The Riley’s Contemporary Home in Council Fire
Mike Riley had always loved the contemporary homes of Naples, Florida—the openness of their floor plans, the large windows…this was the blueprint for his dream home. So around 12 years ago, he decided to build a Naples home in Council Fire knowing it would be a perfect fit for his lifestyle and his lot overlooking the 10th green of the Council Fire golf course.
By Rebecca Rochat
Entering the Riley home through the double front doors, guests encounter a vast sense of spaciousness and light. The main level with all travertine floors is one large, open space, with different areas furnished for relaxation and dining. Mike and Heather, who enjoy cooking and entertaining, say they like how the open floor plan allows their guests to be able to flow freely from one area to the other.
A neutral color palette and sleek, contemporary furniture with clean lines are common elements throughout the home. Front-and-center after entering is an intimate gathering area, just next to a wet bar underneath a flight of stairs. Three white leather ottomans form a partial circle around a glass top table, under which rests a round, contemporary rug in shades of brown and beige.
Two steps lead up to the Riley’s dining area. A black, rectilinear dining table with matching sprayed-leg dining chairs rests underneath a contemporary silver chandelier with varying levels of electric taper candles. A modern, Palladian-style window hung with black and silver silk stripe draperies dominates the front wall, a nice contrast to the massive adjoining wall of stacked stone. Above, a four-sectioned vaulted ceiling is painted in complimentary shades of silver and gray.
Just beyond, in the main entertainment area, a black leather sectional sofa is positioned in front of a large wall lined with honey-colored cabinetry. Shelves display family photos, and a gas fireplace and flat screen TV project out from a center travertine wall.
Behind the sofa, a raised bar with cobalt blue pendant lights and granite countertop divides the entertainment area from the kitchen. The kitchen is outfitted with a Kitchen Aid gas range, two under-the-counter ovens, a microwave/convection oven, and a three-sectioned stainless steel sink with a tall, gooseneck faucet. Just over the range, a pot filler projects out from a center section of diamond-shaped tile in a backsplash of square tile.
To the right, glassfront cabinets display stemware and two wine coolers— one for reds and one for whites. On the other side of the kitchen, a brightly lit corner houses a breakfast seating table and chairs, and a wall of glass doors lead to the outside patio and pool.
Also on the main level, the master suite recently received a makeover. In the bedroom, a five-sectioned bay window offers a panoramic view of the pool and golf course below. Beige walls have a hint of green, accented by green velvet pillows and a light green silk bolster pillow on the bed. Other pillows in brown match a brown duvet cover with subtle silver thread, complimenting a headboard and footboard of square, black leather with brushed silver framing. Nearby, a mirror with silver concave framing hangs over a black leather love seat.
In the master bath, heated travertine floors offer a comforting touch for chilly mornings. In front of a double vanity is a recently added wall of decorative tile. Horizontal, narrow glass and ceramic tiles in shades of green, brown, and beige complement the bathroom’s walls, painted in chocolate with a hint of olive green. Glass block windows above the garden tub and in the walk-in travertine shower let soft light into the space.
In a powder room just off the hallway on the main floor, deep brown walls are finished in an ostrich-skin texture, and a vessel sink stands on a simple four-legged stand. Its oval shape and yellow bowl led to its nickname as “the egg sink,” Mike explains.
Mike and Heather have converted another bedroom downstairs into a full exercise room, complete with tread-mills, Stairmasters, and free weights. The room also has its own full bath.
The stairway railing leading to the second floor was another of Mike’s designs. Inspired by a magazine cover, the railing juxtaposes straight wooden spindles with curving metal spindles. Mike and Heather have used the long upstairs hallway that stretches from the stairway to the master suite as a miniature art gallery. At the top of the stairs is a framed pair of Chinese martial arts swords, while a newer wall in the guest wing features a sculpture made of undulating, multicolored glass.
A custom screening room upstairs is a fun and comfortable gathering place for the whole family. Blue sconces and framed movie-themed prints line the walls, and six extra-wide chairs made of black leather are placed in front of a 103” screen—three on the floor and three raised behind, movie-theater style.
Also upstairs, the bedrooms of Mike’s daughters reflect their different personalities and tastes. Caitlyn, 15, has chocolate brown walls that form a dramatic backdrop for white bedroom furniture. Her bed is covered with a floral bedspread in browns and pinks with matching pillows.
A pink wall in the room provides a transition to a “Jack and Jill” bath, complete with pink accents and bath linens. Lipsticks, shoes and purses with phrases such as “Dressed to Thrill” and “Hello Gorgeous” are embroidered along the hem of pink towels, and a matching shower curtain shows long slender figures in evening gowns.
Just through the bath, pink and the Eiffel Tower are the two dominating themes of Taylor’s (10) bedroom. Bright pink walls match bed linens in alternating patterns of pink and black, complimented by a zebra rug and pink faux fur-covered chair. A framed poster of the Eiffel Tower decorates one wall, and a black wire Eiffel Tower lamp has been placed on each nightstand. A pink ceramic Eiffel Tower sits on the dresser, over which hangs a flat screen TV.
A new guest suite on the second floor includes a laundry room, a bedroom, a bath, and a living room, which Heather calls “her space.” The guest bath follows a green and black color scheme—green is picked up in the tile and wall color, and black in the vanity with a glass vessel sink. The bedroom features a bedcovering in a black-and-white scroll pattern, a black faux fur coverlet, and a leather headboard embellished with metal studs.
“Heather’s room” is a relaxing space to watch TV, read, or to enjoy quiet moments. Walls are painted in a soft green, with one wall painted a charcoal gray. A white leather sectional sofa and ottoman faces a built-in entertainment center, with cabinets and bookshelves flanking a flat screen TV. A Monica Whaley painting on the wall is reflected in a large, gilt-framed mirror on the opposite wall, which hangs over a black console table with flowers.
One look around the outside of the Riley’s home, and guests can see it’s just as much for entertaining as the inside—the Riley’s outdoor haven is built for lounging, swimming, watching TV, dining, and for Mike and Heather, cooking. A complete outdoor kitchen has granite countertops and appliances encased in stacked stone, including a refrigerator, sink, gas grill, Black Egg smoker, and a large griddle designed for a low country boil.
Nearby, an all-weather seating area has a stack stoned wood-burning fireplace, a 42” flat screen TV, and sectional seating that can be arranged in different configurations for dining or conversation. When the weather gets cool, guests can lounge on the patio in one of two loveseats around a granite-top fire pit that doubles as a cooler during warmer weather.
Other seating options outside include a covered patio with wicker love seats and wet bar, lounge chairs by the pool, and of course, a hot tub.
When two of Mike’s friends moved to Council Fire and Mike saw the potential to build his dream home, he quickly followed. He knew the area was perfect for his Naples-style home. From conception, to the design, to the finished product, Mike and Heather’s home has become a beautiful reality.
