This 3,400 square-foot home is situated on a beautiful Longboat Key bayfront lot. The residents envisioned a warm, modern, one-story home designed to capture the dramatic bay views and provide a seamless indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

From the street, a series of carefully crafted terraces gently raise the existing grade to meet the FEMA required floor level of the house. Visitors approach the home through an open-air courtyard with a sculptural screw-pine at its center. The courtyard serves as a backdrop to the main living spaces and non-waterfront rooms look inward upon the courtyard to maintain privacy from the street. The main living spaces and master-suite are situated along the L-shaped waterfront facade of the home and have sweeping bay views across an infinity-edge swimming pool.

Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted with long views across the infinity-edge swimming pool to the bay beyond. A modest 8’ high cypress-clad ceiling compresses the entry space, then cascades upwards as you move into the home, reaching a height of 14’ in the light-filled living room. Floor-to-ceiling glass and pocketing sliding glass doors face the pool and bay, while clerestory windows ring the living room providing abundant natural daylight from above. The living room opens onto a large covered porch, serving as the perfect perch overlooking the bay. The porch features an outdoor kitchen, natural cypress wood ceilings, and retractable insect screens. A gas firepit, framed by oolite stone benches, sits at the water’s edge.

A warm palette of natural materials is used both inside and out. Natural-finished white oak floors were chosen for their warmth and beauty. Cypress wood detailing, locally-sourced Florida limestone cladding and white shell topped concrete were used on the exterior, providing a rich contrast to the smooth white walls of the home’s interior.

This 3,600-square foot home is located in the Hudson Bayou neighborhood of Sarasota. The residents, who previously lived in a bay view downtown condo, envisioned a warm, modern, and sophisticated home designed to provide the feeling of living in their own private “Selby Gardens”.  The home was designed to be respectful of the scale and context of the neighborhood, while simultaneously providing privacy for the residents. 

The 160-foot long, inward focused home, meanders across the property and the architectural forms push and pull to define a series of exterior courtyards that are interwoven amongst the interior rooms.  An entry courtyard, with a cantilevered ‘modern front porch’, engages the neighborhood and features curved coconut palms, tropical plantings, and a concrete stepping stone path. Visitors enter into a gallery space and are greeted with a long view across the pool courtyard. A water wall, painted vibrant pink, is the focal point of the courtyard and provides white noise from busy Bahia Vista.

The light-filled living room features 13-foot ceilings.  Floor-to-ceiling glass faces the pool courtyard, with a backdrop of dense tropical plantings providing privacy, and west-facing clerestory windows wrap over the TV/bookcase wall to capture views of the sunset sky. 

The kitchen opens upon a deep porch that provides shade from the southern sun. White kitchen cabinets wrap the perimeter while a large center island is wrapped in rift cut white oak.  A Carrera marble backsplash and back-painted glass upper cabinets provide timeless and elegant accents.

The master bedroom and bathrooms open to both a meditation garden and the pool courtyard, reinforcing the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. A den is situated to the front of the home and opens to the entry courtyard and front porch, providing an intimate and peaceful space to relax.

A warm palette of natural materials is used both inside and out. Natural-finished white oak floors were chosen for their warmth and beauty. Cypress wood detailing, locally-sourced Florida limestone cladding and polished white concrete were used on the exterior providing a rich contrast to the smooth white walls of the homes interior.

The home achieved a National Green Building Standard Gold certification.

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DESIGN TEAM:

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: DWY

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER, PUNIT PATEL, LAUREN STOCKMAN AND KELSEY CLARK

CONTRACTOR: J.M  MEYER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

In the serene glow of misty mornings that melt into luminous tropical days; through the sultry furor of afternoon thunderstorms, and against the dusky canvas of twilight, this two story townhome plays, with an air of European sophistication, to the evocative moods of the Florida environment that surrounds it.

Clean lines and timeless natural materials define this extensive interior renovation. The original home featured a cramped and dimly-lit kitchen, angled walls, low ceilings, and dated finishes, and an upstairs bedroom with no exterior windows. The renovation stripped the home to its studs, completely reconfiguring the interior spaces create a more open floor plan that features crisp lines, maximizes the connection between rooms, and takes advantage of natural light.

The renovated kitchen is transformed into the centerpiece of the first floor. The clean, airy space features a 16’ long island clad in zebrawood, which is accented by bright, white cabinets and countertops, and the polished aesthetic of stainless steel appliances. The appliances, full-height cabinets and pantry were relocated to a 24’ storage wall that abuts another until, opening up the space to allow a connection between the kitchen, dining and living rooms. A 7’x7’ plate of frosted glass serves as a divider between the kitchen and entryway, allowing natural light to reach the kitchen while maintaining privacy.

A new built-in entertainment wall featuring floating shelves and wall-hung cabinets anchors the living room--a space for recreation and relaxation that is at once warm, comfortable and elegantly refined. Wall-to-wall sliding glass doors bathe the room in natural light and provide a refreshing view of the lush, verdant backdrop of natural flora that provides outdoor privacy. An adjoining children’s study area is divided from the living room by two 10’ high frosted glass panels. The staircase was rebuilt and wrapped in white oak treads and risers, and new stainless steel handrails were painstakingly detailed and fabricated.

