We’ve had the great fortune to work for a number of families across years and geographical locations. This home in Windsor, Florida, is one project with particular resonance for Mitchell Studio, as the owners and members of our team have, in a very real sense, grown up together. One of our earliest projects was the couple’s Connecticut house, and in the years that followed, our children have crossed paths in schools, on playing fields, and in careers.

This house started out with the forward-thinking vision of a warm-weather refuge for the husband and wife that would double as a destination where the family would be drawn for vacations and holidays. Accordingly, we designed a main house that, at its core, would function as a compact sanctuary for two. A separate wing would contain a large great room and two guest bedrooms, while a standalone pavilion in the garden offered an additional bedroom and a sleeping loft.

Once construction was complete, the house was soon filled with family and friends, and it was immediately apparent to our clients that the property was an even better draw than they imagined it could be. Serendipity solved the happy overcrowding when the adjacent property became available and with it the opportunity to expand the original house into a compound to house more guests, and to entertain outdoors on a large scale.

Now, the original house and several added guest suites surround an outdoor space that has become a favorite gathering spot — a lush tropical garden with a glamorous pool and multiple shaded sitting areas to relax alone with a book or a cocktail, enjoy a family dinner or host the whole neighborhood for a block party.

Interior Design:Teal Door Interiors