The Ragsdale family lost their home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida during a flood in April 2014. This is the third chapter in a series of VIE Magazine articles about their rebuilding process. The Ragsdale’s new home will be featured in VIE Magazine’s “Architecture and Design” issue (July / August 2016) and in a series of features on 30A.com. New to the story? Click here to get started with Chapter 1.
“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A blog named “Zen Habits” sports a list of 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life. That’s far too complicated for my short attention span, so I prefer their abbreviated version:
STEP 1: Identify what’s most important to you.
STEP 2: Eliminate everything else.
When building a new home, a roof is important. Floors are essential, especially when building up on pilings. Walls add a nice touch. Beyond that, the decisions become much more subjective.
Minimalism embraces the philosophical notion that “less is more.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean that minimalism is a less expensive option, nor is it the same as the “tiny house” movement, which celebrates small living spaces. Instead, the goal of minimalism is to achieve superior design through the art of simplicity. Rather than combining many different design elements and trying to make them all work together, minimalism advocates acquiring far fewer high-quality pieces and then creating an environment that highlights those pieces without distraction.
Fewer tables and surfaces mean less clutter and dust. Fewer TVs mean less noise, energy consumption and distraction. There are hundreds of options for crown molding. Minimalism reminds you that one of those options is “none.”
“I’m thinking that all we really need is one bedroom and one-and-a-half bathrooms,” I suggested.
“We have four children,” my wife, Angela, replied.
“But we’re almost empty nesters.”
“Mike, they still need a place to come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
I quickly ran the numbers in my head. Four grown children. Four future spouses. Eight projected total grandkids. Parents, in-laws, random drop-in guests. Suddenly, this project was sounding more like a Hampton Inn. Eventually, we compromised: three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms.
Floorplan by Rolen Studio. Construction by Hard Builders.
“Next topic: Interior doors. A must-have or a nice-to-have?,” I pondered aloud.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore,” she suggested.
We met with Cassidy Lyons Pickens (Ph: 850-200-2062) and Joey LaSalle (Ph: 615-585-5638), two designers at Lovelace Interiors who understood our vision.
Cassidy Lyons Pickens of Lovelace Interiors
“Mike and Angela wanted a home that’s super-casual and functional, with every room designed to enjoy the stunning views of the bay,” said Cassidy. “In some ways, their simple rectangular floorpan is a contemporary update of the cinderblock beach houses that once dotted the coast.”
“When we asked what inspires them, they spoke very fondly of the time they spent with their family in Bali,” added Joey. “They really loved the simple, modern style they saw in the homes and spas there.”
Joey and Cassidy created numerous inspiration boards with suggested tile selections, flooring, lighting, furniture, accessories and much more, making the entire process far less daunting.
“We pretty much fell in love with everything they picked,” laughed Angela. “But when you’re on a tight budget, you often have to make some tough choices.”
We knew we’d have to incorporate some of the furniture we’d salvaged after the flood, along with a few new pieces, including some custom furniture designed by Not Too Shabby Boutique in Santa Rosa Beach. But first, we needed a canvas.
Joey LaSalle of Lovelace Interiors
“Renovation Flooring had just gotten in this really unique new tile called Hades Plata Relief,” said Cassidy. “It’s simple and modern with a metallic sheen. We decided to use it for the kitchen wall, to play off the stainless steel appliances and white lacquer cabinets.”
A massive island dominates the kitchen floor plan, and will be layered with Arctic White quartz by MSI from Classic Design Stone.
“Now that we’re almost empty-nesters, we just don’t need a large traditional dining table,” said Angela. “Instead, we envisioned a large chef’s island — a place that our friends and family can all gather around. The idea was really inspired by the nights we’ve spent hanging around the chef’s table at Roux 30A in Grayton Beach.”
Starflex LED Pendant by Beautiful Lights in Destin
Suspended above the island will be an array of simple glass and chrome spheres from Beautiful Lights in Destin, although perhaps the most visually striking light fixture is the Starflex LED Pendant that will hover over the living room.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Angela. “Honestly, I never would have had the courage to choose it myself. But Cassidy and Katie Murray Sanborn (of Beautiful Lights) really helped us select elements that are both modern and minimalist.”
Dark hickory hardwood planks from Renovation Flooring will span most of the home, with almond ceramic tiles in the bathrooms. The rain-shower in the master bath will feature floor-to-ceiling ceramic glass tile and a smooth pebble floor. Also carved out in the master bath is a compartment designed for an infrared sauna by Finnleo.
Infrared Sauna by Finnleo
“Infrared saunas get your heart rate going quickly and safely, while burning calories and detoxifying your skin.”
We abandoned cable TV several years ago, but even though we’re only planning to have one television in the house, there’s still room for pioneering technologies that help simplify life. The lighting system by AVX Audio Video Excellence saves energy effortlessly by allowing you to preset all lights in the house to a slightly dimmer setting. Your eyes won’t notice that the lights now emanate at 85 percent capacity, and yet you’ll see significant savings on your power bill. Lights can be set to gradually dim during the evening hours, or even shut off at pre-set times.
AUDIO VIDEO EXCELLENCE
Not sure if you turned off all the lights in the house? No worries. You can instantly switch everything on or off using your phone — from your bed or from across the planet. You can even have your thermostat automatically bump up or down as you approach (or move away from) your house. It’s game-changing stuff.
Modern technology can certainly make life simpler, more efficient and more environmentally friendly. But the Information Age can also overwhelm consumers with too many choices, making minimalism something pretty difficult to achieve. One or two errant Pinterest or Houzz clicks can quickly lead you down a confusing path of clutter and distraction.
Ultimately, when confronted with an endless sea of choices, we’ve learned that one decision makes all the others much easier: Hiring professionals. Without professional design help, simplicity can quickly become a complicated thing.
Kitchen Appliances: Builder Specialties (BSI), Destin (850-650-9092)
Home Security: Planet Secure (850-278-6226)
Custom Window Treatments: Concept Blinds and Design (850-797-6819)
Custom Closet Design: Alpha Closets and Murphy Beds (850-516-8827)
Doors and Windows: Southern Windows and Doors (850-546-1773)
Pool Paver Installation: Flamingo Hardscapes (850-974-0819)
Insulation: Mid-America Insulation and Supply (850-312-8400)
Electrical: Xcell Electric Inc. (850-865-3254)
Plumbing / Gas: SSE Plumbing and Gas Contractors (850-441-3458)
Gutters: Architectural Gutter Systems (850-226-6207)
