Villa Verona in Windermere

Villa Verona in Bellaria, Windermere, Florida is a 5,600 square foot custom home by Orlando Builder Jorge Ulibarri. The home’s commanding curb appeal comes from its generous use of precast stone, stone tower and seamless modern windows.

The homeowner wanted a style that was elegant with grand spaces without losing the rustic charm and character of Ulibarri’s signature Mediterranean style. From the first meeting with Ulibarri, the homeowner decided the floor plan would center on a large open-to-above formal living room and formal dining room. It was important to the homeowner to have glass walls facing the pool and outdoor living space.

Halfway through the construction process, Ulibarri suggested precast stone to embellish the main living spaces of the home. The builder added base, crown and columns of precast stone that enhanced and elevated the architectural detailing so that the main living spaces are reminiscent of grand estates.

Three statement-making crystal chandeliers imported from Egypt soften the precast. To enhance the light diffusion, the homeowner added an 18-foot mirror over the fireplace. The detailed scrollwork on the railings required four months of hand fabrication are visible throughout the entire home.

The kitchen Tuscan-style kitchen features a travertine stone and wood barrel ceiling and a grand stone niche that frames the precast stone range hood with travertine mosaic backsplash.

A bi-level granite island with a farmhouse copper sink, hand-made in Mexico with decorative detailing, serves as the food prep area and breakfast bar.

Cabinetry is dual-toned mixing a dark glazed Maplewood with an off-white island base cabinetry for visual contrast. Travertine floors throughout the home with dark stained wood doors give the home timeless appeal.

The breakfast nook features a circular dome made of travertine stone and framed by precast tone anchored by a rustic chandelier.

In the formal living room, a quatrefoil tray ceiling over one of the chandeliers with LED indirect lighting embedded in the cove finished in a contrasting brown to trace the shape of the quatrefoil.

The tower windows were enlarged to keep the architectural consistency of large walls of glass throughout the home with no window panes.

In the staircase, one of the challenges was the creation of niches with precast stone surround, LED indirect lighting and travertine stone. These niches were built into the tower wall as requested by the homeowner. Because the wall is load-bearing wall, additional engineering was required to create headers that support the weight above.

The homeowner added wood-stained doors throughout the home-made of stained knotty pine that with the chiseled travertine stone floors counterbalances rusticity with modern elements such as the large seamless glass windows and crystal chandeliers.

The home features five bedrooms, six bathrooms, an office, formal living and dining room, breakfast nook, upstairs loft and family room.

The home’s large lot spans one acre with ample backyard space for an oasis pool with a wall of water that flows from the pergola into the pool.

 Ultimate Pool Design created the pebble-tech bottom pool with two stone waterfalls, one that cascades into the spa, the other into the pool. The pool’s travertine edge and concrete pavers enhance the generous use of stone.

An oversized driveway of concrete pavers leads to the tower entry clad in stone as requested by the homeowner. The custom-wrought iron double door entry is framed in precast stone with complementing precast stone surrounds on the exterior windows, columns and balusters. The four-car garage features doors upgraded by the homeowner from Acque made of metal with wood foam trim. For more on the Jorge Ulibarri custom homes go to www.ImYourBuilder.com  All architectural photos were taken by Harvey Smith.