A Retreat of One’s Own

The gentle lapping waters of Draper Lake and the Gulf of Mexico as well as the thriving flora and fauna of a Northwest Florida ecosystem serve as an idyllic landscape. It was only fitting that the homes of Draper Lake Coastal Village were designed with the attributes of turn-of-the-century lake villages and retreats, such as an absence of synthetic materials and an emphasis on natural beauty.

This single-family residential community of 96 lots for coastal cottages and homes perched atop hills overlooking two wooded peninsulas and a tributary was planned by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company with Geoff Chick & Associates serving as the town architect since 2019.

Indoor and outdoor living areas are inviting reprieves of natural light with plush seating and fireplaces as the centerpiece. Every design element exudes simple pleasures and little luxuries.

“Draper Lake embraces the rare coastal dune lake habitat by taking inspiration from the Great Camp style of the Adirondacks, which celebrates the authentic use of natural materials influenced by classic mountain-style architecture,” said Geoff Chick, AIA architect. “The homes are intentionally designed to emulate a bygone era of architecture and craftsmanship which harmonizes with its rustic surroundings.”

When envisioning the mountain/lake retreat style, think weathered wood boat houses, Old Town canoes, shake siding, steep roof pitches, exposed rafter tails, stone masonry and the classic Adirondack chair itself on large porches amongst the trees.

While smaller in scale than the massive mansions waterside locales have become known for, the homes of Draper Lake create dimension through large windows letting in natural light with spacious porches and outdoor living areas.

Calling forth inspiration from woodland coastal towns, the home’s facades feature shake siding juxtaposed against stark white wood.

The exterior of each home is composed of natural, non-synthetic materials such as wood, stone and glass. As a result of the homes being composed of wood, each home has a fire suppression system, allowing the homes to be both naturally made and as safe as possible.

Interiors emphasize vaulted ceilings composed of Cyprus wood, focal-point fireplaces, rustic barn doors, bedrooms and living spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows and neutral color palettes, all coming together to render cozy, intimate dwellings.

Northwest Florida provides a temperate climate year-round which Draper homes bask in through screened spaces, cantilevered porches, balconies, swimming pools and outdoor fireplaces that anchor the home.

With the surrounding land being such a vital part of the community’s meaning, the first 100 feet from the lake’s edge is protected from development providing neighborhood access to the water via nature and hiking trails.

Situated on land that provides access to a coastal dune lake and the Gulf, it’s essential that Draper Lake homes provide outdoor living spaces.

The land for Draper Lake originally went under development in 2004, but the financial crisis of 2008 stalled progression a bit. Chick designed his first Draper Lake home in 2012, with the intent that his houses would lead by example. There was steady interest over the years, but the swell came in 2020.

“This community is unique because it’s sheltered from the rest of 30A. It’s an enclave of full-time homeowners who know one another, which is one of the reasons it became so popular during the post-COVID migration,” said Chick. “Draper is a respite from the cookie-cutter mentality of rental communities and created for people who want to retreat from the surrounding chaos into a place curated for year-round living.”

Draper Lake is a gated, non-rental community, which allows residents to get to know their neighbors while still maintaining their own slice of solace. Residents have access to two community pools, a boat house providing access to the dune lake and the Gulf, a greenway and a 48-foot observation tower.

Featured here is what Chick calls the “best bedroom in Walton County” fashioned with windows that span the walls letting in treetop views.

Chick finds that the design code and rules can be intimidating to some, but as the town architect with an extensive portfolio of houses in the Emerald Coast’s most notable neighborhoods, he helps clients build homes that both align with the code and their own desires.

“The best architecture is created when you have some limitations, but then you are able to refine and individualize those ideas,” said Chick. “The homes in Draper Lake are thoughtfully designed, and I’m there to assist people through the process of building their dream house as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.”

Geoff Chick & Associates

17660 US Highway 331, Freeport  |  (850) 880-2146  |  geoffchick.com
Instagram: @geoffchickandassociates  |  Facebook: Geoff Chick & Associates