AN EXPRESSION OF ELEGANCE

New and Original Pieces Shape A Gracious
Setting For A European Couple

Interior Design: Steven M. Hefner, Design Works Creative Partnership Ltd., Delray Beach, FL

Architecture: Shane Ames, Ames Design International, Delray Beach, FL

Photography: Kim Sargent, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Text: Justin Henderson


Here in Florida, amid blue skies and balmy breezes, Old World style often finds unexpected and eclectic forms of expression. For this Delray Beach home on the golf course in Addison Reserve, designer Steve Hefner drew on a variety of cultural and period references to establish the ideal ambiance for his clients. The European couple sought a warm, spacious home where "the family could congregate and be comfortable, Hefner says. "They wanted quality, but the house also had to be relaxed and casual enough to accommodate grandchildren."

Already owners of one lot in Addison Reserve, the couple purchased another to build a more generously spacious home. Hefner was first approached by the husband who desired more space for family gatherings as well as more landscape for one of his wife's passions - gardening.

The husband worked closely with builder Paul Courchene, architect Shane Ames and Hefner to formulate the initial exterior and interior design concepts. With its subtle mix of Old World and modern influences, such as the barrel tile roof, arched windows, marble and other refined materials, the home features Mediterranean-style architecture with classic touches. The shaded terrace and patio and pool area at the rear of the house are quintessentially Florida.

To help ensure a feeling of familiarity in their new home, the couple agreed to bring in furniture and decorative objects from their old house. In doing so, they created "a comfort level that comes from having an emotional attachment to familiar objects" Hefner says.

Rich and eclectic, "warm, friendly and not impossing," is how Hefner describes the home's interior design - a look he believes perfectly captures the family's "casually elegan," personal style. "Easygoing, kind and gracious, the owners are the sort of people who make a stranger feel welcome," he says.

The home's relaxed yet refined setting comes to life in the foyer, a warm sunlit space. Steps above the main living areas, the foyer stands on its own with high ceilings and arches supported by hand carved marble columns. Glass entry doors, ornamented with elaborate iron scrollwork, hint at the friendly nature of the home and its owners, while the marble flooring imparts a more formal, classic tone.

Located off the foyer is the dining room, also surrounded by arches and columns. The inviting room features a carved-wood table and armchairs dressed in a rich floral tapestry. Above, a stunning chandelier exudes Italianate grace.

The living room offers an array of furnishings designed to enhance the owner's informal lifestyle. Sofas from their previous home, rejuvenated with tone-on-tone fabric from Brunschwig & Fils, breed familiarity, while new bergeres and lounge chairs add a fresh touch. A bar area tucked into a niche and a grand piano cater to the owner's love of entertaining. Here, as in the foyer, high ceilings lend a grand sense of scale. Plaid silk draperies and layered valances frame the windows, drawing the eye outside.
For this close knit family, life revolves around the family room. Furnishings range from twin sofas to a pair of lounge chairs positioned for watching TV. Timeworn in its appearance, the chestnut cabinetry conceals the 50-inch TV screen, and displays collectibles from the owners' many travels. Nature-inspired textures and prints, such as the carved-stone cocktail table and tropical-themed fabric, allude to an island air.

"The husband is allowed to smoke cigars in two rooms - the library and the media room," Hefner says with a smile. So, it's apropos that the media room sports the look of an English gentlemen's club - with dark colors, paisley prints and plump leather lounge chairs. So as not to detract from the room's private club feel, the walls conceal audio-video equipment from view. A coffered ceiling features a faux-mahogany finish that enhances the richness of the space.

Showcasing the interior's varied motifs are the guestrooms, each designed with a different theme. In one guestroom, Biedermeir furnishings - one of the owner's favorite styles - instill a European flair. Both the bed and bedside tables are newer pieces styled in the likeness of a late 1840's design. At the foot of the bed rests a Biedermeir-style bench, its lines derived from the French Empire style of the early-to mid 1800s. Silhouettes of costumes from this era highlight the acid-etched, sheer draperies.

Floor to ceiling windows surround the master suite, affording limitless views of the sunset. Shimmering silk taffeta gold, copper and green dresses the windows, softening the room's strong architectural lines. Coffered ceilings lend visual interest and offset the different areas of the room, such as the sitting area.

Asian-inspired bed coverings commingle with a Chinese urn and Portugese desk, imbuing the suite with an Oriental ambiance. At the foot of the bed, a love seat wears a floral design set against a soft green background.

Hefner effortlessly blends a collection of family treasures with new furnishings, creating an inviting yet elegant home for a family with casual ways and refined tastes.