Abode
T
here are so few residential options on Naples’ downtown thoroughfare, Fifth Avenue South, that the opportunity to revitalize a home does not come around very often. When it does, it’s deemed quite special. For Dwayne Bergmann, principal designer of Fort Myers–based Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, a commission to remodel a 25-year-old condominium on Fifth Avenue South presented some exciting possibilities. Just shy of 2,000 square feet, this secondfloor, two-bedroom apartment was in need of a complete renovation. Bergmann’s strategy was to infuse the space with a new attitude that was apropos to the owner’s avocation as a ballroom dancer.
Though she also is a general contractor specializing in high-end buildings in Indiana, she wanted this space to reflect her more glamorous side. Bergman’s inspiration was twofold. “We anticipated the style and luxury of living on Fifth Avenue South, and got a sense of the bejeweled lifestyle our client leads as a ballroom dancer,” he says. Pristine white glass porcelain tile covers the floors in the main rooms of the house. The material is durable but has a reflective sheen that gives it a luminous, almost delicate quality. Shades of white, silver, and champagne with accents of fuchsia, pink, and pale lilac play beautifully against the white expanse. Bergmann sprinkled in bejeweled ornamentation as a nod to the gem-encrusted
costumes that are worn on the dance floor. Because the great room and kitchen form one contiguous area, a coherent design was paramount. Cool gray tones infuse both spaces, from the great room walls to the veining of the kitchen’s marble backsplash. The color scheme is softened by white furnishings in tactile fabrics like chenille, and the sleek surfaces have just a hint of sheen. Sparkle comes courtesy of crystal lamps, jeweled hardware, and pops of silver. An oversized acrylic painting by Mallory Page, with vibrant shades of pink and fuchsia, creates a focal point and enlivens the great room with a burst of color. In the kitchen, Bergmann eliminated some of the functionality—his clients favor dining out over
40 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
039-ABODE-0518.indd 40
3/30/18 2:07 PM