French West Indies

The New World meets the Old in this 7,000 s.f. residence rising above the sandy beaches of Gulfport, Mississippi. Defined by graceful symmetry and an inviting sense of ease, the house is a modern marriage of Palladian and French West Indian architecture. While the form, a central block surrounded by four pavilions, dates from Palladio’s time, the slate-covered hipped roof is a hallmark of French Colonial plantations. Throughout the dwelling, louvered shutters filter sunlight and sea breezes, invoking the comfort and romance of these island dwellings. Within, refined French continental shapes including segmental arches, carved limestone mantels, and cove moldings, recall European elegance. But the absence of highly decorative detail and choice of a monochromatic palette gives the house a unifying, contemporary aspect.