For a young Tampa family building their dream home on Davis Island, the vision was clear: create something undeniably modern in a neighborhood known for traditional architecture, but make it warm, cozy, and approachable rather than austere. Architecturally designed by CLF Architect and built by Coastal Construction, this would be one of the first contemporary residences to shift the visual language of the island, signaling a new direction without overwhelming its context. The architecture established the foundation with clean lines, a flat roof, and modern tropical sensibility. Natural limestone wraps the exterior and flows inside, creating continuity between landscape and interior. Our approach centered on balancing that graphic architectural language with exceptional furnishings that function almost as art pieces, layering high-end, carefully curated pieces that brought warmth to the home's contemporary bones.
The double-height stone feature became one of the project's defining moments: Italian stone rising through two floors with a fireplace on the reverse side, flanked by beautiful paneling that mixes stone and wood throughout. The architectural staircase in the foyer leads to a second-floor catwalk, an immediate statement when you enter the house. What kept this large home from feeling overwhelmingly large for a family of three was the inclusion of highly specific rooms tailored to their lifestyle: wine cellar, bar, media room, game room, playroom for their young son, and multiple outdoor terraces that take advantage of the serene water views.
This was a project with no compromise. Every finish, every piece of furniture, every element of art was selected to be exactly right for its space. The home proves that modern doesn't have to mean cold, and that strong architecture is often best harmonized with warmth.
