® Fall 2022
A mixture of lush, mature vegetation shelters this inviting pool. The beach entry has a PebbleTec finish in Sandy Beach that lures the eye to the deep blue waters. The elevated hot tub features a pull-up bar where David Fischer, owner of ZaZoo’d, places faux bamboo-coated steel-frame bar stools in a durable Sunbrella fabric from ZaZoo’d. Lucas Congdon, owner of Lucas Lagoons, designs a ledge in the shallow water beside the spa that leads to the grotto, serving as yet another way to experience this magical place.
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PURE PIZZAZZ EXOTIC RESORT-STYLE POOL WITH PANACHE COMPLEMENTS THIS PARTY HOUSE homeanddesign.net 63
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Front Elevation: “I do not believe there is a defined style to this home,” shares Fischer. “Part of my style as a designer is to meld old and new elements.” Drawing from what the clients love about their other residence, Fischer updates the look by giving this exterior the sensibilities of a French chateau melded with a traditional carriage house. The custom aluminum railing design is mirrored in the fencing, showing off horizontal lines juxtaposed by softer circular gold accents.
Pool Aerial: Across the substantial silver travertine deck are various furniture gatherings, where Fischer places large, round daybeds with canopies to soften the hardscape. Congdon uses nearly 150 tons of Tennessee fieldstone boulders to build out the grotto with a waterslide winding through it. The waterfall flows from the grotto and cascades over, and it is there that one can slide right through the spilling waterfall. Congdon incorporates a sunning shelf, adding features to suit everyone.
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W“Whensomeone
says, ‘Game House,’ you have this vision of a game room,” reminisces David Fischer, principal interior designer and owner of ZaZoo’d. “When the clients showed me the plans, I realized that this wasn’t the game room I had envisioned — this was a Game House and much, much more!” That “more” Fischer refers to extends to the resort-style pool by the acclaimed Lucas Congdon, pool and landscape designer and owner of Lucas Lagoons.
The purpose of this home and outdoor experience is so the clients can host charitable events and company parties, and it has even been the backdrop for a runway fashion show. The sprawling estate-style home needed a backyard experience to match it, so Congdon approached the design strategically, balancing all the features to be proportionate with the giant oak tree and the scale of the house, while creating the look of a mature oasis ready for entertaining. u
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Fischer selects the ceramic floor tile, pairing it with the gray, chocolate-black, and white cement tile on the back and island walls. The second island acts as a serving counter during parties, drawing the guests into the kitchen. Black stainless-steel Dacor appliances from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery complement the vibrant colorway, at the same time delicate brass lighting fixtures from ZaZoo’d lend a nod to the other gold accents found in the hood vent and the island stools. Finally Fischer creates the cabinetry design, and a local company finishes them in a custom shade of contrasting blue.
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Every design feature in this home has an origin story — a spark of inspiration that explodes into this swanky party-vibe design. Fischer takes one of the client’s love of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne and designs a place she can gather with friends but still be part of the action — and as the playful neon sign suggests, save water, drink champagne! u
Poker Room: Three generous Maneto poker tables display the family’s initial atop the felt. Alongside the tables are thirty gray-velvet poker chairs with brass bases from ZaZoo’d. Fischer’s originality to the bar design is without equal. Hollow beams are suspended from gold rods to shelter the bar, giving this niche prominence in the space. This poker room has dimmable LED bulbs that can adjust to any mood. The bar stools cozy up to the tufted black leather bar.
The interior is expansive, so Fischer uses materials and finishes that transform the open-concept layout into an inviting and comfortable environment. Many rooms open onto the other, so cohesiveness within the interior becomes a high priority for Fischer. The industrial influences are a subtle backdrop to the brilliant design features, deep chocolatey-gray hues, bold patterns, and gold accents — what tops this interior design is Fischer’s pure creative genius.
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Champagne Room: This custom see-through Champagne wall by ZaZoo’d houses more than 600 bottles and has sliding glass doors on both sides for easy access to the collection and the tasting board. Fischer positions two smokey-gray velvet swivel chairs across from a plush white velvet sofa, while the faux boxwood wall and luxurious, flowing Veuve-orange and chocolate-gray drapes soften and elevate this social space.