In the second floor renovation, the space was reconfigured to add a new bedroom, utilizing an existing window. The renovated bedrooms provide bright, naturally-lit spaces for the family’s small children to slumber, dream and play in safety. New wardrobe units and built-in desks were added to the children’s rooms, and the master bedroom closet was enlarged. All three bathrooms in the home were also completely reconfigured utilizing sleek, modern fixtures, natural materials, and frosted glass accents.

The result is an elegant European townhome that takes advantage of its Floridian surroundings to create a clean and sophisticated environment that breathes sunlight into its open spaces; a home that is luxurious, functional and timeless.

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The interior renovation of this wedge-shaped 700-square feet beachfront condo was designed to reflect the owner’s desire for an eclectic-modern vacation home that would serve as the perfect venue for entertaining and socializing.

The original unit’s kitchen and dining areas were located in the back of the unit without a beach view while the bedroom occupied the prime waterfront location. The renovation flipped the layout of the unit, placing the living room, kitchen, and dining areas to the beachfront side to allow the owner and guests to enjoy the waterfront views throughout the day.

To facilitate the clients vision for a bright playful interior, furnishings, finishes, and custom artwork were carefully curated and commissioned from local artists and craftsmen. The side walls of the unit are clad in white horizontal wood shiplap siding and sand-colored tile flooring serves as a simple, timeless, and beachy setting to everyday life.

The centerpiece of the reconfigured unit is an open kitchen/dining area featuring a locally-made custom dining table. White shaker cabinets act as a backdrop for a bold patterned backsplash tile. Accents of natural-finished white oak bring warmth to the kitchen while black floating metal shelves provide much needed storage and keeping the unit light and airy.

The relocated bedroom, while modest in size, was maximized by utilizing a 12-foot wide set of frosted glass doors in lieu of a traditional entry door, allowing the bedroom to feel larger then it is. Horizontal shiplap extends through the bedroom on the headboard wall and is washed in light by a recessed light trough. Wall mounted reading lights preserve valuable space.

The result is a bright, airy, coastal retreat that is functional, open, and comfortable.

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Extensive interior renovations stripped the decades away from the walls this 1970s home, opened up its spaces, and revealed a fresh, clean canvas for the homeowner to indulge in the art of modern living.

Located in the heart of Siesta Key on a private canal, this 1700 square-foot space features a simple split floor plan. A small, dark kitchen with dated finishes detracted from the overall aesthetic of the original home, thus a primary focus of the renovation was to open and modernize the space. The home’s entry was renovated to open the space into the living, dining and kitchen areas, creating a timeless modern ranch.

The concrete floors were finished with a gray concrete epoxy finish, creating an understated matte backdrop for the unique details and colorful furnishings that breathe character into this home. The sleek, modern stainless steel appliances in the kitchen are balanced by bamboo panels, creating a visual aesthetic that is at once clean, contemporary, and organic. Timeless furniture pieces characterize the living and dining spaces, which flow naturally into one another and feature ample windows for natural lighting and ventilation. The home also features fully-renovated bathrooms with classic penny round marble tiles, painted gray glass, and teak furnishings.

In this home, the details make all the difference. From the intricate detailing in the master vanity light fixtures to the rolling glass doors and built-in casework that accents the timeless furniture, the subtle attention to detail applied to the renovation of this home entirely redefines the space for the 21st century. Opening up the living spaces and providing a fresh canvas for the homeowner to explore and personalize home transform this 1970s transformed into a private oasis for modern living.

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This project, located west of Tamiami Trail on South Osprey Avenue, is an oasis of modern urban design that manages to blend seamlessly into the serene, tropical atmosphere that characterizes the surrounding neighborhood. The design is dictated by the homeowner’s desire for a living space with a clean aesthetic and an industrial edge, which is accomplished through an uncomplicated composition of unfettered materials in linear, spacious harmony.

Smooth stucco, lap siding, and corrugated metal panels, arranged in exacting angularity, synthesize into a crisp and orderly exterior façade that celebrates the precise, clean lines and cool, metallic grays of industrial design. Stained cypress tongue-and-groove soffits add an organic touch, drawing the eyes upward toward the warm, cerulean sky that shines ample natural light into the two-story home’s interiors through spacious glass windows. Elements of privacy and cooling, natural shade are provided by the Floridian landscape of palm trees and lush, coastal foliage that surrounding the property.

The L-shaped floor plan provides 2350 square feet of interior living space, and is organized around a northwest-facing courtyard. The home’s primary living spaces are arranged in an open-floor concept on the ground floor, with the dining room, eat-in kitchen and living room stacked neatly along the main axis. Windows provide ample cross-ventilation throughout the home.

