A Treehouse Makeover
Risa Priestly is the owner of Risa’s Interiors in Miramar Beach and has been running her interior design business for more than 35 years. Her 14,000 square-foot retail showroom is filled with fine furniture and accessories for purchase, including indoor and outdoor home furnishings, bedding and mattresses, and also offers custom drapes and window treatments, rugs, accent pillows, art and accessories. Her retail operation has been named Best Home Furnishings Store in Destin, and she has been honored as Best Interior Designer in the area for the past three years. Just a year ago, Risa opened a second location just a couple of miles west of the original store, adding another 4500 square feet of showroom space. Both stores sell right off the showroom floor, with no waiting, and offer white-glove delivery service.
Interior design and retail sales are not her only endeavors these days, however. Risa and her client Nick White, CEO of Top Dog in Santa Rosa Beach, recently purchased a dilapidated waterfront cottage that they have completely renovated and updated. “It’s a wonderful secluded getaway that we have named ‘Romance on the Bayou’ in Santa Rosa Beach. It’s the perfect honeymoon suite, with all sorts of amenities that add to the ambiance, including complimentary Champagne upon arrival. The home sleeps two in an open-concept space that is spacious but cozy and includes a luxurious bath with an oversize walk-in shower, a well-equipped kitchen, beautifully furnished living and dining areas, and a private deck overlooking the bayou, complete with a dining table and a grill. The interior is a product of the owners’ skill and experience in the interior design field and showcases the talent and style that has brought Risa’s Interiors local and regional recognition.
Before Remodeling:
The attention to detail is immediately apparent. The white walls and light-colored wide plank floors provide a cool and serene setting that is complemented by the natural wood ceiling and matching open shelving along the kitchen wall. Furnishings and upholstery are predominately in shades of white, with subtle touches of earthy wood, all brought together by the dazzling antler chandelier bedecked with beads that hang over the bed. The antler chandelier contrasts with the ultramodern fixture of Lucite and brass that is suspended over the glass-topped oval dining table. There is abundant natural light, with large windows overlooking the bayou.
In addition to the luxurious yet comfortable interior amenities, the property is equipped with any number of outdoor attractions. There is a paddleboat for two, great for exploring the bayous and observing the natural beauty of the area, a canoe, a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs, low lighting, indigenous landscaping – great for toasting marshmallows from the s’mores kit provided by the host, and a curving path of stepping stones leading to the private dock and the bayou. There are any number of outdoor games available, including cornhole, giant Jenga, outdoor-sized beer pong, and a ring toss game, and best of all, incredible views of the water and the unspoiled marshes and waterways of coastal Florida. Local wildlife abounds and provides opportunities for great birdwatching and all sorts of animal sightings.
The white walls and light-colored wide plank floors provide a cool and serene setting that is complemented by the natural wood ceiling and matching open shelving along the kitchen wall.
The white walls and light-colored wide plank floors provide a cool and serene setting that is complemented by the natural wood ceiling and matching open shelving along the kitchen wall.
If the luxury, privacy, natural beauty, and recreational activities that come with “Romance on the Bayou” are not enough to entice prospective visitors, the secluded romantic hideaway is less than a ten minute drive from all the exciting attractions of the 30A area, with its sparkling beaches and clear blue-green waters, and all the dining and entertainment offerings along the Emerald Coast, including bike trails, golf courses, nature preserves and state parks, and more.
“Romance on the Bayou” is available through VRBO at https://www.vrbo.com/3190084
Accolades
Risa Priestly, Risa’s Interiors
Specializing in Design, Remodeling, and Furnishings.
(850) 654-7472
Saraiva
Project Manager
