The artful juxtaposition of vertical and horizontal planes is Charles Stinson’s calling card. But the award-winning architect’s latest project also takes a different shape: a full circle. When a Florida couple tapped him to design their home in historic Winter Park, Stinson was eager to revisit some history for himself. “I started my career in Florida,” he says, which may be a surprise since he’s so prominently known for his work along the water in Minnesota. However, Florida’s indoor/outdoor living, proximity to the waterfront and emphasis on light had a formative impact on the modern style Stinson is known for today. “Florida is a big part of my background, and bringing it to this project feels great,” he adds, relishing the opportunity to merge his past with the present.
Photography by Corey Gaffer
Winter Park is known for its vibrant arts scene — it boasts one of the country’s most prestigious outdoor art festivals — and a slower-paced, sophisticated lifestyle compared to nearby Orlando. It’s a destination where you will sooner see lines of massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss than you will a peppering of palm trees, and you’ll find freshwater over saltwater shores. A chain of seven lakes interconnect via canals and waterways, leading to a peninsula that’s home to this coveted site. With water on both the east and west sides, Stinson immediately set out to make the house as transparent as possible, framing large expanses of glass within his signature linear architecture. Exterior limestone was the first material selected. “It’s a quiet kind of stone that sets the tone for a serene palette,” says interior designer Kim Streeter. The soft, gray-brown hue of the stone grounds the home in its environment, where the vertical forms are met with flying terraces, expansive decks and a flat roof to create a true composition in the light.
For the homeowners, an airy, open aesthetic was a top priority. Every detail was carefully considered. “There’s intention to the openness,” adds project managers Chuck Thiss and Ben Bower. But rather than feeling vast, each open space was meticulously planned to be interconnected: The joint lines between exterior and interior spaces are perfectly aligned, allowing the eye to flow effortlessly from one area to the next. Even the custom rugs, designed in collaboration with Austin, Texas–based rugmaker Kyle Bunting, were sized and patterned to echo the home’s specific architectural lines. The great room feels extra intentional thanks to its vertical-grain fir ceiling, which adds cozy livability to the open space. “The ceiling is the ‘fifth wall,’ and this was the perfect project to do something special with it,” says Streeter, noting the contrast between the warm wood and white walls.
While the structure is an art form in and of itself, it was also important to create a purposefully curated interior. As you step inside the 6,800-square-foot abode, the foyer evokes the feel of an art gallery with a beachy wood accent wall and a custom built-in shelf that punctuates the blue, mirror-polished metal sphere above it. Handblown Ralph Pucci pendants descend from the ceiling at varying heights, ushering a soft and welcoming glow as the floor plan and lake vistas unfold. Panoramic views can be appreciated from any level, including two guest rooms and a recreation room on the second floor, as well as a unique media room on the third. “No matter where you are, there’s a sleekness and yacht-like feel,” says Stinson, who works to get architecture “out of the way” and let nature take center stage.
The main level features the primary suite, fitness room and office, in addition to quintessential gathering spaces, so the couple can function exclusively on one level when they’re not hosting and entertaining guests. Adding to the gallery-inspired ambiance is a striking wood sculpture in the dining room, done by a French artist who utilizes a chainsaw technique that the homeowners first encountered in a Miami restaurant. After tracking down the artist, the team collaborated to create a one-of-a-kind piece that channels a sand-like texture, adding local flair to the space.
Livability was also paramount, particularly in the kitchen. “Surfaces have to do more than simply look beautiful,” Bower explains. “They have to stand up to everyday use.” The team opted for durable materials, including terrazzo flooring — perfected through multiple iterations of stone and mother-of-pearl mixtures — and matte Caesarstone quartz countertops. Given the couple’s love for cooking and experimenting with new recipes (they own a restaurant and bakery in downtown Winter Park), a chef-grade kitchen was a must. Appliances were selected to meet the couple’s culinary needs without compromising the refined aesthetic. On the island, slatted wood panels create texture and visual interest to the run of Tabu Italian veneer cabinetry above and below, crafted by Minnesota-based Braaten Creative Woods. The kitchen’s design effortlessly carries through to the outdoor patio. Sliding glass doors reveal an extension of the kitchen surfaces, utilizing the same materials and finishes as the interior for a completely seamless transition. Integrated into the covered space are recessed lighting, programmable heaters, misters and sunscreens, and custom furniture sized for the space. Even the pool is on the same plane as the patio, highlighting the attention to detail that the clients so strongly valued in Stinson and his team. They also took care to enhance site lines from the tiered terraces, creatively topping off any visible parts of the roof with Astroturf.
A strong building partner is critical, especially when the project is long distance. The team worked with prominent Florida builder Charlie Clayton to keep the climate at bay, engineering every detail to build in a challenging location safely. It’s a glass house done in extreme detail, constructed with more rigidity than industry standards. “And that’s the difference,” says Stinson. “The scale of our architecture makes you feel sheltered while allowing your spirit to soar.” As for the homeowners — they happily said so long to their getaway home, refocusing and rooting themselves in this space that connects to art and nature through architecture.
Architect: Charles Stinson Architecture + Design
Interior Designer: Charles Stinson Architecture + Design
Builder: Charles Clayton Construction
