Florida Design Magazine Vol. 14, No. 4 Page 3
"LINEAR ARCHITECTURE"
  
 
Back
Next
 
 
 
 
ABOVE: In the living area, Roberts designed the chaises and ottoman,
which she covered in Edelman’s cream-colored leather. “The Basin,” by
R. Cook, hangs above the fireplace.

BELOW: This bird’s-eye view reveals the interior’s spatial relationships. Parquet
flooring in the raised conversation area, bar and dining area steps down to limestone flooring in the living and media areas to the right.
 
 
 
 
From the moment designer Cheree Roberts set
eyes on this modern-style house on Fort
Lauderdale’s New River, she fell in love with
its low, horizontal architecture and unique characteristics. “It reminded me of architects Frank Lloyd Wright’s and Richard Neutra’s work,” she says. “I liked its potential to meld with the land and river, an idea Neutra pioneered in Southern California.”
Although the structure had great architectural
bones, it lacked sufficient space for Roberts and her partner, Dr. Jeffrey Cantor, and their son, Alec. Assessing the interior, she found small rooms, outdated finishes and a view-blocking wall.
“However, I wasn’t going to let the problems of the interior stop me from buying it,” she says.
Undaunted by the challenge, Roberts enlisted architect Alberto Comas to help design an addition that blends seamlessly with the original house.
“Because we used the same industrial brick and glass, the addition off the terrace looks as though it was there when the house was built,” she says.

Roberts then gutted the interior of the existing house, demolishing walls to give every room a view of the river. In a nod to Wright’s concept of implied spaces, the open floor plan allows interior areas to meld together and with the outdoors.
“One of the home’s greatest assets is its wall of sliding-glass doors that takes in a scenic view of the river,” she says.
To establish a sense of unity throughout, Roberts painted the walls in sage and muted green hues. “I wanted colors that would be relaxing,” she says. The tone-on-tone green harmonizes with the foliage outside while providing a soothing backdrop for the dark woods and splashes of dramatic color inside.
Custom cabinetry and an existing see-through
fireplace create a divider wall between the living area and media area. In the winter, Roberts opens the sliding-glass doors and keeps a fire roaring in the fireplace. At other times, she replaces the logs with fresh greenery.

 
     
Back
Next
Return to Story