REAL ESTATE MASTERPIECES
Home is Where the Art is
Liz Caldwell grew up in historic Coral Gables, so when she and her husband, Daniel, settled into a 1935 Spanish colonial in Fort Lauderdale’s Rio Vista neighborhood, it brought her right back to her childhood. The Caldwells’ home is full of hardwood floors, tall ceilings, and charming details. Their kids were nearly grown when they moved in, so a large house just wasn’t necessary. Instead, Liz focused on making each space beautiful, and at the heart of this mission was the couple’s passion for art. In fact, Daniel is a professional artist who creates Bahamian-inspired paintings. Liz always loved Rio Vista, but was particularly attracted to this house for its size, beautiful front elevation, large lot, and historic charm. It’s also perfectly located in a golf cart neighborhood close to the yacht club, beach, downtown, and other attractions.
When the Caldwells moved in, the first thing they did was paint the walls off-white (save for the turquoise dining room) to serve as a backdrop for the family’s art collection. The interior is a blend of modern and antique Palm Beach-style decor, and they worked with a designer on furniture placement, especially in the large great room where the white slip-covered couches allow their artwork to provide pops of color. “Some people are afraid of art because they don’t know what to buy or where to start,” says Liz. “But I believe you should buy what you like.” The first piece Liz and Daniel ever bought was by Ken Auster, a painter from Laguna Beach that Daniel trained under. She’s also a big fan of Colin Page and acquired one of his Charleston street themes from a gallery in Charleston. Over the years, Liz inherited paintings, drawings and objects d’art passed down through generations. Her grandmother was a portrait painter and landscape artist who studied under a student of Pablo Picasso. Later, she practiced art as an expat in India. Today, Liz’s home has an entire room devoted to India- themed art and decor, some of it created by her grandmother. Another wall is devoted to still lifes her mother-in-law created as an architecture student in Paris, and their third bedroom is now an office decorated in a relaxing Bahamian theme inspired by Daniel’s art. The Caldwells don’t have a consultant or work with a gallerist. In addition to Daniel’s original works and their inherited pieces, they simply buy pieces that speak to them. Decorating rooms around art has helped them turn their house into a home they feel connected to. At its core, Liz says her passion for real estate is about helping people create spaces where they feel at home, and when she’s not closing deals across Fort Lauderdale, the Caldwells enjoy escaping to their vacation home in Eleuthera, where Daniel is represented by a gallery in Harbour Island. There, they can enjoy the sand, surf, and history, drawing inspiration not just for art, but for living.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker