Inspired by the Sophisticated of Palm Beach Design, an interior designer creates stunning spaces overlooking Tampa Bay, Florida

NOUBIKKO - Lifestyle & Interior Decor Moderator NOUBIKKO - Lifestyle & Interior Decor Moderator
Inspired by the Sophisticated of Palm Beach Design, an interior designer creates stunning spaces overlooking Tampa Bay, Florida

It was the location that first caught Kathleen Boss’s eye. An interior designer based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Boss is known for identifying unique properties, layering in her personal vision and transforming them into bespoke family homes. After living in each for a time, she often sells and starts again, creating what she calls “a series of deeply personal projects” that reflect her evolving design point of view. She knew—even before crossing the bridge over Coffee Pot Bayou into Snell Isle—that this property was special.

The front drive features pavers and a turf-block grid.
In the foyer, a Rob Tucker painting, hanging above a floating console, suggests a subtle nautical theme.

Situated on a quiet street in the coveted enclave of Snell Isle, the home sits on a rare pie-shaped lot arranged around a bayfront circle. Wide views stretch across the waters of Tampa Bay, and despite several renovations over the years, Boss sensed untapped potential in the scale of the 1955 structure.

Inspired by the classic elegance of Palm Beach, she reimagined the home’s layout to better capture the water views and introduce a sense of serenity indoors. Walls were removed to open the floor plan, the primary suite was reoriented to connect more closely with the outdoors, and architectural details were refined to blur the boundary between inside and out.

The family room, off the kitchen, has a fireplace, floating cabinetry, and comfortable furniture.

The refreshed façade features smooth white stucco, copper gutters, a copper chimney cap, and a concrete tile roof designed for coastal durability. Landscaping emphasizes privacy and softness: hedges and clusters of trees frame the front entry, while a turf-block driveway provides a graphic counterpoint to the home’s marble front steps. Inside, the design draws directly from the bay. “There’s a calmness in the water views,” Boss says. “You see sailboats, regattas, dolphins, and manatees every day. It became important that the interiors feel just as effortless.”

The custom dining table is made of southern magnolia, which is native to Florida.

To achieve that quiet luxury, she used a palette of natural materials and textures—bleached walnut cabinetry, honed travertine and layered stone surfaces—that feel grounded, tactile, and timeless. Sightlines were carefully reworked to highlight the bay, with custom millwork and furnishings framing the views like art, without competing with them.

A pair of chairs near the kitchen is the perfect place for morning coffee.
The primary bath has bleachedwalnut wardrobes, a glass and marble shower, and marble-topped vanities.

Boss, who has two young daughters, also ensured the home feels intentional and family-forward. “The house is designed for real life,” she says. “It’s family-friendly, unfussy, and invites gathering.” Her daughters affectionately dubbed it The Party House, a name earned through food trucks, water slides, and backyard pool days with friends.

In the primary bedroom, the bed now faces the water; drapes that puddle on the floor create a cozy cocoon, and a cityscape painting adds a jolt of color.

Art plays a central role throughout the home. A vivid Rob Tucker cargo-ship painting welcomes guests in the foyer, hanging above a custom floating console and setting the tone for the home’s quietly playful spirit and subtle nautical thread. In the dining room, abstract works by JeanMarc Mouis echo organic movement, while a sculptural mirror by Bowers Studio undulates across the wall like a sinuous snake. Porcelain vases by Janus et Cie introduce coral-like texture, grounding the space in earthy elegance. Overhead, a chandelier by RBW Studio drapes in sweeping arcs, casting light and calm in equal measure.

From the back of the house, there’s a view of the water and downtown.

In the kitchen, marble steals the show. An earthy Evora stone appears on the backsplash, range hood and atop a cantilevered waterfall island. Custom cabinetry and millwork add warmth and dimension, while furnishings—including Elysian counter stools in Edelman leather by Lawson-Fenning, stone accents by Montana LaBelle, a creamy white custom sofa and upholstered Arp chair by Dmitriy & Co., and an Armadillo Malawi wool rug—round out the rooms.

“I designed this house to be as effortless as it is elegant,” Boss says. “Every surface was considered, every detail quietly functional. It’s meant to feel luxurious but also livable.” In keeping with her tradition, Boss left parting gifts for the next owners: custom marble coasters that echo the stone used throughout the home, and an orchid garden planted near the front entry.

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kathleenbossdesign.com

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