After purchasing a home in Old Naples, the new owners enlisted London Bay Renovation to fulfill their vision of a home designed for entertaining frequent houseguests while enhancing private spaces. Their list of must haves included a sophisticated study for him and a VIP suite for her. They also wanted a larger kitchen, updated outdoor living spaces and the newest technology for a whole-home lighting control system, motorized window treatments and automated lanai screens and shutters. In collaboration with award-winning Romanza Interior Design, the renovation team achieved all the clients’ wish-list items and more.

The renovation touched 90 percent of the 6,600-square-foot home while maintaining its architectural integrity – sun-filled arched gallery hallways, interior brick walls, beamed and hammerhead ceilings, a staircase with colorful hand-painted tile risers, and glazed terracotta tile flooring inset with hand-painted tiles. The home, with five bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths, also boasts two courtyards, including a central courtyard with a fountain.

“Our clients fell in love with the home’s style and unique architectural features and didn’t want to detract from those elements,” said Steve Miller, vice president for London Bay. “They sought to enhance the home and create spaces reflecting their needs, tastes and personalities. Our renovation team found creative solutions to realize every item on their wish list.”

A small ground-floor bedroom was expanded and modernized into a serene and spacious VIP suite with a windowed sitting area and motorized window treatments. By altering the bathroom entrance, London Bay Renovation created space for an additional wardrobe. The team also enlarged the bathroom and updated it with luxurious finishes.

“Clients are always impressed by how our modifications to a floor plan or room layout can add more space,” said Miller. “The updated floor plan achieves an inspirational living environment that works for their lifestyle and elevates social spaces for entertaining. We also created extra space in the kitchen by removing a wall entering the original pantry.”

The kitchen expansion retained the terracotta tiled flooring and beamed ceiling, extended existing brick on the walls and improved the room’s flow and function. The renovation team partnered with the couple’s Chicago cabinetry designer to craft a kitchen with dark brown-finished walnut Christopher Peacock cabinetry that matches the beams and wraps around into the former pantry space. A new desk allows family members and guests to plug in a laptop while interacting with the adjoining spaces, including a billiards room in the original dining room and the family room.

For a cohesive look, brick was extended from a windowed sitting area in the study to the wall behind a new Christopher Peacock built-in with a desk. The room’s flooring was upgraded to an espresso wood – inspired by the couple’s brown Labrador Retriever. Original brick also graces the walls of the renovated bar, which was completely updated with new countertops, fixtures and quarter-sawn cabinetry with a flat ebonized finish.

Outdoor renovations improved functionality and required an entire ceiling redesign to accommodate the clients’ request for motorized screens and storm shutters. In the outdoor kitchen, appliances and cabinetry were reconfigured to better suit the couple’s needs. The renovation team also built a deck for a charcoal grill and additional seating, removed an arbor at the pool and added brick accents to columns to match existing architectural details.

“With its two courtyards and lanai, this home emphasizes outdoor living, and we tailored spaces to our clients’ lifestyle and how they use the areas,” said Miller.  

Two second-floor bathrooms were completely renovated, salvaging only the vanity cabinetry and countertops. Creative space planning allowed for larger showers in both rooms.

The couple’s two Labrador Retrievers also factored into the redesign of the laundry room, which now offers a dog shower and dedicated spaces for large kennels and pet supplies.

“Our clients are very pleased with the transformation of their home and how it reflects their lifestyle,” said Miller.

London Bay Renovation, a division of award-winning London Bay, offers an array of services, ranging from partial interior renovations for kitchen and bath remodels to exterior enhancements such as door and window replacements to complete interior and exterior makeovers and room additions.

To learn more about renovating with London Bay, call 239-298-7623 or visit LondonBay.com/Renovation.