REAL Exclusive Magazine

Kerried Away: Architecture

Sarasota Yacht Club

By Kerrie Lehnert

Welcome to Kerried Away, a design focused section of REAL Magazine where we will explore Gulf Coast homes, construction, real estate, and all things which for many of us, carried us away from our origins and made us decide to call this place home. Whether you are indigenous to the Gulf Coast, one of the multitudes who relocated here or are a seasonal resident, my goal is to provide information, stories and photos of homes and design elements that have created or continue to create a specific vernacular style and trend on the Gulf Coast.

Founded in 1926, the Sarasota Yacht Club is one of the original 13 members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. Belonging to the club has always stood as a symbol of success and passion for the water.

With their newly constructed landmark building, the Sarasota Yacht Club is quickly becoming a seaside symbol of Sarasota’s skyline. The soft, contemporary structure was beautifully designed by architects Mark Sultana and Thomas Denslo of DSDG, Inc. Sultana and Denslo connected with the yacht club’s vision and derived a plan making their design become a palpable structure. The execution of construction was carefully completed by Tandem Construction and included many other talented trades.

The building’s exterior of gentle lines fades away into the backdrop of a symmetrical boatyard filled with sailboat masts, yachts and fishing boats. The yacht club’s vantage points are that of Siesta Key to the South, Bird Key to the West and Sarasota’s magnificent city skyline to the East. The new yacht club compliments its surroundings with a subtle contemporary shape which I believe respects some of Sarasota’s most iconic architects, such as Rudolph, Martin and Baum. Sultana and Denslo might just be the inspiration for Sarasota’s continued success of coastal architecture.

Sarasota Yacht Club’s lobby may be one of the most remarkable vestibules, not Grande by glitz but soft and gentle with lightly colored comfortable furnishings and a massively high ceiling that feels like an open sailor’s sky. Below your feet, you are grounded by a solid surface, sparkling blue floor with an inlaid wood planked center medallion which stretches a large expanse of the room and certainly reminds one of being at sail. You can’t help to feel that you are out on the water.

West of the lobby is the Neptune bar, very reminiscent of a stately captain’s room on a fine yacht. The nautical theme is carried out by the conversation of members who are visiting, talking about their professional week and stories out on the Gulf. The hidden treasure: as you gaze above the bar you see a functional, utilitarian structure which quietly resembles the shape of a yacht.

The Sarasota Yacht Club’s interior architecture might just be one of the finest in the country, not only visually, but because it derives a feeling of being at sea. One of the most amazing attributes of the Sarasota Yacht Club is you can stand in the lobby (or just about anywhere) and feel the solitary peacefulness of the ocean, even when the structure is energized with people.

It seems that the new building has also had an amazing impact on the club’s member status. According to Sarasota Yacht Club’s Marketing Director, Dana Soldati, membership status has increased 100% since the new construction. Another fascination is that the average member’s age has dropped from 70 to 50 years of age. It is believed that the new building has created a lot of enthusiasm; in addition, new family-geared activities and variety programing such as water sports (kayaking and sailing lessons), family night and a fitness center have possibly attributed to fresh, young involvement and membership. Soldati states, “It has become a more active club, receptive to what members want.”

Kerrie Lehnert, a hard finish designer, is the driving force behind Kitchens by Kerrie. Designing kitchens, baths, closets and more for over thirteen years, Kerrie works seamlessly with homeowners, architects, builders and interior designers creating the ultimate space, always with an eye on resale value. Kitchens by Kerrie maintains a showroom at Bacon’s Furniture’s Sarasota Location, 7557 South Tamiami Trail. For more information she may be reached at (941) 228.1173 or kitchensbykerrie@yahoo.com.

Kitchens by Kerrie provides custom Kitchen Design with Kitchen Cabinetry and Kitchen Cabinets, custom Bathroom Design with Bathroom Cabinets and Bathroom Cabinetry and custom Closet Design with Closet Cabinets and Closet Cabinetry. All designs include marble, granite, glass, concrete and other countertop options. Kitchens by Kerrie can also custom design your flooring from marble, tile, quartz, bamboo, wood and other exotic materials. Kitchens by Kerrie services the Sarasota Manatee area, and beyond, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice.