentina)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37844" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Fort Myers designer Dwayne Bergmann embraces the unexpected to make a splash in his bathroom designs, with statement art, sculptural chandeliers and unorthodox cabinet profiles with special finishes and hardware. (Courtesy Dwayne Bergmann Interiors)[/caption]

But the modern bath is not all about aesthetics. Top-of-the-line technology is an absolute must in today’s en suite. Smart controls for flooring and shower temperature, water conservation, motion-sensor lighting and leak detector sensors with mobile alerts are some of the defining features requested by today’s homeowners. “Part of this evolution of the modern [primary] bath is the increased demand for touches of luxury and automation,” Magilewski says. “It’s all about the palatial frills.” Integrated audio systems, built-in screens for streaming and lighting schemes programmed for different times of day also help create ambiance and comfort. “When everything is installed, there are apps that you can access on your phone 15 minutes before you leave the beach. You can start the bath, get the water to the right temperature, turn the lights to your go-to level, start the music, kick on the steam shower, and bring the shades down,” Ponterio says. “You come home and instantly relax without having to go through any of the steps.”

Even the most mundane items, like mirrors are getting tech-driven makeovers. “Clients want to see themselves in a mirror that mimics natural sunlight,” Bleich says. “It’s also important that the light source ‘frames’ the face, so there are no visible shadows.” High-quality glass and non-silvering edges produce a clear reflection, and wall-mounted flat mirrors (including smart mirrors with anti-fog capabilities and TV screens) and cabinet mirrors are integrated with illumination that can be brightened or dimmed as needed. Other no-longer-ho-hum additions include warming drawers and refrigerated cabinets to keep meds and beauty products fresh and vent fans with antibacterial LED technology. Even smart toilets and bidets by makers like TOTO have become nonnegotiables in premiere baths—despite the hefty price tag. “It’s $22,000 for a TOTO toilet that does every unspeakable thing,” Ponterio says with a laugh. “But from what I understand, once you experience one, there’s no going back.”

The post The Power Bath appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

David Poorman

The Architect

“I’ve never felt architects should talk a lot,” David Poorman says. “I tend to think they should let their designs do the talking for them.” Based on his work, the Naples architect is a master conversationalist. A model of restraint, his homes tend to evoke a sense of serenity. “Less is more is cliche, but it’s true,” Poorman asserts. “There’s no reason for me to add all this stuff—I don’t like to ‘decorate.’”

But don’t mistake his mission for functional clarity as boring—his work is often very sculptural and Zen-like, designed in perfect harmony with the setting. “I don’t do the same thing twice,” he says. That can be difficult when potential clients who’ve seen one of his creations come calling for a duplicate on their lot. “They’re not going to get that exact house,” says Poorman, who grew up in Naples, before moving away for college and eventually settling in Chicago for 10 years before returning to Florida. “Even if someone comes to me wanting something ‘modern,’ they presumably have ideas for a feeling they’re going after ... All that is naturally going to be a unique reflection of who they are and, therefore, something I could never replicate.”

For Poorman, who has long been inspired by Japanese architecture, each home is a singular creation that blends the owners’ wants, along with the needs of the site in terms of optimizing access to natural light, the flow of air and views that create moments of reflection, contentment and wonder—all wrapped into a sculptural frame. Poorman even creates old-school 3D models of the homes to help clients understand the scale and proportion. “It’s all very personal,” he says. “For both me and, hopefully, them.”

[caption id="attachment_37818" align="aligncenter" width="850"] The majority of his work can be described as modern, but every project Poorman designs is a unique reflection of the homeowners, the site and the architect’s distinct point of view.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37816" align="aligncenter" width="850"] A Naples native, Poorman developed his career in Chicago before returning home. Here, he stands in front of a Naples project that was six years in the making.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37895" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Every detail is intentional—from the concave windows on both ends to the angular lines that make views from the inside look like they stretch on forever.[/caption]

Jenny Provost

Interior Designer

Interior designer Jenny Provost is comfortable breaking rules because she’s taken the time to learn all of them first. Understanding architecture better than many designers, she works both big picture, creating full construction drawings, and in detail, planning complex millwork. “After 30 years in the business, I have enough proof that if a client believes in me, we’re going to pull off almost anything,” she says. Provost cut her teeth in the design business in Montreal, working on centuries-old stone homes with bespoke wainscoting and paneled libraries. “Even though 80% of my work now is very modern, I still like to bring that substantial feeling that comes with a completely finished, well-aged room. Only now, I do it with lacquered panels and exotic veneers,” she says. “I’m also absolutely mad about ceiling design.”

Since relocating to Bonita Springs and opening her design firm, K2 Design Group, many of her projects have won acclaim, including her own Naples home, which is outfitted with a mix of design- and ecologically forward features, including a new type of wall surfacing that achieves the smoothest, highest-level finish possible without all the work that typically entails engineered wood floors; Low E glass for impact-rated doors and windows; and a 6-foot-long blue Lagos sink carved out of a single block of limestone.

Provost likes to push the limits on what’s possible for design—like the time she worked with a company that builds sets for Disney World to make a thermoformed, curvilinear outdoor kitchen and bar that resembles the ocean’s waves. That same Cape Coral Caloosahatchee River home also features an infinity-edge pool with a swim-up bar, a nearby fire pit and cascading water to appeal to the mariner homeowners. In Marco Island, she got creative in disguising an entertainment center by working with photographer Doug Thompson on an Everglades mural that serves as a screen and provides a sense of place.

And she’s still at it—currently hard at work bringing a 1990s-era Quail West House into the 2020s, crafting a modern wonder in Royal Harbor, and “making lots of concrete boxes in the sky feel like real homes.” For Provost, the constant learning curve is one of the perks of the job: “Good design takes time, investigation, research, tenacity and a willingness to take risks.”

[caption id="attachment_37812" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Jenny Provost, the head of K2 Design Group in Bonita Springs, blends innovation, architectural know-how and a forward-thinking sensibility to create spaces that break the mold on coastal design.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37815" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Provost likes to incorporate 3D surfaces into her designs and uses lacquered panels and unique veneers to add dimension to spaces.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37814" align="aligncenter" width="400"] The designer often incorporates interesting ceiling and wall details. In this Bonita Springs home, she foreshortened a long hallway by adding a molded gypsum screen over a tile-and-LED panel that shines through.[/caption]

Leigh Gevelinger

The Landscape Designer

Leigh Gevelinger is equally devoted to innovative design and sustainability. “I get to work in this incredible place shaped by water, wind and the sun,” she says. “Resilience isn’t some vague concept. We see the impacts of our harsh coastal environment every day, and we use plants to fix those problems.” With projects in some of the best neighborhoods across Southwest Florida, her Sanibel-based firm, Coastal Vista Design, focuses on incorporating a mix of native species along with Caribbean and subtropical plants to create lasting landscapes that enhance biodiversity.

But her mission to strengthen and stabilize the environment isn’t focused solely in residential areas. Her firm is also invested in beautifying numerous public space projects including the new BIG ARTS campus and the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island, and the Paradise coast Sports Complex in Naples.

A painter in her spare time, Gevelinger says the key to coming up with interesting landscape architecture is applying art to the environment. At the moment, she’s turning that discerning eye to the grounds of a public high school, university housing and some residential gardens in progress in Sanibel and Captiva. “I’m arms-deep in plans for a private botanical garden with coral rock features, groves of flowering trees and a garden specifically designed to look good by moonlight,” she says. Gevelinger is mom to a 2-year-old and is expecting twins this fall, but don’t expect that to slow her down.  “Every day, I can see that our work has a direct impact on the quality of our surroundings.”

[caption id="attachment_37805" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Through her Sanibel-based firm Coastal Vista Design, Leigh Gevelinger creates sustainably sound landscapes that look completely natural in the setting.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37807" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Gevelinger, who paints in her spare time, is committed to enhancing biodiversity through her landscapes.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_37804" align="aligncenter" width="850"] In addition to residential landscapes, Gevelinger also beautifies public spaces, including the grounds of the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, and Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and BIG ARTS in Sanibel.[/caption]

The post The Reformers appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

[caption id="attachment_37884" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy Branca)[/caption]

Shell Lounge Chair, BrancA

The best and brightest interior designers won’t even blink upon hearing a client’s request for mollusk-themed seating. Made of birch plywood, the chair comes with four pillows that can be adjusted for comfort. branca-lisboa.com

[caption id="attachment_37873" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy Gildas Berthelot)[/caption]

La Nonchalante, Gildas Berthelot

Canadian cabinet builder and visual artist Gildas Berthelot turns organic shapes into works of functional art. His bleached maple La Nonchalante lounge (75 inches by 34 inches by 41 inches) could just as easily recall sun-weathered driftwood found in the Ten Thousand Islands as a crawling cephalopod. Either way, we’re hooked. gildasberthelot.com

[caption id="attachment_37875" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy Larose Guyon)[/caption]

Valse Au Crepuscule, Larose Guyon

Lighting can and should be an experience. The mix of gold chains and brass leaves in this made-to-order suspension lamp (108 inches by 54 inches by 48 inches) takes you to another realm. With handblown glass and its netted layout, the piece makes you feel like you’re lounging beneath a web of bioluminescent forms. Honoring nature, proceeds from every fixture sold help plant 1,000 trees through One Tree Planted. laroseguyon.com

[caption id="attachment_37881" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy Imperfettolab)[/caption]

Nido Chair, Imperfettolab

It’s rare that an armchair makes you ponder the fabric of time and space, but the visual and literal depth of this unique piece is an absolute wonder. Featuring varnished fiberglass atop a metal base, the NIDO Chair begs all to climb aboard and start an imaginary conversation with Carl Sagan. Available in green, copper and gold. imperfettolab.com

[caption id="attachment_37880" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy Boca do Lobo)[/caption]

Newton Golden & Myrtle Limited Edition Table, BocA do Lobo

A dining table laden with golden bubbles may seem like an enormous flight of fancy, but when you consider that life is short and dinner parties can be long, you might as well set the expectations for a fun affair with this whimsical furnishing, reminiscent of the bubbling incoming tide. The base is made of fused gold-plated brass spheres covered in a high-gloss varnish, while the top is no less dazzling thanks to cut circles of myrtle burl veneer. bocadolobo.com

[caption id="attachment_37877" align="aligncenter" width="850"] (Courtesy of Made in Ratio)[/caption]

Cowrie Rocker, Made in Ratio

Inspired by the concave lines of the cowrie shell, this one-piece monocoque fold is a visual tour de force that appeals not only to design hounds but also to the child in all of us who wants to rock in repose. Created by designer Brodie Neill, the rocker is available in natural ash, ebony ash and walnut. madeinratio.com

The post Against The Current appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

It’s just before 7 a.m. when the Kurtz Homes Naples team begins to arrive at The Collective, the new luxury design center that Randy Kurtz recently debuted in the Naples Design District.

Their day starts early. Elizabeth Kurtz trickles in first, today. By the time Randy arrives, his daughter is already at her desk coordinating for the day ahead.

She doesn’t spend much time sitting, though. As the one who handles tenant and community relations—and anything else that may come up—she’s often jetting between the two dozen or so design businesses that now operate out of the building.

[caption id="attachment_33641" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The day starts early for Randy Kurtz, founder of The Collective. His dog, Bentley, accompanies him to the office daily.[/caption]

The concept for The Collective is simple enough: Gather some of the greatest businesses in Southwest Florida construction, architecture, development, interior design and art under the same roof. Create an environment where the teams can easily cross paths, congregate and exchange ideas. Open the doors so  anyone from the community (competitors, included) can take part, too. Anyone can reserve the shared office space; shop at retailers like Casa Italia, The Luxury Bed Collection and METHOD & CONCEPT; or pop by for the community-centric gatherings. Today, there’s a planned visit from Narrative Coffee Roasters, which will be setting up an espresso cart on the central courtyard for tenants and passersby to enjoy. 

By 9:30 a.m., Stofft Cooney Architecture, located on the third floor across the way from Kurtz Homes, is buzzing. The architecture team landed on an open-space concept for its offices, similar to its approach for the rest of the building. “The layout supports collaborative interaction between all of our team members,” says Bob Vayda, the senior architect who took lead in designing The Collective. “We find it easy to discuss questions, designs and solutions.” Toward the back of the office, architect John Cooney sits at a large table reviewing blueprints with managing director Jenny Haire. Elsewhere throughout the space, architects and project managers are plugging away at the various projects the team has on the boards, some of which are collaborations with Kurtz Homes (celebrating the partnership, in a hallway between the two offices, hang large prints of residences the two groups have done together in Port Royal, downtown Naples and Aqualane Shores).

[caption id="attachment_33646" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Casa Italia, which relocated from Miromar Design Center, was one of The Collective’s first tenants. The sleek space functions as a showroom for Minotti, the luxe Italian design brand.[/caption]

It wasn’t all that hard for Randy Kurtz to secure the tenants for The Collective. Most are people he’s worked with in more than three decades building custom homes in the region; all were drawn by a shared vision for how Naples could continue to blossom as a contemporary city and collaborative creative community.

Ozzie Pancaro, founder of Casa Italia, hadn’t worked directly with Randy before joining The Collective, but after meeting him personally, Pancaro recognized the symmetry. “Our thoughts were in sync,” he says.

Though Casa Italia, which recently relocated from the Miromar Design Center, deals in about a dozen high-end Italian brands, its space in The Collective functions primarily as a showroom for Minotti, the Italian furnishings brand. “We are one of their 12 dealers in the United States, and this is one of only four dedicated Minotti showrooms in the country,” Pancaro explains. The pieces—with their contemporary shapes, palettes and superior craftsmanship—dovetail with The Collective’s ethos.

By now, it’s midday and the STARability Trailblazer volunteers who come in a couple times a week to help with projects in the building are filing down the hallway outside Casa Italia, wrapping up their shift.

[caption id="attachment_33644" align="aligncenter" width="850"] On the second floor, at The Studio, anyone can reserve the shared office space. Below: John Cooney reviews materials for an upcoming project with Stofft Cooney Architecture team members; wood samples at Unique Wood Floor Co., one of the niche vendors that operates within The Collective.[/caption]

They pass by Unique Wood Floor Co., where Christian Rodriguez is sorting through new samples of handcrafted walnut and genuine French oak in various textures, finishes, grades and parquet patterns. At any given time, the showroom has more than 100 samples on display that a design professional or homeowner could browse.

This is one of the defining features of The Collective. In addition to being home to interior designers and architects, the space also hosts niche vendors specializing in flooring, outdoor furnishings, lighting, sound, security, high-end windows and a host of other services. Between Premiere Systems, AlliKristé cabinetry, GWT Outdoors and dozens of others who have a full-fledged showroom or smaller studio in the building, one could take care of everything needed while building a dream home.

At around 2 p.m.—after sorting through plans and deliberating on materials for a new Moorings residence she’s designing with Stofft Cooney—interior designer Sharon Gilkey, of Montanna Design Associates, heads across the way from her showroom to take advantage of the access available through The Studio. There, surrounding a coworking-style office space that anyone can reserve, more than a dozen vendors have studios with samples of fabrics, cabinetry, window panes and hardware, among other things. As an interior designer, Gilkey involves herself in projects from the inception to ensure a cohesive and holistic end result. She is currently on the hunt for shading and hardware for a new project, so she visits Cassina and ASI Naples, which specializes in automated shading and smart home technology. She stops to admire the current display at the studio for METHOD & CONCEPT, one of the seven fellow Collective tenants she is currently collaborating with for various projects.

[caption id="attachment_33647" align="aligncenter" width="850"] At Casa Italia—run by Ozzie Pancaro (below)—shoppers can access Minotti’s full range of customizable contemporary sofas, lighting, tables and design objects.[/caption]

METHOD & CONCEPT has its own corner space at street level. A glass-encased, high-ceiling beauty, which founder and CEO Chad Jensen designed himself, the gallery and design studio still shows works from the recent Beyond Nature show. Amy Jensen, Chad’s wife and the gallery director, is there preparing for two upcoming exhibits: Family, which features the works of renowned artist friends Chad grew up with in Detroit, along with relationships he’s cultivated in more than a decade of dealing in contemporary fine art; and Semi-Precious, which focuses on Chad’s own works that he created during the pandemic. 

Amy, who works with Youth Haven as the arts program coordinator, is committed to the goal of enhancing local culture and sense of place through the arts. She is particularly enthusiastic about the hyperpersonal nature of these upcoming exhibits. “It’s bringing all the people we love together,” she says. Today, she’s making plans for the opening, which, she shares, is four days after Valentine’s Day. Amy is mindful of the pandemic, but optimistic. Having been part of The Collective’s grand opening a few months back, she was able to pilot a system that ensures safe access, while still allowing people to interact with the space and art.

[caption id="attachment_33643" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Interior designer Sharon Gilkey, of Montanna Design, takes an artistic approach to her work. The front of her studio is a dedicated gallery space, which currently features photography and paintings by Naples’ Susan Forrest Castle.[/caption]

As for everyone else, the pandemic has brought struggles to the tenants of The Collective, which was slated to open February 2020. But, it’s clear that fostering community between all those involved has helped strengthen each part of the whole.

As the day nears its end, Randy Kurtz is upstairs speaking with one of his contractors and a Stofft Cooney architect about the expansion his office is currently undergoing. He’s clear he’s not interested in growing too much bigger. “I don’t want to be a huge company,” he says. “We’ll grow a little more, but not much more.” Still, he’s not shy about advertising the fact that there are a few premium spaces he’d still like to lease, including a restaurant site on the ground floor.

