Location: Sarasota, Florida. “Sarasota was the perfect location for us because it’s like a little city near the beach,” says McPherson of their location of choice. “We are not really beach people. I mean, I love to look at the ocean and take a stroll on the beach occasionally, but Sarasota has so much more to offer, such as the rich arts community, multiple live theater venues, and great shopping, dining, and nightlife.” Best of all, McPherson’s condo isn’t just near Sarasota—it’s smack-dab in the middle of it. “I love the central location. We can walk to all of the best restaurants and shopping that Downtown Sarasota has to offer,” McPherson says. Size: 1,100 square feet. The condo is a new build, featuring a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and two baths.
Style
McPherson describes his aesthetic as “relaxed formality with a well-traveled and collected feel,” which translates perfectly into the home’s curated collection of serene and coastal-inspired pieces. Arrangements of these tastefully nautical items elevate walls and surfaces throughout the space, leaving that collected feel while maintaining the coastal-glam aesthetic of the home.
The Bathrooms
“I love how we chose to treat the shower with floor-to-ceiling drapes instead of keeping the wide glass panel exposed,” says McPherson of the primary bathroom, which has a definite spa-like ambiance—plus rattan and glass accents in natural tones and shades of blues and grays that carry the coastal theme into the washroom, too.
The Kitchen
McPherson’s kitchen was designed with meal prep in mind, and the designer cites one piece as his favorite: “the John Boos butcher block island. It makes the kitchen so functional.”
A Primary Bedroom Inspired by the Locale
“In the [primary] bedroom, I love that the walls and ceiling are wrapped in a deep-sea blue—like you are at the bottom of the ocean,” says McPherson.
Luxury Finishes Elevate the Condo
“We have added Dorothy Draper-inspired banana leaf-patterned drapes in the guest bedroom,” says McPherson. The condo also features luxury vinyl plank flooring, “because I love the authentic look of wood and all of the durability that it offers,” he says. Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.
Natural Light With Poolside Views
The home also boasts plenty of windows to let in that cheerful Floridian light. “The tall and wide windows in the living room and both bedrooms overlook the pool,” notes McPherson.
A Special Piece Made of Reclaimed Oak
McPherson has pulled one special piece from his design life into his own home. “We love our handcrafted reclaimed oak coffee table,” he explains. “I work with a very talented craftsman in North Carolina that makes these for me. I almost always include one in some shape or form in all my projects.”
