The word “intimate” may not be the first thing that comes to mind when designing a 17,000-square-foot luxury property, but creating a sense of comfort and coziness was paramount to the owners. They wanted a home that felt just as inviting for a quiet weekend alone as it did when filled with children and grandchildren. Having partnered with renowned Scottsdale-based designer Matthew Boland on three previous residences, the couple knew he was more than equipped to meet the challenge. Together, they set out to craft a family-friendly luxury home that balances grand scale with genuine warmth—proving that even the largest estates can feel deeply personal and livable.

The clients learned with their first Palm Beach home that they wanted something with a larger footprint and that was less formal and so after a zealous off-market search for just the right property, they found this spectacular oceanfront destination that would be adaptable to meet a variety of needs for themselves, their family, and friends. The property is composed of four structures: the main entertaining pavilion, a secondary building connected by an exterior covered breezeway that serves as the primary residence and includes a VIP suite with its own separate exterior entrance, a standalone guest house, and a dedicated pool house. Together, these spaces offer a thoughtful blend of privacy, comfort, and functionality for both owners and visitors.

“This property is so magical because it’s on a large lot with lots of privacy and a huge existing guest house that we knew would work well with their vision,” says Boland. “There was also plenty of room for staff while allowing us to create privacy and intimacy so it really could serve as a two-person sanctuary when needed.”

However, this home was far from move-in ready. The designer says he and his team really only left the exterior walls intact. After embarking on a major interior architectural renovation to ensure the home’s footprint was well suited for their lifestyle — and the walls for the owners’ prominent contemporary Latin American art collection, which served as a natural starting point for the decoration.

“It was really fun to work with this couple because their pieces are always coming or going on loan to a museum or being brought in the house to enjoy for the season, so things are always in motion,” says Boland. “I think that affects how the clients look at interiors and entertaining, too. The house is a living, breathing reflection of you and if it’s not evolving, you’re not necessarily evolving either.”

Boland pulled from the bold and dramatic yet joyful hues found throughout their collection to bring in welcome pops of color around the home, as he says a lot of clients have beige fatigue and are tired of living in monochromatic environments. However, he was wary of color drenching rooms, and rather sought to bring a refined balance of exuberance and calm. Most of the walls, with the exception of a few small spaces, remained neutral, evoking a more traditional coastal aesthetic, while the vibrant artwork and select furnishings packed just the right amount of punch in terms of color and texture.

As the couple well knows by now, Boland likes to challenge his clients to explore something new in every project. The wife has long been fascinated by Asian art, and they began immersing themselves in Chinese and Japanese porcelain. The wife became enamored by antique snuff bottles, which Boland jokes was not very helpful considering they are two-inch artifacts that don’t take up much room in a 17,000-square foot property. However, they were able to create a clever display case for her newfound collection in the powder bath vestibule that features a mirror backing, allowing for 360-degree views of her new collection.

“That was a really fun part of the journey because it was something so random that became really important to the powder room because it allowed for us to create this fun, magical kind of intimacy in the space,” says Boland.

All in all, turning this house into a bonafide dream home that spans four structures took three years from start to finish, though the house is always evolving with new artworks and objects filling the spaces — and rightfully so, according to Boland. The property has become lovingly known as “Reflections,” as it serves as a place for the family to commemorate to the past while looking towards the future with confidence and clarity.

Source List

Her Office
● Holly Hunt Concentric Square Side Tables
● Wall upholstery in Dedar Textiles
● Custom Desk by Allaire Inc

Dining Room
● Century Furniture Trellis Dining Chairs
● Custom Eric Brand Dining table In natural bone
● Wall upholstery in Peter Fasano Textiles
● Murano Glass Chandelier circa 1950s from Anne Et Marie-Pierre Jaudel in Paris

Her Primary Bath
● Custom Vanity by Allaire Inc
● Elitis Wallcovering on walls
● Italamp Sconces

Powder Room
● Antique Sabino Sconces circa 1930 from Valerio Antiques
● Custom Rug from Top Floor by Esti
● Sanderson Textiles Wallcovering for upholstered walls

Guest Kitchen
● Fadini Borghi Textiles on Roman Shade
● Painted Existing Cabinetry in Sherwin Williams Energetic Orange Code-SW 6880
● Emilia Castillo Parrot Sugar Bowl through Main Dish

Guest House Dining Space
● Custom Round Dining Table by Allaire Inc
● Reupholstering Clients Own Dining Chairs in Christian Lacroix Fabric
● Upholstered Clients own Antique Bar in Creation Baumann Fabric

Bar/Media Room
● J Robert Scott Bethesda Skirted Lounge Chairs
● Custom Bar by Allaire Inc
● Custom ivory shagreen cocktail table by D & J Custom Benchworks
● Anne Hauck Custom Chandelier

Outdoor Living Room
● Valerio Antiques Patinated Wrought Iron Firescreen with Applied Gold Leaf Circa 1930
● Custom Armoire/Bar Cabinet made by Allaire Inc
● Kettal Floor Lamps
● Custom Curved Back Chairs by D & J Custom Benchworks in Clarence House Textiles
● Janus et Cie Azimuth Linear Club Chairs
● McKinnon And Harris Duval Dining Arm Chairs
● Robert Kuo Pekin Olive Vase and GU Vase