Robb and Stucky – Pier 81

Pier 81 South is a compelling before-and-after renovation that transforms a dated Tuscan-style high-rise condo residence into a luminous coastal retreat tailored to contemporary Southwest Florida living. The original interiors were defined by heavy wood furniture, ornate silhouettes, dark gold and brown tones, patterned rugs and visually weighty finishes that competed with the home’s greatest asset: sweeping waterfront views.
The remodel succeeds by revealing the home’s potential rather than simply decorating over the past. The designer replaced visual heaviness with a lighter architectural language: clean white surfaces, soft aqua and sea-glass accents, warm metallic finishes, refined textures and sculptural lighting. The result is an interior that feels open, elevated and deeply connected to its coastal setting.
In the main living space, dark traditional furnishings give way to crisp upholstery, pale blue lounge chairs, tailored casegoods and a serene rug that immediately modernize the room while keeping it comfortable and inviting. The kitchen and breakfast area are reimagined with bright cabinetry, polished surfaces, contemporary seating and a statement chandelier that brings sophistication to everyday living. The banquette breakfast area adds one of the renovation’s most distinctive custom moments, pairing intimate built-in seating with an ethereal hand-applied paint finish above that softens the architecture and creates an artful, atmospheric focal point.
One of the project’s most memorable moments is the coastal dining vignette, where an aquatic-inspired table becomes both functional furniture and sculptural conversation piece.
The bedrooms and baths continue the transformation with a calm, resort-like sensibility. Soft bedding, pale furnishings, coastal artwork, freestanding bath elements, warm brass mirrors and spa-inspired finishes replace the darker details of the original home. Even the balcony is treated as an extension of the design, creating an effortless indoor-outdoor lifestyle above the water.
Pier 81 South is award-worthy because the renovation is dramatic yet restrained. It honors the waterfront location, modernizes the home for the way people live today, and proves that thoughtful design can change not only how a space looks, but how it feels.