home for all

Helping Buyers Envision their Naples Life

BY CHANNING SPANO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK BETHEM

LOCATED IN QUAIL WEST in Naples, this beautiful home from Stock Development showcases why people are moving to South Florida in search of a slower, more thoughtful way of life. Partnering with the builder, the team at Diana Hall Design was brought in to create an interior that would showcase a Quail West lifestyle, while also appealing to a wide range of people. “When we are involved in a spec home like this, we have to keep the end user in mind,” says Diana Hall, Principal and owner of Diana Hall Design. “We have to think about how someone would want to live in this home but also in the community. The interior needs to appeal to potential buyers from all backgrounds, with different family types. One way we accomplish this is by keeping the colors neutral, with a pop or two of universally loved colors for variety, which helps people envision their own palette in the home.” Throughout the home, the visual interest comes from the textures and materials used with perfectly placed accents of blue. Diana Hall Design’s signature elements like applied moulding, fabulous light fixtures, and elegant window treatments create an interior that welcomes anyone looking for a piece of Southwest Florida paradise.

GREAT SPACES

A beautiful foyer with tile inlay and niches with driftwood art pieces opens into the home’s great room. Here, the challenge was to create seating that felt intimate, but not minimized by the size of the room. The solution was to create a space for entertainment with a chat area behind, giving the new owner multiple entertaining areas. Facing the wood-clad television wall with floating shelves, modular sofas with unique picture frame design on the back, allow flexibility while providing plenty of space for people to take in a game or movie. Between the sectionals and the kitchen, Hall and Senior Interior Designer, Elizabeth Manchego created a chat area, a Diana Hall Design signature. “I love this round seating arrangement because it facilitates conversation for everyone,” says Hall. “It’s the perfect setting for conversation, or it can be used for a game night.” Above the room, faux wood beams were added to give the room scale and more livable proportions. The ceiling has been finished with white painted tongue and groove for contrast. Two matching chrome ring chandeliers circled with Edison bulbs were used to add cohesion to the two sitting areas.

SUBTLE CONTRAST

In the kitchen, Hall and Manchego focused on contrasting high-end finishes to create a neutral-colored, yet design-forward kitchen. Immediately catching the eye, the natural backsplash is finished in a herringbone pattern that has been continued up the entirety of the wall for maximum impact. A custom hood in a dark bronze finish with nailhead details pops against the tile and enhances the elegance of the off white cabinets from Omega Cabinetry. Floating shelves have been given the same stud details for continuity. Faux wood beams have been added to the recessed ceiling to link the great room and kitchen together. A large island offers plenty of storage and drawers and the seating area makes it a great charging station for laptops and phones. Stools with metal frames and woven seats are light, airy, and a favorite accent piece in the home.

COZY SEATING

Next to the kitchen, the nook with built in shelves and a coffee bar offers an area for casual dining. “We chose dark cabinets here to contrast with the lighter kitchen,” explains Manchego. Black metal doors were sourced locally and complement wood drawers and trim. “We both love the French cafe feeling in this space and we wanted to add lighting that enhanced that aesthetic,” says Hall. Chairs with a linear weave and driftwood tone table from Bernhardt offer plenty of seating and contrast beautifully with the dark wood and metal. A banquette adds more versatility to the room.

WORK FLOW

A space for focused productivity, the home office is more masculine than the other rooms in the home, while still maintaining the same feel of neutral elegance. “We had the shelf and cabinets custom built for the space and created an optional desk area with a niche,” Hall says. “The two-toned cabinets and counters are accented by recessed lighting and two small sconces with button details which subtly pick up on the other metallic accents in the room.” The substantial feel of the second desk from Hickory Chair grounds the space and is topped by a light fixture with sculptural qualities. A textural chain link area rug pulls from the color of the accent pillows on the seating area’s arm chairs. “The room was large enough from us to create a second reading space, so we chose chairs with dark metal frames, and added a hide which compliments the other textures in the room so well,” explains Manchego. Over the seating area, the team chose a two-toned organza drum shade chandelier. A simple window treatment adds interest while not obstructing the view and is finished with nailhead details.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

