Modern Naturally
Florida Design | Volume 14
Oxblood cherry millwork with brushed-nickel banding makes a strong statement in the foyer. Tapered cherry-wood columns signal the entry to the living room.
A Compendium of 20th Century Styles Influences a Contemporary Yet Organic Design
Organic yet contemporary in design, this sprawling estate in the prestigious Boca Raton community of Le Lac break from convention in more ways than one. “The owner didn’t want the Mediterranean look that dominates the landscape here,” designer Michael Wolk says. “Instead, he wanted a contemporary home that would complement nature, not compete with it.”
To achieve the desired look, the owner commissioned architect Mitch Kunik, who worked with partner Brian Collins on the project. “The architecture evolved from the style of great architects, such as Roberts A.M. Stern and Greene and Greene’s,” Kunik says. Stern’s historical references and Greene and Greene’s Mission style inspired the horizontal layout of the home and its generous use of windows and natural materials.
The connection between the outer and inner realms begins with the “neo-modern” columns that punctuate the exterior of the home. Wolk designed the tapered stone columns to “create sculptural interest and offer a departure from ordinary cylindrical or square columns,” he says. Solid, dark cherry-wood columns in the same shape appear inside.
A compendium of 20th-century styles – Art Deco, International, Mission, Arts and Crafts, and Prairie School – establishes the interior’s early American European Modern aesthetic.
In the foyer, a curved stairway made of oxblood cherry wood with brushed-nickel branding makes a strong design statement. “The more industrial mix of materials reflects a French interpretation of Modernism,” says senior designer Roxana Matticoli. Terrazzo flooring, chosen for its unique design options, flows from the foyer to the living room.
“Renaissance painters often placed dots of red on their canvases to activate the scene,” says interior designer Michael Wolk, referring to his use of red pillows in the living room.
Here, a mahogany sofa and ebonzied chairs gather in front of the fireplace. Wolk, a nationally renowned furniture designer, created the all-in-one occasional table and lamp and “floating” oval-shaped cocktail table.
A circle of light blue and soft pink terrazzo flooring signifies the dining room, where chairs with a varying heights add visual interest. Rust-and-aqua-striped draperies inject a stronger dose of color.
Armchairs dressed in woven fabric from Designtex surround a tale made of cherry wood and brushed nickel in the breakfast area. A circular light fixture hovers above.
The Great Room includes family game rooms, a bar and a breakfast area. Wolk’s famous “Tucker” chairs - seen in the films Batman Returns and Inspector Gadget - reference Art Deco Style.
Upstairs, a hallway leads to the master bath and master suite. Cream-colored marble washes over the master bath, while a mix of warm woods envelops the master suite.
Back on the first floor, the Great Room includes a bar area, a family room and a game room. In the breakfast area nearby, paned windows frame pictures of the verdant landscape.
Outside, the patio transitions to a beach-like setting. Rocks and boulders, further the effect.
With a 21st-century vision, Wolk reinterprets early Modern motifs to create a contemporary home that melds into a natural surroundings.
In the master suite, a cove-lit, column shaped fireplace is clad in cherry and accented with brushed nickel. Dark cherry wood and squares of leather from Edelman form the flooring.
A contemporary light fixture casts a web-like shadow on the ceiling of the master bath. Wolk created several niches in the limestone walls to display shells.
Interior Design: Michael Wolk Design
Architecture: Affiniti Architects
By Katherine Kaye McMillan | Photography by Robert Brantley