A Manalapan Home Designed for Joy & Conversation by mr alex TATE
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
mr alex Tate designed a beautiful Manalapan home, in the exclusive waterfront enclave nestled along the southern tip of Hypoluxo Island. Manalapan is known for its eclectic architectural landscape, where Spanish Mediterranean estates sit alongside Colonial Bermuda-style homes and striking contemporary glass residences. The area in Florida possesses a quiet sophistication both refined and effortlessly inviting. The town has an unpretentious disposition and feels instantly charming and inviting.
Named Audubon, the nearly 6,000-square-foot waterfront residence is surrounded by water on both its northern and western sides. Laid out in a U-shaped floorplan spanning nearly 6,000 square feet (5,938 to be exact), the home unfolds around a romantic central courtyard. Upon entering through the front door, guests are immediately welcomed by a pool, covered lanai, and multiple access points that blur the line between indoors and out an architectural gesture that celebrates Florida living. This was a project five years in the making, shaped by numerous pauses, pivots, and evolutions along the way due to covid.
Historically, the home was originally owned by renowned Florida artist Orville Bulman, best known for his whimsical tropical-fantasy scenes inspired by Haiti. The artistic legacy informed the spirit of the renovation. The guiding brief from the client was simple: “A Palm Beach vibe, but not on the nose.” The clients envisioned a home that embraced Florida’s waterfront lifestyle while avoiding cliché. They wanted spaces filled with joy, bold pattern, warmth, and personality, a house designed as much for conversation and entertaining as for everyday living.
Entering the home through a turreted entry, a welcoming Murano glass chandelier is a focal point, suspended beneath the domed ceiling above. Rounded windows, natural light and walls wrapped in an iconic large-scale tropical motif wallcovering, a bold yet elegant nod to classic Florida glamour. From there, an elegant hallway invites guests to choose their own adventure through the home. Occasional seating in the foyer includes a pair of rattan chairs upholstered in a pink velvet featuring a whimsical bird motif, balancing refinement with a sense of play. A photograph by Slim Aarons hangs above a console table, reinforcing the home’s sun-soaked, escapist sensibility. At the far end of the hall, a second matching console creates a welcoming vignette beneath an iconic print by John James Audubon, flanked by vintage Murano sconces that echo the glow and craftsmanship introduced at the entry.
You can then turn left toward the Kitchen, Dining and Family Room or right to the Living, Bedrooms, Offices and Gym. To the left of the foyer, the kitchen opens effortlessly into both the dining area and family room, creating spaces designed for gathering and easy entertaining. The kitchen itself was intentionally kept bright and airy, with layered brass detailing adding warmth and a sense of glamour throughout. The result is a kitchen that feels polished yet inviting, equally suited to intimate mornings or larger evenings spent entertaining by the water. One of the defining moments is the porthole window into the wine room, framed by a custom brass daisy motif that introduces a playful decorative flourish while subtly referencing the home’s whimsical spirit.
Throughout the home, the approach was to build rooms through color, pattern, and texture, creating interiors that feel curated over time rather than overly prescribed. The wine room became one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy. The ceiling is clad in a geometric suede wallcovering, chosen specifically for the depth and softness it brings to the space. The walls are wrapped in a dark teal and black tropical wallpaper, lending the room a cinematic richness. At the center of the space, a cluster of four channel-backed club chairs upholstered in deep aubergine velvet encourages conversation and lingering evenings. Underfoot, a Deco-inspired rug by Wendy Morrison grounds the room with another layer of pattern and graphic energy.
To the right of the foyer sits the formal living room, which holds a particularly special place in my heart for this project. Along the east wall, an iconic heron wallpaper by Gucci appears in the homeowners beloved shade of pink, balancing whimsy with sophistication. A grand gathering space defined by its trellised ceiling and layered textures. The living room design evolved around a pair of curved 1970s vintage sofas upholstered in a rich green velvet by Schumacher. Once those pieces were selected, a pair of vintage Hoffmann chandeliers discovered while antiquing became the natural finishing touch splitting the lighting into two sculptural focal points that anchor the room beautifully. Beneath the sofas, a striking Deco and bird-motif rug by Wendy Morrison introduces another layer of graphic pattern and color. Additional seating included a pair of fringed chairs upholstered in sultry pink velvet, reinforcing the layered, conversational atmosphere that defines the home throughout.
Beyond the living room lie the home’s private quarters, where each guest bedroom features its own en-suite bath. Upstairs, the enchanting primary suite enjoys sweeping 360-degree views, offering a quiet retreat above the layered energy of the home below.
Moving through the living room, the home transitions into more intimate private quarters, which include three guest bedrooms with en-suite baths, offices, a gym. A long hallway connects the spaces, lined with views overlooking the central pool courtyard. The hallway is complemented by artwork such as a Salvador Dalí print.
Each bedroom was approached as its own distinct environment while remaining connected to the home’s broader narrative of layered color, texture, and playful sophistication. One of the larger guest suites features a bold striped wallpaper in green and black by House of Hackney, creating an immersive and graphic backdrop. The bed was custom designed specifically for the room, featuring a sculptural wavy headboard that reinforces the home’s whimsical, highly tailored point of view.
Upstairs, there is a master bedroom with expansive 360-degree views of the surrounding water and landscape. The adjoining primary bath was completely reconfigured to maximize those views, transforming the space into something both glamorous and serene. Custom-designed tilework and cabinetry bring a bespoke quality to the bathroom, while statement fixtures by Sherle Wagner International crown the vanity. Set against a full wall of mirrors, the fixtures reflect both light and water views throughout the space, amplifying the sense of openness and quiet luxury.
The home was designed as a place for entertaining friends and family. While the private quarters offer intimacy and retreat, the common spaces were conceived with a versatility that allows for formal gatherings and relaxed everyday living. That same spirit extends outdoors, where the courtyard, lanai, and waterfront terraces become true extensions of the home. Above all, the house was envisioned as a fully lived-in family home, one where every room is not only admired, but genuinely used and enjoyed to its fullest potential. The home captures the romance of Florida living at its best, vibrant, relaxed, and always connected to the water and light beyond.
