Alfresco: Yacht-Inspired Luxury on San Carlos Bay | Gulfshore Life Feature
“Bay House taught us that true luxury lies in what you choose to conceal. The mechanics, the effort, the complexity—all hidden.
What remains is pure experience: water, light, and uninterrupted views.”
Gloria Black
Yacht Rock:
Alfresco's Sculptural Symphony
This stunning San Carlos Bay residence, featured in Gulfshore Life's January 2025 issue, showcases the seamless fusion of nautical engineering and contemporary luxury design. Completed in 2019, the Fort Myers waterfront home draws its design inspiration from the craftsmanship and precision found in European yacht design.
Working as lead designer, I collaborated closely with the project team to create a multi-level masterpiece that navigates complex engineering challenges while maintaining unobstructed water views. The home's dramatic symmetrical stairs frame a glass-walled pool with mirror-image precision, their 45-degree angles cutting through clean horizontal lines and vertical glass panels.
The second-floor infinity-edge pool serves as the home's stunning focal point, addressing FEMA velocity zone requirements and Lee County height restrictions through innovative engineering. The pool's striking blue-and-green tile creates visual drama as water cascades onto beach pebbles below. An integrated spa and gentle steps lead into the 4-inch-thick acrylic pane that offers unobstructed bay views.
Distinct outdoor living zones at different elevations provide varied experiences, from the third-floor sunny balcony with entertainment nooks to covered second-level spaces featuring outdoor amenities. The design includes an alfresco kitchen and bar area, 100-inch television flanked by custom installations, and a cleverly concealed pool bathroom behind a paneled door.
Waterproof, heat-resistant decking in wood-look boat material flows throughout, while angled plank ceilings crafted from stained cypress connect interior and exterior spaces. Strategic landscaping with palm trees frames the structure while maintaining privacy and natural warmth. A No Profile Boat Lift dock conceals all hydraulics beneath, creating a clean line that appears as a flat deck until activated.