[caption id="attachment_33638" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Collaboration lies at the heart of The Collective. Above, from left: Randy Kurtz with daughters Elizabeth Kurtz and Carolyn Gordon and granddaughters Isla and Lucy.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_33642" align="aligncenter" width="850"] A sketch for a home that tenants Montanna Design and Stofft Cooney are working on together.[/caption]

Back in his office, with his daughters Elizabeth and Carolyn Gordon and granddaughters, Isla and Lucy, and his dog, Bentley, Randy and crew set the example for the familial spirit that runs through the building.

Elizabeth shares an update on The Collective Cares program, which she’s spearheading to give back to local charitable organizations. It was a natural effort for her, having worked in the nonprofit sector before relocating back to Naples from Orlando a couple years ago. The Collective Cares is her baby, but it’s also indicative of the community-first presence The Collective is cultivating with its tenants, the region and its Naples Design District neighborhood.

Photography by Zach Stovall

The post A Day in the Life of The Collective appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

A creative mind is a miraculous thing. And to see the power of creativity within local artists and artisans is not only gratifying, but enviable. These inspired pieces for the home are all designed and handcrafted right in our backyard.

Conrad Williams Glass

Uovo Handblown Glass Vessel

After completing rare internships with Benjamin Moore and Dale Chihuly, and honing his craft while living in the West, Conrad Williams returned to his native Naples, where he now runs his glassblowing studio. Uovo is a large, handblown glass vessel, mixed with cobalt oxide and finished with a sterling silver overlay. Its sheer size (20 inches high, 11 inches wide and 7 inches deep) makes a stunning impression when the piece is placed near an entryway. $3,800; conradwilliamsglass.com

[caption id="attachment_33900" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Courtesy Erin Williams Photography[/caption]

Ed Koehler Designs

Ginkgo Chair

These Ed Koehler chairs—inspired by the famed Claude Lalanne model—are hand-sculpted, hammered, ground and welded to be similar, but one of a kind. The seats and backs are fashioned to resemble ginkgo leaves, while the legs are designed as branches, making these a natural place to sit. $3,000 per chair; edkoehlerdesigns.com

[caption id="attachment_33898" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Courtesy Ed Koehler Designs[/caption]

John Carroll Long

Black & White & Red Rollover

Whimsy is one of the default switches inside the mind of artist John Carroll Long, as illustrated by this side table-meets-art lamp creation. The term “conversation piece” initially comes to mind, but upon closer inspection, its sophistication and balance showcase an artist in command. $4,200; upartanddesign.com

[caption id="attachment_33897" align="aligncenter" width="826"] Courtesy UP ART Contemporary[/caption]

Jeremy Jones

Blue Bourbon Cart

Drinking and driving may be frowned upon, but rolling booze around in this ultra-cool bar cart (48.5 inches high, 16 inches wide and 49.75 inches long), designed and created by Naples-based Jeremy Jones, makes mobile libations a thing of beauty. Made of American walnut and solid steel, it features an antique brass metal cage and an ombré crystalline back panel fitted with a touchless motion LED dimmer, which can be placed in the front of the case (to illuminate items inside) or at the back (to cast a glow and silhouette your bar collection). $18,000; jeremyjonesdesign.com

[caption id="attachment_33896" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Courtesy Jeremy Jones Fine Finishes[/caption]

Tovari Designs

Moment in Time

Designed to capture the moment when a wave is in motion, crashing upon a shell and engulfing it, this ceramic mixed-media piece (21 inches by 15 inches by 10 inches) is made of resin, custom glazing and silver metallic. Artist Tracy Gurdian, of Tovari Designs, creates rips, tears and holes to represent the natural weathering of shells, while the black and white foam effect comes from a multifiring and glazing process. $1,990; tovaridesigns.com, judithliegeoisdesigns.com

[caption id="attachment_33895" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Courtesy Tovari Designs[/caption]

H&R Studio

Tribalism I

Sculptor Brett F. Harvey, of H&R Studio, takes a profound approach to his work. “Two feet locked in conflict are unable to move forward, distracted from the fact that they themselves are part of the same being,” he says of his piece, Tribalism I (20 inches high by 9 inches wide). The boxes on which they sit are identical but positioned in opposite orientations. Steel sheathing hides a relatively fragile foundation of particleboard. It’s a perfect find for an art lover conscious enough to know that we must take the first step. $3,688; methodandconcept.com

[caption id="attachment_33899" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Courtesy H&R Studio[/caption]

The post Made in Southwest Florida appeared first on Gulfshore Life.