Laid-Back Luxury on John’s Island

When a well-traveled couple fell in love with a property on the Indian River Lagoon, they envisioned it being the perfect backdrop for both large-scale entertaining and tranquil relaxation. Their vision became reality through the collaborative talents of Moor Baker & Associates, Croom Construction, and Leah Muller Interiors.

“The owners were very involved from the outset,” points out Peter Moor, whose Vero Beach firm has been designing homes for more than 30 years. “They are adept at reading and understanding plans, so before designing in earnest we spent a night at their Northern home to get a feel for what they like and used that as a reference.”

“We wanted to maximize the lot to accommodate the clients’ growing family without becoming an unfriendly, hulking neighbor,” says Moor. He worked in tandem with partner Chris Baker, designing a two-story home with elevated floor levels to replace the property’s existing home, while keeping the perimeter low and within the community’s square-footage requirements. The result is an architectural gem whose angles and views are informed by the natural wonders at the clients’ doorstep.

The east-facing entrance and motor court beckon visitors to enjoy the water views the moment they step through the front door. On opposite ends of the home’s west-facing riverfront, the owners’ suite and family room occupy twin octagonal rooms. Sporting dramatic whitewashed cypress wood ceilings, they anchor a generous loggia that opens to the expansive kitchen and dining room on one side and overlooks the pool on the other. The lap pool, designed for the wife—an avid swimmer—follows the angles of the home and the adjacent nature-filled lagoon.

“The lower-level open floor plan is glassy and bright thanks to window heights that are close to the ceiling,” says Baker. “The homeowners wanted it to be light and bright without electricity. You don’t need to turn on a single light.”

Upstairs spaces offer cozy nooks and alcoves as well as abundant river views, courtesy of a large covered porch. For comfort and protection from the afternoon sun, as well as for hurricane fortification, porches are outfitted with fully functional shutters.

“Preferring to keep the home low maintenance, we intentionally selected materials that look better with age,” adds Baker. “Stucco for the exterior, shell stone for paving, oil-rubbed bronze for the outdoor shower, and copper fixtures and gutters will ensure that the home ages beautifully.”

“Our clients are well traveled and polished,” observes Leah Muller, who was hired as the lead interior designer on the project. “They’re experienced. They knew their home would ebb and flow from hosting houseguests and events for their many creative causes and parties to quiet afternoons in the family room and wildlife-filled sunset views over the Indian River Lagoon. They didn’t want a decorative-arts museum. They specifically wanted a relaxing home. When you have sophisticated clients, you can come to the table with bigger ideas and create an ensemble of wish lists, up-and-coming talents, and visually dazzling pieces.”

Playing off the homeowners’ desire for a color palette of serene spa neutrals and straws with soft pops of blues and greens, Muller combined pastel celadon European fabrics with colorful pieces by young artists such as Teil Duncan and custom-painted modern metal dining room light fixtures to create a balanced symphony that is conceptually strong.

She included paint colors, tile, and wallpaper details inspired by the nearby lagoon; shiplap throughout the main gathering rooms; white oak wood flooring throughout the home; natural, handcrafted light fixtures in the primary bathrooms; and space planning suited for gatherings of family and friends. “This project is truly transitional in the sense of design,” Muller says, “but also in the sense that it can take on any social environment—big or small.”

Featuring transitional architectural details, cozy coastal designs, and modern finishes, the house is the epitome of what Muller calls the “coastal modern lifestyle.”

“This lifestyle comfortably entertains large groups of family and friends with big cozy couches, a host-friendly kitchen with two islands, and a grand exterior space where many cocktail parties would be held,” Muller explains. At the same time, she says, it offers a peaceful, serene atmosphere for post-travel R and R.

“Our clients wanted a light, bright, happy home,” muses Muller. “They wanted the space and the colors to read coastal, not bold and kitschy. This aligned perfectly with my simple design philosophy. First: never ordinary! I always build on a classic and crisp foundation to statement lighting and unique accessories, like individually selected cabinet hardware.

“Second: never cluttered. I like to have thoughtful traffic patterns for everyday journeys through the house and creating space for large groups of guests meandering from room to room. Third: no muddy colors or dark, heavy furniture. Instead, we leaned into our neutral background to allow texture, pattern, and sea glass accent colors to add unrestrained pops of color. I love how the house feels and how it’s so connected to the outdoors both architecturally and with color.”

Having the homeowners’ commitment, trust, and confidence in Croom Construction from day one was everything, acknowledges Charles Croom, the company’s president, who recounts the day he was invited by Moor and Baker for an initial meet and greet with the clients and to preview the early design plans.

“I arrived about the same time as the client and was being introduced by Chris Baker and Peter Moor to her for the first time. I extended my hand to formally introduce myself and told her it was a pleasure to meet her. She looked at me said, ‘It is a pleasure to meet you, too, Charles, and to be clear, we want you on board as our builder. Let’s get started!’

“This was all within the first 30 seconds of meeting her! I remember just hugging her and saying, ‘I love it! Let’s go!’ That is how our relationship started. It was very endearing to me as she told us, ‘Why wait and mess around with formalities’ as she had multiple friends tell her what great experiences they had with Croom building their home and our follow up.”

That foundation of trust and Croom’s long history of working with Moor Baker and Leah Muller proved especially beneficial when, during construction, the COVID pandemic struck. “While much of the building industry was at a standstill, we expedited our detailed list of decisions and ‘need by’ dates to allow us to order materials and appliances,” says Croom. “The homeowner never missed a beat, and she should be commended for that!

“As a result, we were able to secure long-lead materials and appliances earlier in the process and house them in our company warehouses. Being proactive paid off, as we were able to minimize any real disruption in our job schedule, even with all the unforeseen challenges.”

In many ways, the pandemic brought the team, including the homeowners, closer, suggests Baker, as they continued to meet—first via Zoom and then on-site with masks. “It gave us some normalcy when things were uncertain.”

When, in 2022, the homeowners moved into their newly built riverfront home, one thing was certain: they loved it. “What we sell is house love,” observes Baker, “and there’s nothing better than seeing your client loving where they live.”

“There’s something very soothing about living on the water,” says the homeowner, who enjoys the river views from sunrise to sunset as much as she does the casually elegant interior. “It has everything we need and nothing that we don’t.”