TIMELESS
TRAVELS
A GLOBALLY INSPIRED
MARCO RETREAT
TUCKED AWAY ON Marco Island, this elegant condo project
by Claudia Leah of Claudia Leah Design is a testament to slow,
thoughtful design. Completed over a three year period due to
the owners’ busy schedule and the condo’s restrictive renovation
calendar, Leah was able to create a home that functions on two
levels. First, as a family home for the owners, their children,
and nine grandchildren; and second, as a business retreat for
colleagues and potential clients from around the world. “While
this project took some time to complete, we were able to make
a home that feels cohesive thanks to long term planning with
the end goal in mind,” says Leah. Her master plan allowed for a
clear path through the multi-room remodel based on the client’s
needs and lifestyle. “When you work on a home over multiple
seasons, you must think about the impact each decision will
have over a much longer time frame. Projects can snowball,
and you can end up repeatedly dealing with dust from tile or
drywall removal, or you move furniture over and over again
when you don’t create a long term vision.” This property was
featured on the program, Out & About. To view the episode,
visit claudia.decoratingden.com.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR
The living area of the home reflects the owners’ love of West Indies design. Dark
wood is mixed with light fabrics, natural textures, warm colors, and elegant
fixtures. On the far wall, Leah wanted to create structure and detail to balance
the room and add a focal point. Her solution was to put a chair rail below three
panels of grasscloth trimmed with moldings. The finished look is both textural
and cohesive with the overall theme. The art was chosen to tie in the colors
of the room and the technique used to paint the fish makes them look three
dimensional. “It’s like they have their own little aquarium without the work,”
Leah says. The owners’ professional interests often take them to China and India, BEFORE
6 | YOUR HOME MAGAZINE®
/claudia.decoratingden.com