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Dream Home p. 2 - Explore More Tuscan Charm

The laundry room includes a Sub-Zero 700 TC refrigerator/ freezer in the space. For clothes care, the laundry room has a Maytag Neptune front-loading washer and dryer and a Rowenta steam iron.

Laundry Day

Complete with a Maytag washing machine and dryer, plenty of cabinet and shelf space, and a sink, the laundry room enables the Cox’s to easily take care of some of the dirty work that comes with a day of sightseeing, swimming in the backyard pool, or boating in the Gulf of Mexico.

One might think it odd to have a refrigerator/freezer in a laundry room, but Mrs. Cox is happy with their Sub-Zero 700 TC refrigerator/freezer in the space. “It’s not for us to use when we’re doing laundry,” she says, “it’s more for spillover from the refrigerator and freezer in the kitchen. I thought that it would be odd to have it in there, but I’m actually pleased that it’s there. It’s so great to have an extra freezer! We store soda, liquor, and snacks in the refrigerator all of the time.”

The Maytag Neptune front-loading washer and dryer are bisque color and have a recessed vent in the wall. The original Neptune by Maytag, launched in 1997, gained notoriety for being the first front-loading washer in the U.S. But that feature, says Mrs. Cox, wasn’t what lured her to purchase it. “I’ve always bought Maytag,” she says. “I was talked into buying the Neptune, but now that I have it, I love how it washes our clothes. It’s very gentle.” It’s also, she adds, very energy efficient, another feature which U.S. consumers are increasingly becoming aware. Maytag says the washer can save you up to $150 a year in water and energy.

The washer allows you to create, name and store up to 24 preferred cycles, has a large capacity so you do fewer loads, has easy-to-use LED touchpad controls, and the no-agitator design means less wear and tear on your clothes. The Neptune dryer has special drying options to help prevent and release wrinkles, an oversize capacity to help you dry big, bulky items like a comforter, five temperature settings, and a moisture monitor to show how each load is progressing.

For visiting family and friends, the Cox home has an apartment above a garage with a kitchenette. A Sub-Zero 245 undercounter refrigerator/ freezer includes a 3-cubic-foot refrigerator and 1.9-cubic-foot freezer with icemaker integrated behind wood paneling. A Whirlpool 21-inch electric stainless-steel cooktop with two burners is perfect for a quick breakfast or small snack between meals. A Whirlpool compact microwave oven in black, housed in cabinetry, is also useful for snacks or heating up leftovers from dinner. A Panasonic television with a DVD player and VCR help to provide entertainment.

Room for More

Homes with expandable areas offer great opportunities for the family on the grow. With 27 grandchildren, the Cox family is no exception. When the Cox’s began planning their home, they incorporated a 484-square-foot guest apartment over a detached garage. The idea, says Mrs. Cox, was to have the space for a live-in couple to take care of the house and the surrounding grounds. “That’s a lovely idea, and many people in this area do that,” Mrs. Cox says. “But we have a cleaning service and a lawn service, so we have no need for that right now. So we use the apartment for our visiting children and grandchildren. It has a kitchenette with a sink, a refrigerator, a microwave, a cooktop with two burners, a television, and a VCR and DVD player, so it’s complete for a short-term stay.”

Adds Ms. Snyder, “With the caliber of this home, the guest apartment was one of the things that the architect really advised doing for resale value.”

A second floor family room beverage center is equipped with a sink, an undercounter Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Panasonic television with built-in DVD and VCR players and a coffee maker. It's the perfect place for guests to enjoy a glass of juice, cup of coffee, and a bagel, and to watch the morning news.

Old-World Tuscany Each Day

“ This home came out way beyond our expectations,” says Mrs. Cox. “I’m so happy that we followed our dream to have a Tuscan theme in our home.”

“ It turned out amazing,” adds Ms. Snyder. “I researched the Tuscany look before beginning this project. Knowing that the Cox’s wanted an old-world feel throughout the home, I researched all avenues and gave them something in which they would feel comfortable living. It helped that I had worked with the Cox’s on a few other projects, so I had a good idea of their likes and dislikes on color and wood.

“ What I like best about the home is that you can be in one area doing your own thing and you don’t feel isolated from anyone else,” she continues, “which I think is important, especially with a house this size. It’s nice to feel like you’re not the lone soldier down at the other wing. Plus, there are so many great views in each room. We really maximized the space in each room. I’ve done about 30 homes of this caliber and this was a fun house to design.”

It’s also a fun house to see, as the Cox’s elegant tastes and love of Tuscany are reflected throughout each room. The home’s architecture has a character all its own, while the freshness of the interior design, the layout of the rooms, and the breathtaking views of Gordon’s Pass and the Gulf of Mexico invite you to settle in and stay awhile.

With warm Florida weather, the Cox’s enjoy being in their backyard, which offers a spectacular view of Gordon’s Pass, a beautifully manicured lawn, a full-size swimming pool, and a built-in hot tub. Much entertaining is done outside, with the help of a Dynamic Cooking Systems (DCS) outdoor, built-in propane gas grill and Thermador built-in counter vent. The grill sits on a patio directly outside of the kitchen. “Our builder chose the grill,” says Mrs. Cox. “I had never heard of DCS until he told us about it. But we use it all of the time, especially when our kids visit. We cook hot dogs, hamburgers, just about anything on it.”

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