Robert M. Swedroe Crafts a Modern Florida Home
1/7“It’s Miami Modern with subtle Art Déco features,” architect Robert M. Swedroe says of the house he shares with his wife, Rita, on Biscaya Island, in Florida, which he renovated. A limestone drive wraps around the fountain at the entrance. A steel door with portholes and two new rooftop terraces “give the house an elegant appearance,” says Swedroe.
2/7The entrance hall “is vertically enhanced by a blue vaulted dome that emulates the Florida sky,” he says. The Great Wall, 1970, a lead intaglio collage, is by Louise Nevelson.
3/7“We took a minimalist approach in the great room. We selected low-profile furniture with monochromatic fabrics so as not to compete with the water views,” says designer Toby Zack. “The space is comfortable, with a simple beauty.” Built-in cabinets are set above and below the 600-gallon saltwater tank. A Christine Federighi sculpture and a torso by Stephen Vince flank a sofa. Zack designed the limestone low table.
4/7In the kitchen, Swedroe and Zack installed blue high-gloss metallic lacquered cabinets, from Snaidero, and refinished the marble floor. “It’s a state-of-the-art space, with a convection oven, a walk-in pantry and a marble-topped island with a six-burner cooktop,” the designer points out. The pair of Toledo stacking chairs are by Jorge Pensi. Refrigerator, Sub-Zero.
5/7A 10-foot-long Carlo Scarpa table, surrounded by original Brno chairs by Mies van der Rohe, dominates the dining area. Undetermined Line by Bernar Venet hangs at rear. The Zack-designed buffet is from Poggenpohl.
6/7The master suite takes up the second floor. “Two bedrooms, a conglomeration of closets and several hallways were transformed into one luxurious space,” the architect notes. New glass doors open onto a deck. Victor Pasmore’s etching The World in Time and Space is above the bed.
7/7The rear elevation faces the pool deck. “We installed a large recreation area that includes a kitchen, a barbecue, a boathouse and a marina,” says Swedroe. The spiral staircase he built at right “does not block the views from the main living spaces.” A John Kearney horse sculpture, made from chrome car bumpers, is at left. Tables and chairs from Richard Schultz.
