The Bonnet House: Colorful Opulence in Florida

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we look at the eclectic grandeur of a historic, Caribbean, plantation-style villa.

Located on a coastal barrier island, Bonnet House is surrounded by water. The Intracoastal Waterway can be viewed on the west side of the property with access to view the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Palm trees rise above its two levels of covered walkways and sitting areas. In view of the house is a lagoon abounding in tropical vegetation, including the property’s signature bonnet lily, which is similar in hue to the house’s paint color. Jillian Cain Photography/Shutterstock

Tucked among towering palms and lush tropical gardens is a home and property named for a vibrant yellow water flower referred to as the bonnet lily. The 1920s home is the artistic expression—through architecture, interior design, and art—of Chicago-born artist Frederic Clay Bartlett.

Bartlett and other artists’ works are displayed against a backdrop of varying architectural and design styles, including plantation, Spanish, Caribbean, art deco, and classic Roman and Greek. Thus, the 7,220-square-foot, villa-style house with porches, patios, and colonnades is a virtual feast for the eyes.