Romanza Interior Design imparts a sophisticated modern aesthetic featuring dark woods, soft whites, metallics and high-end finishes throughout a new showcase estate at 256 Aqua Court, the first complete of several luxury ready-to-purchase furnished homes under construction by London Bay.
Located in Aqualane Shores, only a half block from the beach and Gulf of Mexico, the two-story estate has five bedrooms, five full baths, a powder bathroom and expansive outdoor living areas.
“The interior design reflects the soft, clean contemporary lines of the architecture,” said Jennifer Stevens, senior design director at Romanza. “We used a mixture of metals – bronze, copper, a touch of gold – with soft beiges and off whites warmed by charcoal gray, deeper wood tones and organic textures. The furniture’s bold, clean lines are strong and inviting, emphasizing comfort and simplicity.”
Built and designed with London Bay’s custom homes clientele in mind, the showcase estate features an oversized club room to be used as a study and lounge, a spacious loft, an elevator, laundry rooms on each floor for added convenience, a stunning gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry and nearly 8,000 total square feet including a three-car garage and large covered outdoor living areas with prized southern exposure. French doors and sliding glass elevate the interaction between indoors and out. The two-story entry tower and balcony clad in charcoal gray matte porcelain slabs complements the dark metal of windows and the rich wood tones of tongue-and-groove ceilings, soffits and the linear panels of the wood-and-glass entry door.
Inside, a sun-filled gallery reveals the great room flowing to the adjoining kitchen, dining room and lanai for extended everyday living and entertaining. Stevens selected 48-by-48-inch sand-hued polished porcelain tile flooring as a neutral backdrop for the great room’s oiled java woods, sculptural furniture upholstered in ecru shagreen and oatmeal fabric and a custom built-in combining dark bronze panels with light woods and a textural stone surround.
“There’s a lot of texture at play – from tweedy menswear-inspired, embossed and shagreen fabrics, rich woods and textural metals in furniture, lighting and accessories,” said Stevens. “In keeping with the simplicity, decorative elements are minimal, and ceilings are simple step-up trays with wallpaper.”
An elegant powder bathroom features an accent wall with woven gray wallpaper and metallic wood cork with a subtle checkerboard pattern embellishing niches in its vestibule.
Stevens’ choice of kitchen countertops emphasizes texture with dramatic movement and veining in Skara brae quartz elegantly contrasting the off-white cabinetry housing built-in appliances, including a coffee system, tall wine refrigerator and wall ovens.
The classic form of the dining room’s rectangular table with dark bronze legs is illuminated by an artistic and architectural bronze chandelier suspended from the tray ceiling, backlit for a diffused glow. Two-tone chairs feature nail-head trim while a custom built-in boasts clean lines.
“French doors effortlessly transition to outside,” Stevens said of the dining room, which opens to the main covered lanai, offering an alfresco lounge with a TV, a dining area with custom lounge seating and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen.
The master suite, club room and a first-floor guestroom also enjoy private access to the estate’s alfresco areas. The spacious club room is envisioned as a study and inviting lounge, featuring an embossed leather shagreen desk with brushed bronze accents, a custom filing system, upholstered tweed sofa and club chairs and a clean-lined statement-making media console of black forest marble, textured graphite and cerused griege. “Black and gold lighting adds to the dramatic impact,” said Stevens, noting the room also features complementary artwork, sculpture, built-in shelves on each side of the door, and a French door opening to the pool deck.
Glimmers of gold in art, chandeliers and lamps factor into the design of the master suite, which spans a full private wing.
“The master bedroom is restful with quiet colors and simple lines,” said Stevens. “The bathroom has a touch of old Hollywood glam with a Lucite vanity table, a fuzzy bench and frosted acrylic and glass chandelier for sparkle and movement.”
The spacious bathroom offers dual vanities with off-white cabinetry and waterfall quartz countertops featuring warm translucent gray veins against a white background, polished porcelain flooring, a rectangular tub in a boxed bay window and an oversized shower clad in porcelain, marble and jeweled hexagon tile. The suite also has two walk-in closets.
Stevens created distinct personalities for the estate’s four guestrooms with shutters nodding to a light tropical feel, private full bathrooms in soft neutral tones with quartz-topped vanities and accent colors ranging from copper, coral, blue-gray and the tone-on-tone design of vintage soft French gray. The first-floor bedroom has a wood floor, a dark wood bed with bronze accents, a muted animal print in the fabric of an armchair and double French doors opening to the covered lanai.
The three second-floor suites share a laundry, a covered balcony and a large loft with a wood floor, a sectional sofa and art with vivid turquoise, blues and yellow ochre.
“The loft is a nice lounge for guests,” said Stevens. “A console with counter-height stools serves as a bar for coffee and drinks.”
The 256 Aqua Court showcase estate is available for viewing by appointment.
Romanza Interior Design is a full-service firm of award-winning design experts specializing in high-end residential design. Its integrative approach blends innovation and superior service to capture the spirit of each homeowner. Whether creating a new dream home, updating or customizing an existing residence or simply adding finishing touches, Romanza Interior Design brings creative visions to life.
