Upon stepping into this Naples high-rise condo overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, it doesn’t take long to realize this is not a typical beach home. There are no traditional ocean motifs, rattan furnishings or similar elements often found in waterfront residences. Instead, owners Adam and Diane Blank encouraged designer Robyn Lang-Shankland to “do something completely different, something you don’t see everywhere,” she recalls. They leaned modern, weren’t afraid of color and wanted the unexpected—a challenge she accepted.
The couple had purchased the recently built residence as an unfinished shell, with the exception of cabinetry and countertops. This meant Lang-Shankland, part of interior designer Faith Fix’s team, was handed a blank canvas, giving her the opportunity to create the kind of customized finishes that are a mainstay of her work. “For every project, I really go into the tiny details,” she says. “I prefer to create something so unique and special to the client—because they deserve it.”
Working with general contractor Chad Smith, the designer began by installing bleached walnut for features like flooring, millwork and the great room’s television wall, whose triangular-shaped panels create a distinctive geometric pattern. “We did different directions of the graining for something fun,” she says. They also swapped out the kitchen’s marble countertops for quartzite—a more durable and sensible option for the sociable homeowners, who enjoy entertaining. “We decided to use Cristallo, because marble is so porous,” Lang-Shankland notes. “We took it up as the backsplash, too.” And overhead, new white high-gloss panels portray high ceilings while reflecting the water view and surrounding greenery.
Yet the most unexpected material choice is Kinon, a high-gloss surface often spotted in luxury hotels and boutiques such as Chanel. “You don’t see it often—that’s why we chose to use it,” the designer explains. “It reflects the light and looks like a watercolor painting of grays, whites and taupes.” Variations appear throughout the residence, including the lightly patterned panels inlaid with metal that embellish the floating fireplace wall separating the living room from the dining area. In the latter, Lang-Shankland specified an overhead circular Kinon piece to hang a sculptural satin-brass chandelier, one of the home’s many eye-catching fixtures. “Why would you have something ordinary when you can have something fabulous?” she muses.
It’s natural to assume the condo’s captivating Gulf views, mirrored in the glossy interiors, inspired the carefully considered appearance of blue throughout the home. But, in fact, this stems from one of Diane’s favorite textiles. “When we were selecting fabrics, she was really drawn to the pattern used on the back of the dining chairs,” the designer recalls. “It has a lot of blues, silvers, greens and steel colors in it. That set the tone for the rest of the condo.” Reserving neutral shades for large, upholstered pieces and case goods, she introduced blue touches such as the animal-print rug in the great room’s seating area, the settee in Adam’s office and the stunning leather-and- mirrored bar there that displays his drink of choice. “He’s a huge tequila fan,” Lang-Shankland says. “We wanted to create a place to show off the fun bottles.” Countering the shade are pops of coral and orange, like the great room’s sofa pillows, occasional accessories and even artwork. “In the primary bathroom, there is a piece that has all the right tones,” the designer says, describing the rectangular rainbow-hued work perched above the freestanding tub. “I always think art is a great way to bring in color.”
These vibrant doses enliven the clean-lined furnishings, many of which Lang-Shankland had acquired from overseas makers, including Adam’s Italian-made desk. “I like to source from around the world,” she says. “I’m from Scotland, so I gravitate toward a lot of European lines.” Low-profile pieces, often covered in performance fabrics for durability, ensure the outdoor views are always visible. And while select wallcovering prints inject a local sensibility—a coral pattern in a guest bathroom, flamingos in the laundry room—their contemporary feel presents a welcome spin on coastal style. “Diane didn’t want to see something you might find all over Instagram or Pinterest; she wanted unique,” the designer says. “There’s a nod to Florida but in an artistic way—it’s not expected.”
