Dream Retreat

When Tracy Eisnaugle of Lee Wetherington Homes was tasked with designing a model home in Star Farms—a residential community just north of Sarasota, Florida—one thing was for sure: She was not going to create a sterile white box. “We want people to feel like they can live in [our houses],” the designer says. “Everything being shiny and white just doesn’t feel cozy, so we really enjoy having a house that feels warm and welcoming.”

This 5,332-square-foot build deftly bridges the gap between contemporary and cozy with clean, modern lines, ambient light, warm wooden accents, and yes, lots of stone. The easy and elegant nature of quartz might’ve made it a clear choice for this property, but Eisnaugle reveals what was even more obvious was sourcing from Cambria. “There’s something in [Cambria’s] line for everyone,” she says. “I don’t have any customers that can’t find something.” 

Admittedly, mixing and matching several quartz designs under one roof can run the risk of overpowering the space. However, Eisnaugle leaned into the material’s tonal subtleties for a dynamic, design-minded dwelling.

Form and function join forces in the kitchen, where Cambria’s Notting Hill™ quartz design covers the counters, backsplash, and the island’s waterfall details. “Its beautiful veining and crisp clean background allowed us to use it without it becoming overwhelming or too busy,” Eisnaugle says. “It really sets a beautiful, luxurious feeling.” The warm white background in this Cambria design beautifully contrasts with the kitchen’s black island and hood while the thin, burgundy veining in the design softens the space and complements the light wooden cabinets. 

In the larger great room—anchoring the kitchen, living, and dining areas—Eisnaugle proves that opposites not only attract, but they can also be the key to conversation-sparking cohesion. In a few areas in this multi-functional space, she opted for Cambria’s Charlestown™ design. While this charcoal gray surface is a departure from the kitchen’s mostly lighter materials, Eisnaugle says she naturally gravitated to the moodier option. She says, “It has a little bit of [white] veining, so it doesn’t look flat black.” Instead, this darker quartz design blends nicely with other black material touches in the kitchen like cabinet pulls, light fixtures, faucet, and counter chair frames.

Places Eisnaugle leaned into the dark side include a wine bar in the dining room, the family room fireplace surround, and in a bourbon room—a speakeasy-like retreat painted in a moody bronze color. “That whole room is extremely dark, but [the quartz] still has its own moment whether you’re looking at the vertical sides of the waterfall or the countertop itself,” she says. 

More contrasting light and dark moments come together in the primary bathroom, which features a showstopping shower clad in Cambria’s beautifully bold Southport design. “There’s a transom window inside the shower that floods the space with light. So, I wanted to complement it with a beautiful, wavy [quartz] vein,” she explains. Positioning the quartz slabs vertically draws the eye upward to highlight the shower’s cascading natural light source. “It just really completes the space.”

Cambria’s thinner, lighter, 1cm slabs are perfect for vertical applications like showers. And the result of selecting a quartz design that embodies the raw beauty of rhythmic waves is ultimately better than Eisnaugle could’ve imagined. After all, when home design transcends the confines of the expected, the possibilities are limitless.

Modern Forms, Organic Textures, Effortless Style

Choose clean-lined furnishings in natural materials, then layer sculptural elements and tactile textures for warmth and depth. And if you don't know where to begin, let us help you get started with a few of our favorites for modern, organic interiors from Stoffer Home that are perfect for creating a similar look.