VUE

We all love a good beach house, but sometimes the nautical theme is a bit heavy-handed near the sea. Rather than opting to hang a ship's wheel in every room or place blue anchors on every throw pillow, Terry Ryan of Ryan Art and Design took a more practical approach when designing a vacation home in Naples, Florida. By integrating materials that add a hint of the nautical feel, with a clean, sophisticated New York styling, Ryan was able to achieve a more subtle beach residence. For instance, the penthouse features marble floors and reconstituted wood wall panelings which are meant to resemble sand, but simultaneously embody that sleek New York vibe. "It's about tying things together in a subtle way," Ryan said. "You feel it more than you actually see it." The Florida project originally took form when Ryan was inspired to make use of the antique metal sconces (seen in the living room) and several other dark-colored light fixtures. What really pulls the project together is the use of black, particularly in the form of mother-of-pearl. In the main living area, the custom white lacquer table contains black mother-of-pearl inlays which reflect the reveals in the wall paneling and ebonized maple end tables. "I used black to unite the project. Not in a heavy-handed way, but it's there and it links everything together all the way through." Adjacent to the private penthouse elevator, a wall comprised of 12x12 sheets of gold mother-of-pearl sit beneath recessed lighting. W W W. V U E N J . C O M 37

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