HOMES OF THE TREASURE COAST
On the lagoon side, the living room features a hearth of Neolith stone and a solid wood mantel like the Abellos’ former Connecticut home.
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In parts of Colombia, the Spanish word for the hibiscus
flower is cayena. In many cultures, it symbolizes
abundance, well-being and happiness. Over a small
bridge, onto an island off Sewall’s Point, a house
bears the name Las Cayenas, and carries the exact attributes
symbolized in the flower.
Las Cayenas became a residence that Susan and Edgardo
Abello willed into being.
Finding the lot on which to build was their first challenge.
When they saw this secluded, waterfront spot on nearly
an acre they knew it would be the perfect choice for their
Florida home.
The planning was in the hands of architectural firm Kelly
and Kelly of Stuart. And the builder was Carlson Enterprises,
operated by Bob Carlson and his son, Robert. The entire
project took nearly two years to complete and the first trial to
conquer was preparing the land.
“There are 148 pilings down 35 feet below the surface of
the ground,” Bob Carlson says. “It’s connected to the bedrock.
The house is basically tsunami proof.”
DRIVEN BY DESIGN
As the lot was being prepped, the Abellos met Francesca
Morgan of Francesca Morgan Interiors at her Stuart studio
on Ocean Boulevard.
“I’d driven by her studio, and the way she decorates the
outside, I said I definitely have to go into that place,” Susan
Abello says.