The dining room is a beautiful space accented with soft blue tones and natural wood. “The room is long and narrow, so we needed to come up with a way to create storage and serving space while not intruding into the walkway around the table” says Manchego. “Our solution was two matching, floating ledges flanked by faux columns. We topped both with hand painted art that pulls blue into the room and added recessed lighting and sconces.” The Vanguard table comfortably seats eight and is surrounded by linen-clad chairs with dark metal frames. Hall and Manchego added beam details into the tray ceiling, lit from behind for maximum effect. Two large fixtures fill the air space above the table. Their thin frame helps to balance out their height, creating the perfect accent to the room. Anchoring the space, the same wood floor used throughout the home has been laid in a herringbone pattern to create texture and an area rug-like effect.

BOTTLE SERVICE

Metal doors with chunky handles lead into the temperature controlled wine room which offers plenty of space and storage options to the most avid collector. Racks and cubbies provide room for red and white wine, and beautiful tile work has been extended up the wall for dramatic effect. “This room is in a very visible space and because of the glass walls we knew whatever design elements we chose would be clearly seen from other rooms. We loved the look of this simple, yet elegant accent tile for this space,” says Hall.

MASTER RETREAT

Filled with natural light and warm, neutral tones, the master suite is a relaxing space away from the busier parts of the home. The wood floor carried throughout the main living areas is also used in the bedroom, covered with a soft area rug. The view is prominently featured through large windows, a feature Hall and Manchego wanted to highlight, but not cover through pleated drapes. A Vanguard settee with elegant, flared arms and nailhead details is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the light and outside views. The bed has been placed against a wall finished with padded cloth squares and flanked by mirrors. Hall explains “The design resembles the windows and adds a subtle design detail to the room.” She and Manchego chose nightstands from Vanguard’s custom design program so they could better control the color and design for the space. On top, Flo Decor lamps with chrome base and a suspended glass ball are modern and their slim profiles match the shape of the nightstands. Two full-sized chairs have been placed at the foot of the bed for seating and help extend the bed area into the large room for a cozier feel. Details on the accent pillows and linens, like Mother of Pearl shells and a Greek Key pattern, add texture to the room.

TRANQUIL BATHROOM

“This bathroom was so large, but only had one area for his and hers sinks so we made sure to design a vanity that offered enough storage while still being very design-forward,” says Manchego. Topped with a chunky marble, the floating vanity with cabinet lighting pairs perfectly with the mother of pearl chiclet tiles used to create a backdrop for the contemporary sconces. “The window lets in such great natural light but we wanted to create a more cohesive look so we added a mirror under the window, like we normally would, but then decided to also add a mirror above the window,” Hall explains. The effect is an optical illusion that blends mirror and window for a polished look. Next to the vanity, the large shower with a rain head shower has been clad in Calacatta marble with stripes of Mother of Pearl laid in a chevron pattern for subtle contrast. Marble has also been used as flooring in the bathroom for cohesion. Above, a chrome chandelier with rectangular glass panels finishes the space.

OUTDOOR DINING

In Florida, outdoor spaces are an important area to any home. This unique and functional outdoor kitchen and dining area features a large kitchen island. “Indoor kitchens all have islands that are one height while most outdoor kitchens still have the counter and a bar height eating area,” says For more information about this home Hall. “We wanted to create the look of an indoor kitchen outside, so we created one large island and added plenty of seating from CabanaCoast or more like it in your area, contact the for easy entertaining.” The island is wrapped with decorative bands of tile which pick up on the colors used in the backsplash behind the gas grill. Realtor who sent you this magazine. Pecan-colored wood cabinets from NatureKast are durable enough to be used outside while keeping up with the design inside the home. The ceiling is finished with beams and stained tongue and groove, a nod to the inside rooms while inverting the colors for a unique feel.