Lifeso's Chapell House Open House

Bob and Susan Lifeso's Don Chapell House

Bob and Susan Lifeso graciously opened their home to the adoring and curious last week, April 19, as an "Architecture and Aperitif" fund raiser for the Sarasota Architecture Foundation.  Their home was, and is, the renowned Chapell House.  Designed by Architect Don Chapell, with collaborator and architect-of-record Mark Smith, and built in 2000 by Pat Ball of Ball Construction, the home at 150 Morningside Drive features a private courtyard behind it's colorful street side exterior.  The back opens to amazing views of Pansy Bayou.

Bob and Susan Lifeso

Inside, soaring light filled spaces, polished wood and terazzo floor surfaces and curved walls complete the modern home. It's furnished with a variety of artwork from paintings to sculptures as well as a collection of 20th century furniture.

It just so happened to be Bob's birthday as well, making the showing an even more generous gesture.  Thanks for sharing.

Paul Rudolph, architect of many homes in Lido Shores including the Umbrella House, was a big influence on Chapell's career, as was the late Mexican architect Luis Barragan, known for his colorful stucco buildings. But Barragan used one dominant color. 

Living room color

Chapell used many pastel shades on his Morningside masterpiece.

Spending much of his career in New York, Chapell designed many homes in The Hamptons on Long Island, including one for himself.

View of Pool and Pansy Bayou

The SAF is a community of modern architecture advocates, and regularly features homes and other architecturally significant buildings around Sarasota and the Gulf coast. More information can be found at www.sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org

Entering from the Courtyard