Cool, polished concrete flooring runs throughout the lower level of the house, laying a foundation of simple sophistication from the ground up. Natural light radiates from every wall of the ground floor, as well as from above. Sunlight illuminates the beamed tongue-and-groove wood ceiling and warms the exposed metal railings and bamboo treads of the open staircase. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and edge-grained bamboo accents that imbue warmth into the primarily-monochromatic space. The angles are relaxed in the living room area, where comfortable modern furniture and lush carpeting invite easy living.

On the second floor is a spacious master bedroom that features vaulted ceilings, as well as a second en suite bedroom. The upper floor also includes a 13’-6” x 19’ flex room that has its own bathroom, wardrobe, and wet bar. The flex room features its own outdoor staircase for private entry.

Natural sunlight warms every corner and crisp angle of this urban retreat in tropical paradise. The result is a comfortable, cosmopolitan living space that celebrates urban design while integrating harmoniously into its surroundings.

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Built on spec in the historic Hudson Bayou neighborhood, the goal for this project was to create a warm, transitional modern home.  Located on a modest sized infill lot, the home is thoughtfully scaled and carefully composed to be respectful of the context of the neighborhood.

A warm color palette and contextual materials accent the clean lines and simple composition of this home.  The façade features lap siding, standing seam metal roofing, smooth stucco and stained cypress tongue and groove soffits. Abundant windows provide natural daylighting and cross ventilation throughout the interior of the home.

At 3,400 square feet of indoor living space, the home is positioned to provide a modest front yard, defined by a low site wall and features a modern front porch with exposed cypress beams.  The open concept living room opens onto a large covered porch and west facing pool courtyard.  The home features first and second floor master suites, opening to the pool courtyard and a private second floor porch respectively.  A custom fabricated cypress screen walls provides privacy for the first and second floor porches, while maintaining natural light and airflow.

The home features white oak floors, a beamed, tongue and groove wood ceiling in the living room and an open staircase with high clerestory windows to provide natural daylight.  The focal point of the living area of the house is the kitchen.  Cabinets are painted in a soft gray, and are accented by rift cut white oak upper cabinets, a Calcutta gold marble backsplash, and a floating black metal shelf.  Black hardware and fixtures provide continuity throughout the house.

The result is a fresh, sophisticated and flexible home, perfect for a variety of potential owners.

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER AND PUNIT PATEL

CONTRACTOR: J.M  MEYER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

DESIGN TEAM:

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER, PUNIT PATEL, KELSEY CLARK, AND STEFFANI DRASS

CONTRACTOR: TODAY'S BUILDERS 

The Humane Society of Sarasota County is undergoing its largest renovation and expansion to date. With the goal of increasing adoption rates, the design team is working closely with the organization to design a world-class adoption center and modernize existing shelter to better accommodate the animals in its care.

Additionally, the no-profit group is adding veterinary clinic services for other smaller non-profits, a receiving center for donations and public surrenders, and a large multi-purpose space for puppy training and public functions.

New administrative offices, adoption counselor workstations, cat adoption center, and a dog isolation kennel ward will complete this multi-phase project

DESIGN TEAM:

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER AND PUNIT PATEL,

CONTRACTOR: J.M MEYER CONSTRUCTION CORP

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DESIGN TEAM:

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER AND PUNIT PATEL,

CONTRACTOR: JOSH WYNNE CONSTRUCTION 

DESIGN TEAM:

ARCHITECTURE: LEADER DESIGN STUDIO

INTERIOR DESIGN: SAWA DESIGN STUDIO 

DESIGN TEAM: CHRIS LEADER AND PUNIT PATEL

CONTRACTOR: J.M  MEYER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

A harmonious interplay between the elements of light, air and water characterize this spacious, private home located on Davis Island, just south of downtown Tampa. The new 2700 square-foot residence, which sits on a corner lot, features an L-shaped plan that wraps around a private courtyard containing the pool, spa, planting beds and covered terrace. An outdoor kitchen is also featured in the courtyard to invite breezy, open-air living.

High ceilings and clerestory windows illuminate and airily the ground floor interior, where a walk-through kitchen, featuring wenge cabinetry and crushed marble countertops, is located between the dining room and living room space. Travertine floors provide a cooling and classic aesthetic.

Large sliding glass doors open from the ground floor living room onto the covered terrace, which sprawls, uninterrupted, into shallow steps that dictate a gentle transition from the home into the pool, sited street side for optimal daylight exposure. The simple lines, cool grays and bright whites of the home’s exterior provide a clean backdrop to accent the azure skies reflected in the serene, glassy waterscape of the pool and spa.

The master suite and study, located on the ground floor, open up to the private courtyard and flow into the pool, mere footsteps from the patio doorway. Concrete terrazzo countertops in the master and guest bathrooms pay homage to the Sarasota School of Architecture and, as with all other areas inside and outside the home, natural light is a key element in the bathrooms. The upper level of the home features two bright, luxurious bedroom suites.

The spacious, breathable floor plan of this home does not come at the sacrifice of privacy: The L-shaped home embraces the courtyard with high walls and tall planting beds, which invite the sunlight and the breeze, rather than unwanted eyes.

The result, a modern-day fortress of casual luxury and light.