Designer
Eloise Kubli, ASID NCIDQ

Photography
Sargent Architectural Photography,
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Copy
John D. Adams

A French-Inspired Theme Captures The Spirit Of Celebrating Life

When Betsy Rauch decided to build a house in Hawks Landing in Plantation, Fla., she knew that, from concept to completion, developer/builder Ford Robinette would bring her ideas to fruition. “We custom design and build all of our homes to the owners’ exact specifications,” Robinette says.

But Rauch had a distinct advantage. As vice president of Robinette Homes, she helps people design their homes every day. “I knew exactly what I wanted for my own home in terms of architecture and ambiance,” Rauch says. “I wanted to create a home that was warm and expressed style and quality.”

Having previously worked with designer Eloise Kubli on several projects, Rauch had established a rapport with Kubli, making it easy for her to articulate Rauch’s vision of a French-inspired home. “We really captured her spirit of celebrating life with family and friends,” Kubli says.

The formal dining room, in particular, expresses Rauch’s joie de vivre. A barrel-vaulted ceiling covered with Chicago brick imbues the space with a sense of intimacy. The brick also fills a niche, providing the backdrop for a buffet. Flanking the niche are carved-mahogany doors that conceal wine coolers. “I wanted the room to have the ambiance of an old, French wine cellar,” Rauch says.

A crystal chandelier sparkles above a mahogany table surrounded by French Regence-style chairs in gold cut chenille. Inlays of pecan wood warm the crema marfil marble flooring underfoot.

In the living room, a cast-stone fireplace with a granite surround acts as the focal point. Above the mantel, a mahogany panel offsets an ornate gold-leaf mirror. Mahogany niches on both sides display Rauch’s collection of objets d’art.

To give the living room a “collected look,” Kubli paired a formal, wood-framed sofa with a fully upholstered one and covered both in taupe woven linen. A carved-wood armchair and glass-topped mahogany cocktail table complement the Old World tone of the Persian area rug.

The home’s lush courtyard and pool area inspired the green and gold palette of the casual breakfast room. Expansive windows integrate the indoor setting with the outdoors, creating the feeling of dining alfresco.

Across the courtyard, a separate guesthouse departs from the formality of the main house. “We used simple light green paint for the walls, as opposed to textural, faux-painted walls,” Kubli says. A white cotton sofa, a wicker chair, and a rattan-and-bamboo cocktail table underscore the tropical setting.

In contrast to the guesthouse, the master bath in the main house exudes romantic charm with its vintage-style tub and delicate wall covering intertwined with flora and fauna. “The colors blend perfectly with the royal oyster marble flooring and vanity countertop,” Kubli says.

The home’s French design culminates in the master bedroom. “I really wanted to design a private retreat,” Kubli says. Luxe fabrics and damask-like carpet in taupe and cream hues wrap the room in luxury, while decorative molding accentuates floral stenciling and faux-painted marble panels on the walls. Walnut-trimmed furnishings enhance the space’s elegant demeanor.

Folds of silk and privacy sheers drape a bay window in the sitting area, where Kubli placed a chenille love seat and a cut chenille bergere.

Outside, in the courtyard, casual furnishings invite guests to relax around the pool. Mosaic-tiled, raised planters “bring much more interest and elevation to this enchanting space,” Kubli says. Surrounded by tropical beauty, Rauch’s home is a triumph in concept and design.