Denizens of larger, more complicated residences, the homeowners—a physician and his wife— had lived in upstate New York and on barrier island Casey Key for 30 years. When researching a brand new style of living, they were buoyed by Sarah Susanka’s book, “The Not So Big House” with its economy of space through smaller, intimate rooms. The couple wanted these rooms designed to feel bigger than they actually were in the projected 3,400 square foot property, however, with architect Yehuda Inbar on board and interior designer Bob Neal executing the plan in furnishings and color palettes. A new guesthouse, decking and garage were also on tap.
“The original structure was a 1950s beach bungalow on the property that was torn down,” says MGB’s Steve Ellis, noting the program included sustainable materials such as bio-based foam insulation, recycled glass kitchen countertops, dual-flush toilets and photovoltaic solar panels which helped it achieve LEED Platinum.
Deeply committed stewards of the environment, vegetative beachfront plantings using indigenous plant material and crushed coral pathways were also paramount for the homeowners, as was a dune garden defined by driftwood and other discovered beach “art.” The home’s interior has a tactile quality with fabrics and hues redolent of the sand and sea that surround it.