Simple Elegance. These two words were the heart and soul behind J Banks Design’s vision for their recently completed project, John’s Island Beach Club; an approximately 50,000 square foot Private Club located in Vero Beach’s best-known luxury private community, John’s Island.
The firm was hired three and a half years ago to create a sophisticated, yet extremely casual and comfortable space where families would enjoy beachside living. J Banks Design was involved in every detail of the interior design process including the execution of integral millwork drawings, specifying all finish and hard material selections as well as selecting, ordering and installing all furnishings, artwork and accessories.
The original John’s Island Beach Club was torn down, and rebuilt nine feet higher and 75 feet closer to the Atlantic Ocean to afford better overall views. The design team’s main goal was to make sure that the new Beach Club was all about the gorgeous views, something that the former Beach Club “missed.” The finished product is now an interior setting that seamlessly translates to the outdoors. Soaring ceilings, classic columns and grand mahogany doors frame the view of the ocean and are responsible for evoking a design experience that is parallel to a tropical paradise.
The Beach Club offers its members multiple dining experiences including: beachside dining, pool side dining, bar and tapas dining, and two distinctively different dining rooms. Lounge areas were designed to provide multiple seating or gathering spots for families to enjoy games, reading and socializing all while partaking in outstanding views of the ocean.
Upon touring the Beach Club, it’s evident to see the custom features and details designed by J Banks specifically for the project. Every key lighting piece was sketched by the design team then fabricated by Crenshaw lighting out of Floyd, VA. Stanford Furniture, manufacturers of the J Banks Collection furniture line, custom-made many of the key furniture pieces including the high backed dining banquettes; the majority of the dining chairs; all of the Chef ’s Tables as well as the community dining table.
The design team’s use of a variety of building materials including pecky cypress (in homage to Old Florida), richly stained ipe wood, rough-hewn ceiling beams and Olympic stone created dramatic juxtaposing designs which offset the cream walls and neutral finishes.
The main fabric and paint palette includes creams, washed grey, taupe, chocolate, pale blue and coral. The hints of color were brought in to enhance the blue from the Ocean as well as the awe-inspiring sunsets that are visible from every angle within the interior of the Club. In addition, the pop of color compliments the structural details by adding appropriate “coastal flair”.
