Keith Williams By the Sea

For a South Florida couple, Keith Williams designed a diverse, oceanfront ecosystem that combines beauty with resiliency.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253114″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron had long dreamed of living in an oceanfront house. Previous riverfront and beachside townhomes came close to that goal but never quite reached it. Finally, the couple’s dream was realized in 2015 when they found a property in need of loving care on Jupiter Island in Florida. The 4-acre oceanfront parcel had everything they wanted and more, and the couple was eager to get the project started.

Their first step was hiring Thomas Kirchhoff, principal of Kirchhoff & Associates Architects, to design a house that would incorporate building materials to echo the local geology. Thomas immediately suggested bringing in internationally renowned landscape designer Keith Williams of Nievera Williams to simultaneously draft a landscape plan. With this forward-thinking duo on board, the Citrons knew the entire project would be ultra-respectful of the environment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”253112″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”253119″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For Keith Williams, the design process always starts by balancing three critical components—site, architecture, and client. Thankfully, the architect held the same sensibilities. For example, when Keith requested niches for his plantings that would be snuggled close to the house’s foundation, Thomas created alcoves for pocket gardens. Other tweaks readily came from both sides throughout the process.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253117″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For the house, the Citrons strived to capture a very specific mood—one that combined a traditional Caribbean feeling with a brave Bohemian accent. “We also wanted it to seem as if it evolved with time,” says Jeffrey. “For example, the dining room feels early 18th century, but the bedrooms are more contemporary.” Using a mixture of cedar, pine, and stone, Thomas designed a structure that waltzes back and forth between formal and informal spaces, all filled with light from broad windows throughout.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253116″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like the house, the landscape appears to have matured over the years. The scenic driveway welcomes visitors through long-established wetlands populated by mangroves and sabal palms. Masses of Alocasias line the entry path, while pothos and bougainvillea cascade over the retaining walls. Wind-sculpted trees cradle orchids in their boughs, and a knot garden is tucked away and appears along the journey to the front door. “The element of surprise is critical to this garden,” says Keith. “It’s all carefully choreographed to entertain while also feeling elegant.” A rooftop garden camouflaging the garage offers another unexpected feature.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253120″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The west side of the landscape spills down to the ocean. Built into a hill, the house originally kept company with a series of dunes nearby. Those dunes played a big part in the Citrons’ initial attraction to the site, inspiring them to celebrate their ecosystem and render it rich in plant material. Since the dunes were choked by invasives and in total disrepair, Keith secured approval for replanting, which presented a rare artistic and eco-conscious opportunity for the designer. He applied broad brushstrokes and mass plantings in an expression of the “New Wave” movement with its naturalistic design. The designer also plugged in wind-tolerant plants with swales of sea grapes, seagrass, and sea lavender threaded in between. An Ipe board walkway descends into the massed plants, allowing accessibility from a zoysia lawn surrounding the pool. From a distance, it’s a harmonious Impressionistic statement. Close up, it’s like wading through living theater.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253118″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The gardens continue to evolve as the Citrons find themselves outdoors almost year-round. The most recent project includes an orchard of fruits such as mangoes, peaches, bananas, and plums mixed with almonds, pecans, and even honeybee hives, all in a protected pocket of the property. And according to Jeffrey, more is to come. “We’re always gaining something,” he says. And each addition contributes to the harmony and diversity in a landscape where creativity and stewardship are the only constants.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”253115″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][gem_quote]”The element of surprise is critical to this garden. It’s all carefully choreographed to entertain while also feeling elegant.”–Keith Williams of Nievera William[/gem_quote][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Mass Appeal

The living artwork that Keith Williams creates with his mass plantings is by no means an easy juggling act. In addition to the challenges of matching plant needs when placed cheek-to-jowl in his swaths of different species, he also factors in a particularly challenging climate. Wind and salt spray are continual adversaries, and any plant he selects must be impervious to both. It’s no wonder the designer relies heavily on plants with “sea” in their common names, such as sea grapes, seagrass, and sea lavender. All are survivors that can fend for themselves and hold their ground. Started as plugs, the plants were originally spaced 12-18 inches apart. Within a year, they filled in to assume their current shoulder-to-shoulder stance. Keith consistently urges maintenance crews to simply let the mass plantings do their own thing. As he explains, “They are meant to be seen from a distance as a composition.”

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Tovah Martin | Photography by Michael Stavaridis[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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