From the mountains to the ocean, new Floridians build their dream home in Ponte Vedra.
words by Gabby Ervin / photos by Muriel Silva
Pulling up to the Spriggs family home on San Juan Drive in Ponte Vedra Beach, you’re greeted with what doesn’t look like a typical Florida residence from the outside, with its bright white walls contrasted against black-framed windows and doorways. But, that’s precisely what the Spriggs, homeowner and interior designer, set out to accomplish when she began the project back in 2017. Carefully curated details are what set this home apart. Driftwood from the Carolinas, exposed beams, a one-of-a kind chestnut barn door, plenty of natural light, and aged-gold accents work together to give this modern beach home a timeless feel.
Andy and Mollie Spriggs relocated with their pup Gracie from Colorado. As first-time residents of the Sunshine State, this move opened up new opportunities to design the home they’ve always wanted. “We had built our previous home in Colorado and when we moved, I just had the itch to build again,” says Mollie. As luck would have it, a neighbor from Colorado introduced Mollie to Scott Ulm, the builder and owner of Heritage Homes, who would help make this dream a reality.
“My vision was West Coast meets East Coast and including black windows was very important to me because it’s stepping outside of the box,” Mollie says. “I’m a huge fan of blacks, whites, and creams. I knew I wanted something serene to complement the soft color palette.”
While there is hardly ever a build or remodel project that goes without hiccups, Mollie contributes her home’s design success to the incredible team that made it possible. “Scott and the crew at Heritage Homes are very organized, and they stayed on track throughout the process,” she explains. “I knew what I wanted, but the team helped pull it through. The architect Wallace Brown, and I also worked really well together. I handed him a grid paper with sketches of what I envisioned, a puzzle, so to speak, and asked him to piece it together. Now, I have the house of my dreams.”
The 4,300-square-foot home was built with entertaining in mind. A heavy emphasis was placed on rooms where friends and family would come together. The open floorplan allows for the kitchen, dining room, and living room to flow freely into one another without compromising each space’s integrity.
Magic happens in the kitchen, and this home was no exception. The kitchen was the most important of rooms for functional, aesthetic, and free-flowing designs to come together. “The kitchen is the center of everything,” says Mollie. “I knew this room needed to be special.”
Having spent most of their time in Northern states, including Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan, the Spriggs took full advantage of all their Florida home had to offer when it came to outdoor living. “I wanted a huge window looking out to our backyard,” says Mollie. “We’ve never lived in a state that would allow us to have a screened-in porch, and this was a perfect time.” The lanai is outfitted with everything one needs to relax including a fireplace, picnic table, and television. Exposed wood beams add visual interest and height to the space. Once you look past the pool, you’re greeted with a stunning view of the 5th hole on Ponte Vedra’s prestigious Ocean Course, giving an incredible illusion that the backyard goes on forever.
Builder: Heritage Homes
Architect: Wallace Brown, Imagine Architectural Designs
Countertops: Design Works
Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
