Cover_Jan 05 (Page 2) - The Parklander Magazine

By Dylan Tillman
52
Designer Strikes Gold
At Boca Condominium
When developer, Compson Associates, was seeking a
design firm to create a mood of relaxed elegance in the interiors
of the exquisite 3,600-square-foot model at its opulent Excelsior
condominium in Boca Raton, the company turned to design
consultant Rene Evans.
The resulting island-inspired design she created transformed the
three bedroom, three and one-half bath residence into an inviting St.
Bart’s-style retreat. So successful was the design that Evans was
honored with a Gold PRISM Award at the recent presentation of the
Gold Coast Builders Association’s prestigious annual awards
ceremony.
“My goal for this project was to create a plush, comfortable
environment with a natural scheme evocative of the tropics,” she
said. “I wanted to give the owners the pleasure of being able to walk
in from the beach and relax in luxury, without having to worry
about their furnishings.”
Evans pulled together a relaxing scheme of tranquil hues
inspired by the ocean and the tropics. A palette of cocoa, teal,
aquamarine and sand mixes with natural textures such as sisal,
rattan, linen and wood to create a calming retreat.
The grand living area is anchored by honed Travertine floors, an
oversized heirloom oriental rug and a sturdy, six-foot wood cocktail
table with leather criss-crossed straps and solid brass brads. The
plush sectional sofa is upholstered in a soft neutral chenille, while
two English tufted chairs by Hancock & Moore, the manufacturer of
the chairs found in the U.S. Capitol building, complete the grouping.
A custom walnut entertainment unit features mirrored insets and
lattice-work panels.
Silk Sanserria, palm trees and eclectic accessories bring the
island ambiance indoors in a carefree manner. From the carved
gaming table, residents enjoy breath-taking lakefront vistas, while
grasscloth wallcovering and elegant vanilla wall moldings provide
warmth and texture. To bring a breezy continuity to the space,
simple cotton scrim panels by Robert Allen were draped from iron
ring rods over all the windows.
In the sitting area, a custom “twig-base” iron coffee table is
nestled in a cozy conversational arrangement between a teak islandcolonial
style sofa with a Coraggio “Tahiti” fabric, scroll arm wicker
settee and woven rattan club chairs covered in a soothing seafoam
blue suede.
The dining area is gracious and romantic, with an inviting
68-inch round dining table from Baker’s “Milling Road Collection,”
seating for six and hand-made Tuscan dinnerware from Vietri. The
impressive painting by Kevin McPherrin is dramatically lit to serve
as a mesmerizing conversation piece for dinner guests.
In the elegant master bedroom, the casegoods by Ferguson
Copeland feature an exotic tropical style with carved bamboo posts,
beautiful wood figuring and gold-painted palm frond finials.
Dreamy original oil paintings, a silk tufted bench from Jeffco and
a Henredon chair and ottoman complete the furnishings. Delicately
faux-finished walls, silk bed linens in camel and teal and heavily
lined black out draperies provide a peaceful respite. A corner of
the room has been transformed into a charming reading nook
featuring a bamboo desk and skirted chair.
The two guestrooms in the residence are equally as luxurious
and a bit whimsical. One room features a split bamboo headboard,
a silk upholstered McGuire chair and a quirky zebra-striped ottoman
with turtle feet. On the bed, the Jab silk coverlet coordinates with the
silk black out drapery. Open weave casement draperies from
Stronheim and Roman cast subtle shadows throughout the room,
and a palm frond fan cools the room the tropical blue ceiling above.
The playful “monkey” room is anchored by a striking, handpainted
and crackled armoire, imported from Brazil. The softly
faux-finished walls create the perfect backdrop for the raw silk
draperies and casement sheers, suspended from a whimsical rod
which doubles as a perch for several bronze monkeys. The bed is
home to a bevy of luxurious pillows upholstered in exotic leathers,
silks and feathers. P●
Dylan Tillman is a design writer in Fort Lauderdale. E-mail him at
tillman@theparklander.com.
the PARKLANDER