La dolce vita

Windermare is located in Orange County, Florida, about thirteen miles from Orlando. It lies in the middle of the lake district and has been a centre of international entertainment ever since the first Walt Disney World Resort opened there in the early sixties. The delightful environment is characterised by clear skies and rich vegetation, elegant homes and luxury resorts, served, of course, by innumerable shopping malls, restaurants, and amenities. The area’s most elegant complex is the Venetian Isle, built in pure Mediterranean style and consisting of homes of various type and size, with evocative names likes Capri, Mikonos, Sicily and Santorini, in which premium design and finish create a classical atmosphere of luxury and comfort. The complex’ common spaces are typical of large resorts, with scenic swimming pools, an abundance of jacuzzis, a fitness centre with all the latest equipment, including aerobic gyms and a solarium, play and sports areas for children, spacious common rooms, games rooms and a business centre.
The key feature of the Venetian Isle, however, and the heart of its social life, is a large clubhouse overlooking a splendid garden and featuring an effective and elegant design that exudes Italian elegance, enhanced by an intelligent choice of materials and colours. Designed by Angela Hinton, senior architect at Kay Green Design, the Venetian Isle Clubhouse recently won a special mention in the Commercial section of the 2018 Tile Competition for its clever use of ceramic materials. « Creating emotionally stimulating spaces demands vision, experience and know-how. The entire project was inspired by Venice, so Italian ceramic tile was the only authentic choice, » Angela Hint explains. « In my opinion, the uniqueness of Italian tile lies in its excellent quality and presentation. That is why I rely on it for most of my projects. »
Conceived as an effective extension of residents’ homes, the clubhouse is divided into areas designed to receive, work, study and relax. The entire floor is covered in stone effect tile. Floor Gres’ Floor Tech 1.0 collection (made in Florim), in Floor 2.0 colour creates a simple but refined background that is perfect for the classical furnishings and sober colours that characterise the different areas, with movement added by mosaic details. Anthracite tiles from Emilgroup’s Elegance di Ergon collection add emphasis to corners and passages, combining style with performance and refinement with practicality. The restrooms are finished in ceramic tile too. Here the choice fell on Marca Corona’s Terra collection, with its modern interpretation of the timeless beauty of terracotta.
Warm, diffused light pervades the entire clubhouse, distributed by ceiling spotlights and contemporary classical lamps that emphasise the relaxed mood of the interior.