Design
Perla Lichi’s Love for Italy
January 28, 2009 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Short of personally traveling to Venice, Italy for inspiration on your 20,000 square foot seaside palazzo, where does one start?
For the new owners of such a home in Nokomis, Florida (near Sarasota), the answer was simple: Call Perla Lichi. One of Florida’s most talented interior designers, Lichi knew exactly what to do when she got the call from clients who wanted a “Venetian flavor” throughout their dream home.
Situated in the prestigious Casey Key section of Sarasota, this Venetian masterpiece is just one example of Lichi’s unique design style and talent. Along with her 30-member team, Lichi recently nabbed 52 awards at the Builders of South Florida “Best of Florida” awards, and her firm, Perla Lichi Design, is regularly commissioned to design the interiors of homes for prominent sports figures throughout Florida.
In conjunction with Sarasota-based architect Clifford Scholz and builder Michael K. Walker, Lichi relied on her own love for Italian style to create an authentic replica of a Venetian palace complete with a variety of different textures, faux finishes, stone applications, Venetian plaster and unique frescoes on the walls, mosaic borders, detailed ceilings throughout and silver and copper leafing (“like jewelry,” says Lichi). A grandiose entryway and staircase with cast stone balustrades leads to a living room “so high and grand and with custom-detailed ceilings that it makes you feel like you are in Venice immediately,” says Lichi. But it’s not all about form, Lichi’s favorite room in the house is quite functional as well. “We space planned it with two seating areas that look like one, and the views are drop-dead gorgeous.”
According to the designer, what truly sets this spectacular home apart is the level of detailing. “Every fabric is coordinated, every fringe and tassel match, the walls blend with the mouldings and the mouldings blend with the carpet and everything is designed to flow perfectly,” says Lichi. “It took almost three years from start to finish, and the key was to work as a team [with the architect and the contractor] to ensure that we all stayed on the same page, and that we shared the same vision.”
A rich color scheme of sage green, cinnamon, copper, gold, eggplant and silver is used throughout the six-bedroom oceanfront house, which features water views from almost every room, beautiful Murano glass accessories, a hand-painted fireplace, and a separate guesthouse. Leather chairs, dark woods and classic styling imbue the library with the feel of a gentleman’s club. Corbels, dentils, burl-wood panels and other details embellish the mahogany custom cabinetry.
“We took into consideration that this is an oceanfront house, so we did interesting window treatments—Romans that you can close off to block the light if need be,” says Lichi, noting that they also took little things into consideration, like choosing the proper hardware on the doors to best withstand the salt water. “You need to consider all of this when working on a waterfront house,” she says.
The Italian theme is carried through to the spacious kitchen, which replicates exactly what you would expect to see in a Venetian villa. Custom Old World-style cabinets with rich wood carvings are accented with metallic tones, and custom Venetian glass panels with display lights add to the authenticity. The refrigerators are cleverly hidden behind custom built-in cabinets that resemble hand-carved armoires, and an oversized island and top-of-the-line appliances again add function to form. The Venetian plaster walls, rustic granite countertops with mosaic combination backsplash perfectly complement the detailing throughout. “It is a very casual but gourmet state-of-the-art kitchen that goes with the rest of the house,” says Lichi. “This truly is the most gorgeous house.”
THE WINNING TEAM
For more information about the design, architecture and building services offered by Perla Lichi, Clifford Scholz and Michael K. Walker, contact the following:
Perla Lichi Design
Phone: (954) 726-0899
Website: www.perlalichi.com
Email: janetv@perlalichi.com
Clifford Scholz Architects
Phone: (941) 923-2400
Website: www.cmsa1.com
Email: info@cmsa1.com
Michael K. Walker & Associates
Phone: (941) 365-3301
