Inside a Couple’s Slice of Paradise on Hutchinson Island

Sharon and Michael Stathis had visions of retiring near the beach. The couple had spent decades in South Florida, where Michael owned a construction company, and now it was time to settle into their golden years. After spending his life building custom dream homes for clients, the time had come for Michael to build a dream home of his own.

It was during a weekend getaway in Faber Cove in August 2020 that the Stathises found their forever home. “We were out riding our bikes when we saw this empty lot for sale with magnificent views of the water and space for a boat dock,” Michael says of the paradisiacal refuge on Hutchinson Island with deep anchorage points and calm, crystalline waters. “I remember thinking, ‘Whoa, I have got to look at this.’” An avid surfer, Michael already knew all about the excellent amenities in the area—boating, fishing, water sports—from family vacations spent in Fort Pierce.

The couple, who had been living at the same address in Pompano Beach since tying the knot when they were in their twenties, wanted to relocate to a quieter spot with more spacious digs—and this was it.

They quickly scooped up the half-acre, palm-bordered estate and tapped architect Anthony Cosentino of Cosentino Architecture to draft a 3,500-square-foot, Key West–style home with wide open living spaces ideal for entertaining. They also planned for three bedrooms with en suite baths, a convertible office, and a connecting three-car garage. Says Sharon: “It was finally our turn to build a house with everything we wanted.”

At the southern end of the property, the architect configured a covered patio with roll-up fabric storm screens that protect an active space with table tennis, a dining setting for alfresco meals and playing board games, and separate seating areas with an outdoor television and wood-burning fireplace overlooking the cove’s turquoise waters.

With Michael serving as general contractor, Sharon went hunting for an interior designer. “My job was finding three people to interview, which was difficult living in Pompano Beach and not knowing who they were,” she says. “Ally [of Ally Whalen Design] was the first person we visited, and then I canceled the other interviews.”

From their first meeting with Ally Whalen, the couple was sold. They loved the Stuart-based designer’s modern coastal sensibility (not to mention the scrumptious bites she served them on their initial visit). Michael and Sharon enlisted Whalen to mastermind a “cottage-chic retreat” mixed with an “upscale boutique beach hotel,” kind of like the aesthetic of Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California, whose barefoot elegance they adored. They only had a couple of specific requests: furniture needed to be made of washable performance fabrics because they have a high-shedding golden retriever, Jax; Sharon wanted a cozy nook in the primary bedroom for reading; and absolutely no fish paraphernalia. “I didn’t want a marlin hanging on my wall,” Sharon says with a laugh.

Connecting the couple’s passion for boating and other water activities with their fondness for throwing lively social gatherings, Whalen set out to create a serene and welcoming setting that embraced her clients’ dynamic outdoor lifestyle and passion for entertaining. Past the whitewashed oak-paneled front door, guests experience their first “wow” of many as they enter the sun-dappled foyer. A 16-foot vaulted ceiling crafted from unfinished cypress and then paint- washed lends dramatic architectural dimension and soars above a massive open floor plan. Bringing a welcoming sense of warmth to the walkway, Trucor floors create a pathway to a trio of 9-foot-tall glass sliders on the home’s southern periphery that open to the pool and manicured backyard and forge an easy transition from indoor to outdoor living.

In the great room, where the homeowners can share meals and watch television, Whalen played with a cool, coastal palette of bright whites with touches of light gray, green, and blue, which she also pulled throughout the house for continuity. Beneath a seismic ceiling fan, a textured sisal rug from Homesense in Port St. Lucie anchors contemporary- but-comfortable pieces from the designer’s Simplicity by Ally Whalen furniture line that includes a set of cozy swivel gliders and a sink-in sofa upholstered in soft beige fabric. One of the project’s big construction challenges, which Michael handled with success, was the fireplace wall, which needed to be built out more than a foot to accommodate rows of built-ins that display family photos, books, shells, and fresh floral arrangements.

Opposite the great room, a wood-and-glass hutch holds the requisite ingredients for après-dinner libations, while a linear, raffia-wrapped Currey and Co. chandelier holds court above a weathered dining room table surrounded by woven Scandinavian-inspired seating. For the host and hostess chairs, Whalen chose a subtle geometric textile with “a bit of pop.” She explains: “I don’t mix too many patterns because I only like there to be one star in the room.”

As in many homes, the kitchen is the honey that draws family and guests. “I love sharing my kitchen and cooking with friends whenever they come over,” says Sharon. Stacked wall cabinetry, a walk-in pantry, and a 5-by-10-foot double-sided island topped with a quartz countertop maximize storage and functionality, while a gray and white Bedrosians Cloe ceramic tile backsplash lends a whiff of coastal mystique. Sliding glass doors leading to the outdoor dining area make the transfer of food quick and seamless.

Cosentino spaced the master bedroom and bath away from the guest rooms to give the couple a private, intimate nest to recharge. The primary bedroom exudes a luxurious cocooning effect with pale hues, cozy bedding, textured carpeting, and light-filtering linen- blend curtains. A third set of sliding doors opens to the pool area, making a case for an impromptu swim. Sharon’s request for a cozy reading nook came to life with a chaise lounge from Simplicity by Ally Whalen placed in a corner, where she can watch the sun sparkling on the water.

In the master bath, Whalen installed timeless pieces like double white oak vanities capped with quartz (the same quartz used on the kitchen countertops), glazed porcelain floor tiles, polished nickel fixtures, and wall sconces with linen shades to help create an oasis of calm. A walk-in glass shower with pebble stone flooring and a modern, egg-shaped soaking tub bring new reasons to freshen up. Above the tub, a top-down shade provides privacy while allowing light in at the top. Whalen opted for black hardware and door hinges, despite the couple’s initial hesitation . “At first, we weren’t sure about it, but now we love it,” Sharon says of the decision.

This past June, the home was finally complete. When it was time to unveil the new space to the homeowners, Whalen wanted to treat her clients to a dramatic unveiling rivaling any home makeover show, complete with candles, music, bottles of wine, and a charcuterie board.

“When we opened the door, we were completely overwhelmed, says Michael. Sharon admits she was moved to tears, adding: “To have the opportunity to build your own home, have it designed by someone like Ally, and then walk in and just… I couldn’t dream that big.”

Local Vendors

Interior Designer: Ally Whalen Design, Stuart

Architect: Cosentino Architecture, Boca Raton

Carpentry: Cook Shell Contractors, Stuart

Paint: Chibas Painting, Port St. Lucie

Flooring: Cal & Son Carpet & Wood Floors, Miami

Sliders: Florida Keys Windows, Key Largo

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