PALM BEACH BROWARD $ 9.95 a sandow publication luxe source volume 13, issue 2 display until 06/29/15
INTERIOR DESIGN / amy weaver, weaver design group on neutral ground easy-going fabrics and comfortable furnishings give way to organic textures and patterns, bringing california dreaming to the east coast. written by linda hayes / photography by jessica klewicki glynn luxe interiors + design / 267
The owners Labradoodle, Mr. Magoo, regularly makes the trip from San Francisco to John s Island with the couple. Here, he acts as official greeter on the home s entrance stairs. He is flanked by Chinese wired planters from Drum & Company in San Francisco. It was a total fluke, says the owner of a sublime John s Island house who discovered the area while she and her husband were on a trip to Vero Beach. We had been looking for a place to get away from the rain and cold of San Francisco s winters. When a friend invited us down for a visit, we were instantly captivated by the town. The couple were drawn to the abundance of activities and culture, as well as the area s international feel. When we got there, she recalls, I thought it was just incredible. True to form, the owners who have professional backgrounds in commercial architecture and high-end furniture began touring the area to find the perfect home away from home. They looked at every type of property available, and when they came upon this house, everything clicked. Recently renovated by David N. Moulton and Scott R. Layne, of architectural firm Moulton Layne, and builder Jack Welton of JC Welton Construction, the house was open and bright with high ceilings, lots of windows and French doors opening to landscaped gardens, a pool and a golf course. What it needed was someone to help transform the interiors into something that better reflected the couple s tastes an aesthetic that spoke to their lifestyle back in California. San Francisco-based designer Amy Weaver was just the person to call. Amy is one of my best friends, and we ve worked together many times, the wife says. She knows what we like, and we re always on the same page. Weaver s first task was establishing an appropriate style and palette. The architecture was in good shape, but the interiors needed revamping, notes the designer. The owners liked warmer tones, something unexpected that was a departure from South Florida s quintessential pinks and greens. To that end, she laid a neutral base of taupes, whites, grays and browns, and then popped in some saffron and orange for color. Working from her home base in San Francisco, Weaver plotted finishes and developed design boards and computerized floor plans to determine where all of the furnishings would go. Some pieces were designed by Weaver herself, while others were sourced from California in order to foster a more West Coast vibe. Below left: Lights in wicker baskets accent the covered terrace. Handcrafted by a Napa Valley artisan, they were found at Artefact Design & Salvage in Sonoma, California. Below right: A fine featheredfriend door knocker announces visitors with endearing style. luxe interiors + design / 269
270 / luxe interiors + design Rich furnishings in the family room include rattan chairs by Palecek and a cocktail table from Witford in San Francisco. The customdesigned sofa wears Perennials fabric with contrasting tape trim by Samuel & Sons. A Jim Thompson Fabrics print draws attention to the lounge chairs, and a Stark carpet grounds the space.
The bright dining room, flooded with sunlight through ample windows and doors, features rattan chairs by Palecek around a custom-designed dark walnut table. The delicate glass light fixture with suspended pendants lends a whimsical note. Light tones give the living room an inviting feel. A coffee table with a gilded branch base by Paul Ferrante centers the room. It s topped with accessories from Artefact Design & Salvage and paired with customdesigned chairs in striped fabric by Manuel Canovas. The painting was made by the owners daughter. 272 / luxe interiors + design
Layered pillows add extra comfort and style to the master suite s custom-built Patricia Edwards bed. Draperies are by Larsen, the stools are from Lee Industries and sport Nobilis fabric, and the Made Goods bedside tables are from Witford they hold Westport table lamps by Circa Lighting. Above: Textured patterns in brown, beige and cream enliven the seating area in a guest room. Wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries is the perfect backdrop for Patricia Edwards chairs in Clarence House fabric. A Jim Thompson print reappears in the draperies. Right: Partial shades by Hartmann&Forbes provide privacy for soaking in the master bathroom s original freestanding tub. The chair is by Lee Industries. 274 / luxe interiors + design
The owners liked warmer tones, something unexpected that was a departure from South Florida s quintessential pinks and greens. -Amy Weaver We invested in quality pieces that would be around forever, as well as wonderful, sturdy fabrics, she says. Everything was personalized, but not everything was precious. Two side-by-side areas a casual family room with a relatively dark color scheme and a lighter, more formal living room represent many of Weaver s foundational design concepts. For instance, each is laid out with ultimate livability and function in mind. The flow of how a room works is really important to me, she explains. Whether you have 12 people or two people in a room, you have to keep it open so it s easy for everyone to gather and talk. Each room also features highly textured fabrics and furnishings with nature-inspired detailing, such as a Paul Ferrante coffee table with a delicate branch-like base in the living room and super-comfortable armchairs with gnarly, woven rattan backs in the family room. And each is layered with just the right number of found objects, eclectic accessories and accent pieces, many of which were from the owners personal collection. I love accessorizing, says the wife. Everything is unique, and I switch out objects all the time. Weaver agrees the owner has a knack for choosing accoutrements. We re in sync with how much to layer in a house without it looking overdone, she says. Although not much of the existing kitchen was changed, repurposing an open space alongside a pair of doors leading to a terrace allowed for a dining room with an indoor-outdoor feel. The doors are open 80 percent of the time, says Weaver. So for practical purposes, the rattan-framed dining chairs were upholstered with a durable indoor-outdoor fabric, a concept that the designer employed wherever possible. Of the entire process which took about three months from start to finish both Weaver and the owners agree that the installation was a major accomplishment. We sent two huge semis down to Florida filled with furniture and everything from sheets and towels to custom-size carpets, says Weaver. When it got there, we worked for four days, putting floor plans out for every room for the movers, making beds and doing a full installation. It was like instant gratification my favorite part of the job. When she is pressed to pick a preferred area of the house now, the wife wavers. It s different depending on the time of day, she says. The nook in the kitchen with a Saarinen table is my favorite New York Times-and-coffee spot. I also love to sit under the covered terrace at 5 or 6 in the evening. And the master suite is pretty luxurious; it s a very comfortable place to be. In the end, their goal for a California-meets-Florida retreat where they can escape Bay Area winters and entertain family and friends was met and surpassed. We have houseguests in and out all the time, the wife says. Amy did such a wonderful job. There s a definite relationship to our house in San Francisco, and when you re here, you just get it. Dual seating areas by the pool, here and opposite, are versatile and easily rearranged for entertaining. Contemporary open-weave rattan chairs by Janus et Cie are upholstered with durable indoor-outdoor fabric. The stone table is by Global Views. 276 / luxe interiors + design