Modern Waterside Bliss in Tampa Condo

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Adventurous world travelers, biotech professionals Marcy and Derek Hennecke have journeyed all over the globe. Canadian by birth, the two have lived in numerous places, including Egypt, Mexico, and Holland, all while raising three daughters, each of which was born in a different country. But when it came time to embrace a new chapter as empty nesters, they decided the place to do so was a high-rise condominium in the Bayshore area of Tampa, a city they love and know well.

They found their new 3,886-square-foot home on the fifteenth floor of The Sanctuary at Alexandra Place, the much-talked-about residential tower known for its exquisite combination of stucco, wood, and glass. There, their chosen residence encompasses 360-degree views of Tampa with a predominant eastern sunrise exposure, the downtown district to the north, and St. Petersburg to the west. With real estate matters settled, the couple didn’t drag their feet when it came to finding design help and hired Sandra Chancey, a name well-known in the Tampa area, to create their custom interiors.

“I was looking for someone who could render a clean, minimalist, modern aesthetic with lots of natural materials—warm woods, character stones, glass—and a hint of mid-century modern,” says Marcy. “Sandra’s passion for this style explodes from every page of her website. I had one interview with her and never met with any other designer. Her project manager, Jennifer Bedore, was also extremely integral during the design process and delivered personable concierge service.”

Guided by the postcard views, the home’s layout flows naturally. The living and dining areas, the primary bedroom, and the bath all face east, with the kitchen facing south. Chancey’s primary goal was to embellish the basic floor plan to create a more personal touch that reflected the Henneckes’ superior tastes and passionate life pursuits.

“Derek is a brilliant man who also studies geology as a hobby,” says the designer. “This inspired us to implement natural stone throughout, such as with the agate accent wall and white dolomite shower wall in the primary bath, the Holly Hunt stone tables in the living room, and the powder room’s gorgeous Verde-green stone walls.” Blending the contemporary with the homeowners’ collections, Chancey achieved the elevated mid-century modern sentiment that was desired.

At the private elevator entrance, an elegantly subdued interior ensures a soft transition through the glass doors to the main living area’s dominating views of sea and sky. Chancey intentionally chose a prominent multi-disc pendant light to mirror the rising moon in the east. “I kept the furnishings low and unobtrusive, yet comfortable and high-style,” she says, “like an Italian sportscar—a nod to another of the Henneckes’ hobbies.” A generous Knoll sofa accommodates the couple’s request for comfort, and an unexpected swing lounge suspended from the ceiling creates the ultimate conversation piece.

“The design process was seamless,” notes Marcy. “Sandra designed to accommodate the life we had already built. She even had me measure my suitcases before building the primary closet cabinets, and the rectangular openings in the living room wall unit were specifically sized to fit the art pieces they would house, including a Meissen porcelain bird that Derek’s grandmother smuggled from East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie into the West.”

Having moved frequently, the couple was elated to finally curate a place that reflects who they are and the style they love. Throughout the home, everything “fits like a glove,” adds Marcy, “and is in exactly the right place—from a hidden catch-all cabinet with electrical charging stations to a concealed ironing table in the primary closet.” In the primary bedroom, they can even orient their bed toward the sunrise.

Although the couple enjoys entertaining friends and family, Marcy confesses that her most precious moments in their home are more private. Each morning, she and Derek love to slip into the kitchen, pour two cups of coffee, then sit in the living room’s leather swing, and watch the sun rise over the bay.

“There is nothing better than being on that hammock with a book when a Florida storm rolls in,” she says. “This home is truly our perfect little slice of heaven.”

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Sandra Chancey & Jennifer Bedore, Chancey Interior Design, Tampa, FL

Architecture by Place Architecture, St. Petersburg, FL

Builder Plaza Construction Group Florida, Tampa, FL

Developer Taub Entities, Tampa, FL

Construction Representative John Hotchkis, Tampa, FL

Text by Jeanne De Lathouder  

Photography by Jean Allsopp, Birmingham, AL

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