Design in Detail: The Resort at Longboat Key Club’s Yacht-Sleek Look
Sleek marble, polished wood in all tones and hues, luxury navy blue carpets and tiling – these are just a few of the nautically rich details to look forward to during a stay at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
Being new and fresh is great. But the top-to-bottom renovation at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, fully completed in December 2020, was about more than just swapping out fixtures or carpeting. It was about evoking emotion, and taking guests on a journey – or more like a luxury boat ride – throughout the entire stay. And it all starts the minute patrons drive up to the porte-cochère in the new main building.
The Scope of the Refresh
Yes, all 226 guest rooms and suites, housed in seven different buildings across the luxury resort’s 410 acres, were completely gutted – down to the concrete and frames – and transformed. But the property really wanted to make waves with the new main building. “After all, it’s the first interaction guests have with the resort,” says Rick Konsavage, managing director of the resort. “It needs to make an impression.” Built from the ground up, it’s home to a new open-and-airy lobby, the on-site AAA Four-Diamond restaurant of Latitudes, 12,000-square-feet of meeting space, as well as neighboring pool experience, featuring a re-sided pool, and totally new Banyan Poolside bar and lounge. Still, amenities aside, it’s the building’s design theme that really makes for a memorable stay.
The Theme: Yacht Sleek
“Of course, we wanted the design to embody where we are located: On a barrier island, sandwiched between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf, with our own private 291-slip marina,” notes Konsavage. “So nautical was a natural fit. But not old-fashioned nautical. Rather, a really high-end version…think more along the lines of luxury yachts.”
And that’s very much the vibe, starting with the mixture of really beautiful polished woods in all sorts of tones accenting everything from sliding doors, ceilings, and ceiling fans. Next came that classic navy blue pop of color worked in elements like the backsplash tiles in the kitchen, accent rugs, end-of-the-bed benches, and living room furniture. And lastly, to really hit home the crisp white that you always see on luxury yachts, the design comes dripping in white marble, including the terrazzo floor of the lobby and the rooms’ dining room tables, side tables, kitchen countertops, and, of course, bathroom countertops.
The Arrival Experience
Again, the designers really took making that first impression memorable to heart. Totally new lush landscaping leads up to the grand porte-cochère to the main building. Within the open-and-airy lobby, curving crisp white couches – again, reminiscent of the kind of seating you’d see on a yacht – greet patrons next to a billboard-sized living green wall. But one of the most notable touches is the check-in desks – three of them – that resemble hulls of a ship. “There’s a strong sense of arrival,” says Konsavage. “And it sticks with you throughout the rest of your stay.”
Other Wow Factors to Note
The dining experiences are equally drool-worthy. Not just because of Latitudes’s locally-harvested seafood-centric menu – featuring dishes like pan-roasted gulf shrimp and Key West lobster tail – but for that sleek nautical design that boasts a timber-vaulted ceiling for a feeling like you’re in the belly of boat and navy carpeting with a design that evokes the look of a topographic map.
Banyan Poolside features an expansive deck and covered bar lounge with an amazing view of the Gulf amid swaying palms. White tables, chairs, and columns and tan teak wood once again give a nod the classic style of a luxury yacht. And lastly, the John Ringling Room – a ballroom part of the resort’s new meeting space and also located in the same main building – features a lighting concept unlike any other: tiny stainless-steel boat masts that hang above. Even if you’re not hosting a meeting or conference in the 2,948-square-foot room, it’s worth a peek – just for that artistic feature alone.
Where to Stay The Resort at Longboat Key Club
