In this issue, architects Richard Skinner and Greg Thomas partnered with landscape architect Raymond Jungles to design a beach side retreat just north of Jacksonville. At first glance, the house appears to be an unassuming Florida bungalow neatly tucked into the dune. But a closer look reveals a house that is at once modern and rustic. Influenced by the wife's Brazilian heritage, stucco and wood reference the Brazilian style, with vast expanses of glass to flood the house with light and give it a decidedly modern expression. Central to the house, the landscape design is so natural that it appears to have pre-existed the house.

A different interpretation of a bungalow, this time in the Ocean Reef club in Key Largo, took its' cue from the Craftsman style. Architect Timothy Slawson incorporated classic Craftsman details, like wood porches and chunky columns together with a heavy roof to minimize the actual size of the house. Inside, interior designer Nancy Taylor was inspired by Miami in the Art Deco era (the 1930s and ‘40s) through the Modern period (1950s and ‘60s), for her clients who sought a vibrant, happy house.

In Tampa, architect Sol Fleischman and interior designers Sandra Chancey and Catherine Christie-Zanghi teamed up to design a home for their clients for the second time. Walls of glass and clean lines give the house a contemporary look, while exotic woods and tribal art collected during years of travel, give the house texture and reflect the owners West Africa heritage. For the owners of another home in Tampa, building a modern house was a leap of faith. Having been influenced by Mediterranean style and never really exposed to modern architecture, it required a great deal of trust in their architect to move in an entirely different direction. Fortunately, their architect was highly skilled and also just happened to be their daughter. Ultimately, the owners were won over by a supremely functional house keenly in tune with its’ environment.

Functionality was also key for an apartment in Palm Beach. For these homeowners, who owned several other houses, it was critical that this apartment provided easy, maintenance free living. Enter interior designer Dianne Davant, who responded by designing a soothing retreat overlooking the Intracoastal. Another seaside apartment, this time on the Atlantic, was designed by Cindy Ray, and offered a more sleek approach. It is equally functional, but the design is intriguing and surprising at times. Ultimately it is smart, both literally and figuratively, and full of a striking mix of edgy details and organic textures.

And in Seaside, architect Leo Casas and interior designers John Fernandez and Jennifer True took on the renovation and addition of a house that was a bit of an institution in the renown community. It is a “modern dog trot” and a tour de force.

Finally, having published so many houses in the Ocean Reef Club throughout our history, we decided to give our readers a glimpse of this exclusive, Oceanside retreat. Enjoy!

Olivia Hammar, Publisher