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Go Inside the Most Extraordinary Homes of Florida’s New Urbanist Haven

A new book opens the doors of Windsor’s private residences for the first time, including inspiring spaces conceived by Steven Gambrel, Alessandra Branca, and Tom Scheerer

By Geoffrey Montes
Spacious living room with large windows, signature-covered walls, gray sofas, white chairs, and a view of a pool and trees.
With its soaring ceiling, this living room in a house designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen makes a unique backdrop for Rob Pruitt’s Autograph Collection. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS

Few residential communities can match the winning combination of beauty, luxury, and sophistication found at the gated Florida enclave of Windsor, set on a verdant oceanfront barrier island in Vero Beach. Founded in 1989 by Canadian snowbirds, the neighborhood was envisioned to embody New Urbanist principles, which emphasize walkability and architectural harmony, in this case a relaxed yet chic interpretation of classic Anglo-Caribbean design. While some of Windsor’s communal structures have been well publicized—such as Léon Krier’s gabled Town Hall—the new book Beachside (Vendome Press) opens the doors of its private residences for the first time, including inspiring spaces conceived by Steven Gambrel, Alessandra Branca, Tom Scheerer, and other top designers. “To enter any home at Windsor,” writes author Hadley Keller, “is to step into something of a secret garden.” 

Go inside more magical spaces below.

Tropical mansion exterior with palm trees and a fountain in a luxurious garden setting under a clear blue sky.
Beachside by Hadley Keller. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Spacious living room with large windows, signature-covered walls, gray sofas, white chairs, and a view of a pool and trees.
With its soaring ceiling, this living room in a house designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen makes a unique backdrop for Rob Pruitt’s Autograph Collection. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, large island, four chairs, and pendant lights. Decor includes plants and wicker baskets.
Olivia O’Bryan’s Ashley Olivia Waddell and Courtney O’Bryan Harris strung a sculptural counterbalance pendant by Florian Schulz over the island to add dimension and dynamism to the all-white kitchen. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Modern living room with white sofas, glass coffee table, teal chair, wood panel wall, and indoor plant.
A wall of African acacia conceals storage and provides an organic backdrop for modern furniture in a living room by architect Brad Lynch for a design-savvy family. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Bright living room with white sofa, colorful artwork, ceiling fan, and decorative shelves in a modern, cozy setting.
The Windsor living room of a former art adviser features canvases layered atop a collection of blue-and-white china. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Modern dining room with colorful art, white round table, unique chandelier, and white chairs with wooden legs.
Comprised of thirty-seven hand-blown orbs, a multicolor chandelier by Omer Arbel (which requires its own ceiling support) reflects the tones in paintings by Michael Adamson. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Bright living room with colorful artwork, wicker furniture, and large windows allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
A large-scale Alex Katz portrait overlooks the living room in a house decorated by Rod Mickley. The room also features several works by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Modern dining room with white chairs, wooden table, large abstract wall art, tall green plant, and decorative black jars.
An outsized nude by Tracey Emin makes a dramatic statement over a minimal dining room in an oceanfront home by Clemens Bruns Schaub. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS
Elegant hallway with bird-themed artwork, a wooden console table, yellow lamps, and two woven stools.
A Hunt Slonem bird painting greets visitors to the Coral Harper–designed home; practical stools for shoe removal are tucked under the entry table. Photo: JESSICA KLEWICKI GLYNN, COURTESY OF VENDOME PRESS