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Text by Tony DiMartino •
Styling by Kathy Curotto
It was the last place they visited after an exhausting day of house hunting.
Located on a small barrier island between Venice and Sarasota and built on
pilings in the bay, it sat at the end of a long dock, barely visible through a
thicket of overgrown mangroves. A former mail station and boathouse, it didn’t
look too promising to Kristen and Joe Farrell, St. Louisans drawn south by the
lure of year-round sunshine and a base for Joe’s many business ventures.
But
as they watched, two gleaming dolphins suddenly leaped into the air. “We took it
as a sign that this was the place for us,” Kristen says. Eight years and two
children later, they’re confident they made the right choice.
Not that the
transition was without glitches. “It was built in the ‘30s and was so small and
dark, we were tempted to tear it down and start from scratch,” Kristen recalls.
Hoping to preserve its quaint charm, they undertook a year-and-a-half
renovation, refurbishing the wood flooring and adding new cabinetry,
hurricane-resistant windows, a reconfigured upper level, and a rebuilt
wraparound deck, perfect for dolphin watching.
Dock of the Bay
(a) Mary Engelbreit designed the arbor
over the front door. (b) Kristen, Tess, and Charlie hit the beach. “We’re
the ultimate shell seekers.” (c) The dining area, which overlooks the bay,
features washable terrycloth slipcovers, a fanciful mermaid chandelier, and
original artwork by Mary Engelbreit.
It Was a Very Good Year
(d) Jack mulls over his options. What to do
first, fish off the pier or build a sand castle? “Both the kids were raised on
the water and practically teethed on sand,” Kristen says. (e) In the
dining area, an old icebox Joe found at a flea market stores linens and serves
as an informal wine bar. Wings, Joe’s Napa Valley winery, produces a Cabernet
Sauvignon highly rated by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Above the vino, a Mary
Engelbreit original. (f) Sorting shells on the screened-in porch.
Shell Game
(g) Jack, 5, and Tess,
7, engage in a favorite family
pastime—shell washing. “They learn so much
here—every day is a wildlife
lesson. Tess is even thinking about becoming a
marine biologist.”
Pretty Personal
(h) “We wanted a beachy, island look that didn’t scream
‘Florida’.” A custom-built entertainment center with ample storage space stands
where there used to be a fireplace. Favorite mementos include family photos and
a shelf of figurines by artist Debbee Thibault. Wicker pieces and cotton-ticking
upholstery strike a casual note.
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