PHOTO GALLERY: Condo in the trees on Siesta Key
Two years ago, when empty-nester New Yorkers Chris and Megan Powers bought a 1979 condominium at Excelsior Beach to Bay on Siesta Key, they absolutely knew what they were getting in terms of barrier island location (which they loved), and the dwelling, which they knew was sound but desperately needed updating.
Megan's mother, Pat Brown, had once owned the unit, so the couple was familiar with the floor plan and the possibilities. Situated bayside, the views from the apartment are of lush trees and thick tropical foliage and flowers. The place has a tree-house feeling. The homeowners wanted to emphasize that verdant ambience when they asked interior designer Gary Ficht of Pedlar's Village (who had done work for Mrs. Brown), to guide the renovation.
A view into the living area from the loft of the Powers newly refurbished condominium at Excelsior Beach To Bay condominium on Siesta Key. The condominium is about 2,000 square feet on two levels with garden views. (Staff photo / Rachel S. O'Hara)
The homeowners were open to just about anything, with two caveats: They wanted crisp modern styling, and a color palette restricted to white and neutrals in the taupe range with just a little aqua and green for accent.
Megan brought to the initial design meeting pages she'd pulled from magazines and Gary Ficht did the same. When they realized they had both selected the same photos of white glass chandeliers, the deal was sealed. Designer and client were in sync.
As interior demolition began, Ficht discovered that he had the opportunity to add about 200 feet to the apartment and create another level. "We found there was space above the ceiling, enough for a loft and for letting the living room ceiling soar to 23 feet," said Ficht. "I've been a professional designer since 1963 and have done huge and small commercial and residential projects, but I've never done a loft. Here was my chance."
Ficht skillfully designed a space above and to the side of the living room for a full bath, lounge, guest quarters and concealed storage. To save the maximum amount of space, he connected the two levels with a narrow spiral staircase made of matte-finish metal and frosted glass. The glass stair treads are lit, and at night the staircase looks like a piece of floating modern sculpture. During the day, it simply seems to disappear.
The loft is elegant, done in creamy taupes and textural upholstered furniture and fine wall coverings.
"When you're dealing with a restrained color palette, texture becomes the primary consideration for bringing design character and personality into the rooms," said the designer. "You want to contrast soft and hard, smooth and nubbly, reflective and opaque. There is pattern, depth and feel to almost everything in this place, but it's generally tone-on-tone and you have to be close up to see it. It's all very subtle but the overall impression is quite sophisticated."
The loft is an object lesson in space planning. Not an inch is wasted and yet the loft feels roomy and uncomplicated. Additionally, the clever use of mirrors and reflective metallic surfaces visually expands the space and gathers natural light.
Interior designer Gary Ficht of Pedlar's Village turned a tired 1979 condominium into a stunning two-level modern tree house. (Staff photo by Rachel S. O'Hara)
"In the loft and in the whole apartment, we intentionally scaled the furniture to the volume of the rooms," said Ficht. "The depth of all the upholstered furniture does not exceed 36 inches. There is nothing big and bulky in the apartment. Everything is trim, polished and in human scale. The furniture and the built-ins look right for the size of the rooms and consequently people feel right and comfortable in the rooms. Proportion and balance were paramount here."
Downstairs, the designer extended the length of the living room by bringing into the floor plan a narrow porch that was underused. Now it's the dining area with a view to the park-like setting on the bay. He also opened up the kitchen to the main living area and he designed a fireplace/bookcase wall for storage.
A large aqua painting over the electric fireplace raises and lowers by remote control to reveal a flat-screen television. For character, Ficht put beams on the ceiling. The flooring throughout is a combination white porcelain textured tile (rectangular ones) and wool sisal carpeting.
The kitchen is all white except for the aqua chair cushions at the breakfast corner and a bit of aqua art work. "I used at least 12 different shades of white and off whites in that kitchen as well as throughout the rest of the apartment," said the design professional. "And I varied the finishes among flat, semi-gloss and gloss.
"When you're doing the interior of a whole house or just one room in all white, it should never be just one white. You want a range of whites for variety and interest. But all the whites have to be compatible with roughly the same undertones. That's generally the hard part for an amateur. And, I admit I spent a long time getting the 12 right whites for this apartment."
For additional character, the designer liberally used metallic accents. "We stayed in the silver, nickel, chrome and stainless steel tones," said Ficht. "And again we varied the finishes from highly polished to pieces with a soft dull patina. That way, you notice every piece, the eye keeps moving because there is visual contrast. It's really important to do that when you're working with a restricted color scheme and a lot of white."
The designer's "statement" piece for his clients is right outside the front entrance and in the hallway. It's a three-dimensional tangled grouping of tree branches done in chalk-white papier mache and lit from behind. "Of course, these trees are a modern sculptural reference to the trees outside that Megan and Chris are so fond of," said Ficht. "They define the design of this unique tree house apartment and they are a totally original touch that makes the condominium like no other. Plus, they are just plain fun to look at."
