Wild at Heart - Jax Magazine February 2015

—Matt Kane
MATT KANE AND HIS WIFE, Dr. Alexis Kane,
had moved enough. “Why not just build
what we need and be done with it,” said a
frustrated Matt after yet another househunting
junket. He knew a builder, a guy
who had acted as the alumnae advisor for
his fraternity at Jacksonville University. A
so-called “dream builder.” In fact, that is
the name of Shawn Starr’s company: Your
Dream Builder.
Together, the trio checked out lots in
San Marco and Avondale and then, on
Starr’s recommendation, headed to the
beach. There, with more selection, and
closer proximity to Alexis’ work, they
quickly found a prime spot. “It is a stone
cold location,” Matt beams. “With the best
backyard you could imagine.”
But what to build Alexis wanted French
rustic, while Matt leaned toward a
Colorado mountain home. Starr and his
team saw commonalities between the two
styles, selecting wood and glass as central
elements and settling on a contemporary,
shingle-style beach cottage look for the
exterior, and organic urban modern on the
interior. With a turret. Because it’s a dream
home, and the Kanes have daughters.
FEBRUARY 2015 JACKSONVILLEMAG.COM | 65