Text by Eleanor Lynn Nesmith
In a world that heavily relies on technology to communicate, chance meetings in person seem to be a rarity—except in the vacation town of Seaside, Florida. There’s no telling who you might run into at Modica Market, the community’s local gourmet grocery. That’s exactly what happened one morning when designer Kyle Palmer ran into architect Leo Casas while standing in line to order coffee. The two had worked together early in their careers for Houston architecture firm Curtis & Windham. “We hadn’t seen each other in more than 10 years, but we immediately reconnected,” recalls Palmer. “I was finishing up a house in Seaside and was starting a renovation project in Watercolor that needed an architect. The timing was perfect.”
Palmer promptly recommended his former colleague to his clients, Beth and Curtis Harrell, who were looking to renovate their beach house. The Houston couple purchased the home in 2007 and loved its prime location near the ocean and a community park, but they were eager to update its interiors. “I met with the Harrells one afternoon, and I was on board the following day,” says Casas. “From the start, the goal of the project was to use authentic materials, add architectural interest, and create a classical feel in an understated Southern way.”
