With the desire for a retreat from their busy Greenwich life, an empty nest couple turned to designer Calla Cane to create a space that echoed their strong personal connection to St. Barts. “They wanted their home to feel influenced by their love for the island,” the designer notes. And with 360-degree views of water, palm trees and the growing Sarasota skyline, the 3,000-square-foot penthouse offered an amazing canvas on which to build.
The largely white, island-inspired palette is infused with peaceful warmth and exudes overall harmony, thanks to a careful selection of materials. “We try to pull from textures and colors that exist in nature,” Cane explains. “Introducing organic elements can help to soften a white space.” The home also gains originality via a thoughtful blending of custom and off-the-shelf items. “We like to make the most of our clients’ budgets by mixing the highs and lows,” the designer adds.
While the penthouse currently serves as a secondary home, the homeowners already have thoughts of it becoming their primary residence in the future. That eventual transition is destined to be an easy one, as the residence is designed with year-round livability and the homeowners’ passions in mind. The spatial layout and kitchen design were reimagined to accommodate their desire to cook and entertain, and their appreciation for horses is creatively represented through a tapestry woven of horsehair by artist Alexandra Kohl.
That personalized blend of contemporary living and tactile ease is evident around every corner of this sky-high home with vacation views. “We like to create spaces that provide homeowners with the amenities and comforts associated with modern design, but also invite in layers of their life and interests,” Cane shares. “It’s that balance between the functional and the personal that makes a space feel inviting and comfortable.”
Wondering where you can see the designs of Calla Cane in a stunning new shop setting? The designer has created a new studio, showroom and boutique in Rowayton, Connecticut.
The Shop marries Cane’s creations—and their signature emphasis on environmentally and socially responsible materials—with select home decor products curated by the Calla Cane team. Part of The Shop’s mission will be to draw attention to the artisans who created these products. “Whether somebody is a client or not, I want them to feel comfortable dropping in to browse retail and have a discussion about style, aesthetics and vision,” says Cane.
Photography by Carina Skrobecki.
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