Designed and constructed by Oakley Home Builders in collaboration with Dawn McKenna, principal of the Dawn McKenna Group, and Hlevel Architecture, a new canal-side home in Naples takes on a fresh approach to modern, Florida living.
“We thought the market was craving a slightly different look, a little bit of a twist,” says McKenna. “‘Transitional,’ the mix of modern and traditional, is so overused. We thought this was more of a soft-modern approach.” From finding the right lot in Naples’ Aqualane Shores area through design and finishes, Oakley, McKenna and Dawn McKenna Group agent Victoria Clarke-Payton worked closely to create an organic marvel that is a home for anyone, of any age, to enjoy the Naples lifestyle.
The 4,835-square-foot home is meant to bring the outdoors in and features organic elements that breathe life into it. “There are some real, natural elements there,” says McKenna. “It’s why we like using live plants in any type of home design — that green, organic kind of addition, makes the whole house feel like a home.”
Wide-plank French oak flooring, a cedar-lined glass wine cellar in the foyer and creamy white quartzite create natural ambiance around the home. The open floor plan with numerous southern exposures helps bring the Naples sun in all day and all year long. In the master bedroom, a retractable wall of glass fills a corner and allows the morning sunrise to envelop the room. In the bathroom, rose-gold to- silver sink faucets add a luxuriously rare touch, according to Clarke-Payton.
What makes this home further stand out is the dazzling outdoor space. A hardscaped patio made from natural coral shell surrounds an 85-foot-long pool that features a swim-up bar. The perfect area for entertaining, the outdoor kitchen includes a sitting area complete with a fire pit. Step down to the boat dock, which has enough space for a 45-foot boat, and you can admire the water from another seating area and fire pit.
Along with understanding what homeowners want with a home, Oakley, McKenna and Clarke- Payton always had location on their mind. “The appeal of Aqualane Shores is accessibility to everything people want to get to when they come down to Naples,” says Clarke-Payton, who goes on to say that the area is “very walkable” and describes Naples as a “big city in a small town.” The home’s true luxury is its five-minute walk to the beach and its two-block distance from historic Third Street South. “[It’s] a beautiful walk along a coconut-palmed street,” says Clarke-Payton. “A heavenly location.” And if you are a boater, the canal’s direct access to the Gulf of Mexico means you can enjoy time on the water whenever you want.
The soft modern classic at 556 17th Avenue is an outdoor paradise that McKenna hopes anyone who walks in will treasure.
“I just want people to walk over that threshold and take a deep breath. We know we’ll have someone who’s interested when they stand at the foyer, do a 180 across the room, and just take it in,” says McKenna. And when this one is sold, McKenna cannot wait to show you the next Oakley / McKenna project in nearby Port Royal.
556 17th Avenue S
Naples, Florida
5 bedrooms, 6 baths
$7,495,000
Represented by: Dawn McKenna & Victoria Clarke-Payton Coldwell Banker Realty The Dawn McKenna Group
D. 312.750.9333 / V. 239.692.1065
By Jessica Ganga
This article originally appeared in Homes & Estates magazine.