See A Palm City Abode With Balanced Style And A Breezy Palate

For one Alabama couple, the time had come to upgrade their second home in Palm City. Avid golfers who love entertaining, Tim and Lynne Petro grew so fond of the community that they decided to construct a permanent residence—one better suited to accommodate long-term visitors, namely their children and grandchildren. The change was a blank-slate opportunity: They opted to bring nothing but the trusted guidance of Tim’s skilled daughter, designer Kelly Neely. “She has outfitted all of our houses and is incredibly talented,” Lynne says. “I don’t think I have ever said ‘no’ to one of her ideas.”

For the Petros, the design approach for this project was rooted in balance. “We have always liked a mix of modern and traditional styles,” Lynne reflects. “The biggest aesthetic inspirations here came from wanting a Palm Beach vibe through wallpaper, paint and draperies.” The nonnegotiables? “You can’t be in Florida without having a great outdoor area to socialize,” she continues. “And Tim is a big swimmer, so his only request was a large lap pool.”

Honoring these preferences, architect Peter Stromberg conceived a house having what he describes as “the character of a West Indies style,” paying careful attention to symmetry and proportion. “Of course, South Florida has heavy sun and rain,” notes Stromberg, who collaborated with general contractor Bill Daly and builder Kenny Raposo, “so we maintained a low scale, with deep terraces where you can sit outside and stay cool.” Stucco siding underscores the vernacular, and a sloped roof with extended overhangs helps regulate temperatures and provide shade. To nestle the structure into the environment, landscape architect Paul Goulas introduced lush local shrubs and big-leaf species to frame the backyard. “Along the sides, we used native plants like sable palms,” he explains. “Then as we get closer to the home and around the pool, we went with more of a subtropical look with foxtail palms.”

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