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

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.”

The home’s perch on the St. Lucie River further informed the plan, prompting Stromberg to orient rooms, terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows toward the water views. Neely, meanwhile, drew inspiration from the coastal golf course setting to shape the color palette. “We wanted the surroundings to shine through to the interiors,” she says, “so blues and greens were a perfect choice.”

At more than 7,000 square feet, the six-bedroom residence was a sizable challenge for the designer to achieve a warm, welcoming feeling. Her solution came through finishes and architectural details such as the entry’s swooped banister and similarly styled archways that appear throughout the home. “To keep the house from feeling too stark and modern, I wanted to add character with different shapes,” Neely explains. For a cohesive backdrop, she chose white oak for the ceilings and floors, layering in blues and greens through wallpaper, tile and textiles. “My inspiration started as a feeling,” the designer muses. “I had a vision of pale wood tones, creamy white paint and billowing linen panels. I wanted all the rooms to be unique in their own way but have a consistent flow.”

That sentiment is expressed through Neely’s transition from the neutral foyer and living area—featuring pops of color like the entry’s green-toned brass chandelier—to the family room, a more intimate space defined by a painterly blue-palm wallcovering. The five en suite bedrooms also boast different personalities in verdant schemes, including one with a flower wallpaper that inspired the room’s sage-green ceiling. “Using modern prints mixed with florals and botanicals helps elevate a space,” the designer observes. “It gives character without being over-the-top or fitting into either a traditional or modern category.”

The interiors’ soft, breezy elegance carries out to the loggia, a beloved gathering spot overlooking the river alongside the pool. It’s the kind of easy, inviting atmosphere the Petros envisioned when they embraced a fresh start in South Florida. “I love showing the house to guests,” Lynne says. “Everyone is blown away and stops to take in every detail.”