Lakefront Living: A Three-Year Renovation on Lake Eloise

This Lake Eloise home was recently featured in Tampa Magazine, and we’re grateful to share more of the design story here.

Originally built in 2006, the home sits along Winter Haven’s Chain of Lakes. What followed was a three-year renovation from 2022 to 2025 that carefully reworked the interiors while preserving the strength of the original architecture.

From the beginning, the intention was not to start over. It was to refine, layer, and bring clarity to what was already there.

Preserving What Mattered

The home had defining architectural elements that deserved to stay. Blue-framed windows. Soaring ceilings. Concrete floors. Exposed wood beams.

Rather than compete with those features, the design builds around them.

Scale was considered in every room. Vertical volume called for tall motorized drapery. Open sightlines required furniture layouts that felt intentional from every angle. Custom cabinetry was introduced to bring proportion and storage where it was needed without disrupting the architectural rhythm.

When original construction is strong, the best approach is thoughtful enhancement, not replacement.

A Home Designed for Gathering

The homeowners wanted their home to support entertaining, relaxation, and everyday enjoyment. That directive shaped everything.

Spaces were designed to feel elevated but usable. Seating areas were grounded with bespoke rugs scaled specifically to each room. Circulation paths were clarified so movement felt natural. Built-ins and cabinetry were tailored to support how the home functions daily.

Luxury in this project was not about excess. It was about comfort, durability, and ease.

Material as the Through Line

Material selection played a central role in creating cohesion.

Marble, concrete, glass, and metal were layered throughout the home to create depth without visual clutter. Wallpaper was introduced strategically to soften stronger architectural lines and add texture where needed.

In the powder bath, black concrete walls and countertops create contrast against brush-stroked grasscloth wallpaper. The balance of hard and tactile materials gives the space dimension without overwhelming it.

The bar area features backlit Onyx in deep blue and cream tones, paired with richly painted cabinetry and stainless metal grill detailing. The result is functional but sculptural, anchoring the entertaining spaces with intention.

Throughout the home, blues and greens reference the surrounding lake, while carefully placed brighter accents introduce energy. In the primary suite, the palette shifts to a more subdued composition that still relates to the rest of the home.

Every finish was selected to feel considered, not decorative.

Working With the Architecture

This home’s layout and ceiling heights required precision. Instead of forcing symmetry or over-correcting structural nuances, the design responds to them.

Natural light influenced placement. Vertical scale informed proportion. Original beams remain a defining feature rather than something concealed.

Cohesion is often the result of restraint. The goal was to ensure each space felt connected without becoming repetitive.

The Result

After three years of renovation, the home reflects a layered, material-driven approach rooted in architecture and function.

It is refined but livable. Structured but warm. Bold in moments, restrained in others.

Most importantly, it supports the way the homeowners use and enjoy their space.