A Vacation Home with English Charm
By Roberta Cruger
Interior design partners James John Goodman and Earle Jay Goodman had only one thought in mind when they began designing this Georgian-style British manse with poolside views of rolling greens on the golf course at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton. “We wanted to make it absolutely perfect for our clients,” James says.
It was an easy task for the Goodmans, who have worked with the owners on two previous projects and are well attuned to their aesthetic. “The owners love all things English,” James says, referring to the “golden age of furniture” during the reigns of King George I, II and III. “It’s also my favorite period, so I had a natural affinity for the project.”
Seeking a seasonal home, the owners needed a space for philanthropic events and family getherings. The Goodman design duo used various baroque and Chinoiserie touches to establish a balance between proper and inviting with eclectic furnishings spanning early to late 18th-century styles – seamlessly flowing from Palladian to the ever graceful Regency era.
The spacious grand foyer and adjacent living area embody Georgian elegance through ornamentation and architectural elements such as arched colonnades and a coffered ceiling. Here in the living area, an Edwardian-style portrait hangs avoe a cast marble fireplace giving the space a stately presence. A traditional seating mix of classic sofas and tone-on-tone, textured club chairs circle a handpainted tole table atop an Aubosson needlepoint area rug. A Chippendale child’s cair awaits one of teh couple’s thirteen grandchildren. Silk draperies with tassel fringe carry through to the dining area where distressed ivory-painted dining chairs surround a mahogany table. “The drapery panels tay open to frame the view and reveal the curve at the top of the French doors and windows,” Earle says.
European style reigns in the library, with heavy cornices and a bold ceiling with customary acanthus leaf and Greeky key motifs. Italian marble obelisks and a salon-style display of artowrk exemplify the cultured design of the room. Cracked paint in sage green wraps the walls lending a historic turn-of-the-century feel, where red chenille armcharis and an ottoman form an intimate conversation grouping. Just outside the doubel doors, a demilune cabinet, neoclassic chairs and a center table furnish the two-story foyer.
To satisfy the owners’ wish for a space in which to entertain, the Goodmans designed the club room to accomodate both dining and dancing. “The owners lit up when we suggested dancing,” James says. Here, a small buffet hides a sounds system and an ornate mirror above conceals a plasma TV. Wide ceiling beams, carved woods and plantation shutters impart a sumptuous Italianate theme, while pin-stripe draperies and bold leopard-print flounces dress the arched windows.
Ever faithful to the Georgian sensibilitiy, muted velvet upholstery and hand-striated walls add texture to the master bedroom bathed in seafoam and toast. A portico window and coffered ceiling offer depth, while embroidered silk and floral damasks complement the tranquil mood felt throughout the home.
A gracious British estate set in the tropics, this residence captures the elegant yet livable ambiance the owners desired.
By Roberta Cruger
Interior design partners James John Goodman and Earle Jay Goodman had only one thought in mind when they began designing this Georgian-style British manse with poolside views of rolling greens on the golf course at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton. “We wanted to make it absolutely perfect for our clients,” James says.
It was an easy task for the Goodmans, who have worked with the owners on two previous projects and are well attuned to their aesthetic. “The owners love all things English,” James says, referring to the “golden age of furniture” during the reigns of King George I, II and III. “It’s also my favorite period, so I had a natural affinity for the project.”
Seeking a seasonal home, the owners needed a space for philanthropic events and family getherings. The Goodman design duo used various baroque and Chinoiserie touches to establish a balance between proper and inviting with eclectic furnishings spanning early to late 18th-century styles – seamlessly flowing from Palladian to the ever graceful Regency era.
The spacious grand foyer and adjacent living area embody Georgian elegance through ornamentation and architectural elements such as arched colonnades and a coffered ceiling. Here in the living area, an Edwardian-style portrait hangs avoe a cast marble fireplace giving the space a stately presence. A traditional seating mix of classic sofas and tone-on-tone, textured club chairs circle a handpainted tole table atop an Aubosson needlepoint area rug. A Chippendale child’s cair awaits one of teh couple’s thirteen grandchildren. Silk draperies with tassel fringe carry through to the dining area where distressed ivory-painted dining chairs surround a mahogany table. “The drapery panels tay open to frame the view and reveal the curve at the top of the French doors and windows,” Earle says.
European style reigns in the library, with heavy cornices and a bold ceiling with customary acanthus leaf and Greeky key motifs. Italian marble obelisks and a salon-style display of artowrk exemplify the cultured design of the room. Cracked paint in sage green wraps the walls lending a historic turn-of-the-century feel, where red chenille armcharis and an ottoman form an intimate conversation grouping. Just outside the doubel doors, a demilune cabinet, neoclassic chairs and a center table furnish the two-story foyer.
To satisfy the owners’ wish for a space in which to entertain, the Goodmans designed the club room to accomodate both dining and dancing. “The owners lit up when we suggested dancing,” James says. Here, a small buffet hides a sounds system and an ornate mirror above conceals a plasma TV. Wide ceiling beams, carved woods and plantation shutters impart a sumptuous Italianate theme, while pin-stripe draperies and bold leopard-print flounces dress the arched windows.
Ever faithful to the Georgian sensibilitiy, muted velvet upholstery and hand-striated walls add texture to the master bedroom bathed in seafoam and toast. A portico window and coffered ceiling offer depth, while embroidered silk and floral damasks complement the tranquil mood felt throughout the home.
A gracious British estate set in the tropics, this residence captures the elegant yet livable ambiance the owners desired.