Living Room: Fischer lays out a charcoal-gray shag rug for this second-story living room to create an inviting gathering space. The silver channel-tufted velvet sofas complement this regal space, as do two black leather wingback chairs and a cluster of goat skin vellum that surround the antique brass coffee tables, all sourced from ZaZoo’d. Glitz pops on the natural stone fireplace with gold banding, and the beverage bar boasts a glittering gold penny tile against the custom tiger-wood cabinetry.
Bowling Alley: Fischer works with Brunswick Bowling & Billiards on the finishes for these glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes. Drawing inspiration from a bowling pin, Fischer takes a crimson stripe down one side across the industrial brick wall. Above the seating area is a custom, backlit chandelier made of 300 vintage bowling pins, a brainchild of Fischer’s. Between the two swanky, navy-velvet sofas from ZaZoo’d, there is a shadow box coffee table full of vintage bowling memorabilia from estate sales.
As the clients are immensely proud of their heritage, Fischer accents the home with the first letter of their family name and names the bowling alley after this gracious family. Upstairs, the interior emanates the same level of sophistication and style as the first floor; however, should this party house become a full-time home, the second floor is also dedicated to family life. u
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Beside the sizable spa is the undulating waterslide that wraps around the rocky grotto where the waterfall spills into the organically shaped pool. On the opposite side is a lazy river — shaded by a dense cluster of ribbon palms — wrapping around the tiki hut island that can be accessed from the bridge or the swim-up ledge bar.
Congdon delights, “I usually try to find something to improve upon when I look at the finished project, but this one came out flawless. There is not one thing I would change.” And with that, this game house and pool are made of pure pizzazz. n
A wrap-around balcony on the back of the house overlooks the stunning grounds with an expansive covered patio and bar below that leads to the lush pool. “The home has a high-contrast interior, and I chose a light color deck and a deep blue interior finish for the pool to reflect the style that was happening on the inside of the home,” shares Congdon.
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Primary Bathoom: The client fell in love with this green and pacific white sunburst cement tile, so Fischer uses teal paint from the adjoining bedroom to build harmony between the two spaces. Contrasting ivory porcelain tile runs across the floor underneath the custom floating vanity and then up an adjacent wall. Industrial-style matte black and gold leaf pipe lights from ZaZoo’d line the top of the vast, black-framed mirror.
Primary Bedroom: A deep chocolate hue was the first color chosen, so Fischer designed a sleek, non-traditional, layered flat moulding in the ceiling with LED strips that emit a soft glow against the teal walls. Luxurious silk drapery and the plush shag rug soften the hard lines of the stamped brass canopy bed from ZaZoo’d. Two cut crystal and iron sphere chandeliers hang low on either side of the bed, inches away from the cork wallpaper.
Outdoor Living: Beneath the shelter of the ribbon palms is a lush mixture of bushy philodendrons that line this island escape, while the Midnight Blue PebbleTec in the pool reflects a gorgeous aqua color. “The idea is that you step onto this island, and it gives the illusion of being instantly transported to a faraway, fantasy island,” shares Congdon, who reminisces about his childhood love of high-seas, fantasy-island adventure stories.
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Guest Bedroom: The plan was to create two feminine and two masculine bedrooms — here, femininity reigns. The soft pink of the shag rug speaks to the delicate rosy hue on the wall called Demure by Sherwin-Williams. Custom wallpaper from Murals by Matt features roses on a large scale in a black-and-white photography presentation. Finally, a touch of gold enhances the legs of the white leather bench on a champagne-finished, stainless steel base from ZaZoo’d.
Written by Rachel Seekamp Photography by Blaine Johnathan Photography
www.lucaslagoons.com941.366.770034236
Resources: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 5521 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL www.build.com/ferguson941.951.011034232
Interior Designer: 631Zazoo’dCentral Avenue
Landscape Architect: Lucas Lagoons 1280 North Palm Avenue Sarasota, FL
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
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Tiki Hut Island: “Under the tiki hut, you hear the captivating sound from the waterfall and the rustling of the trees, and as the fire dances, it reflects light off the underside of the hut,” Congdon describes the enchanting experience of the island. The fire table is made of concrete, and the base is stamped to look like wood, while the top is polished concrete from Lucas Lagoons. Four faux bamboo steel-covered chairs with a Sunbrella fabric cozy up to the table.
www.zazood.com727.344.9663