Nestled into the extensive gardens of a country estate, the Limonaia was inspired by the client’s many sojourns through the gardens of Italy. Reminiscent of a Palladian Villa, the center pavilion is the focus of the building’s tripartite composition. Tall Doric columns, their capitals inscribed with “A day in a garden,” and “A day in paradise,” frame the center entry. Atop sit lead urns sprouting bronze foliage set against stone walls with flaring stone scrolls. Fenestrated loggias link the center pavilion with the end pavilions, where hand crafted bronze gates with arched lunette panels featuring a fruit laden lemon branch, add a sense of detail and grace. Rusticated stonework and graduated slate roofs unite the composition and, along with an extensive stone terrace, tie the building to its bucolic setting. The 814 sq. ft. interior reflects the building’s composition in both its layout and simplicity. The south facing center pavilion and loggias serve as the storage areas for citrus trees during the cool weather months. Exposed antique beams and ceiling boards of hand-hewn reclaimed timbers and lumber rest on stucco walls above a flagstone floor. Stucco arches with decorative stone impost blocks delineate the interior spaces. The timber ceilings continue into the two end pavilions. One pavilion serves as the Potting Room featuring a carved antique limestone sink while the other is finished with stone walls and walkway and serves as a passage to the estate’s garden paths and main house.
