Frank McKinney
Frank McKinney, a specialist in oceanfront artistry and bestselling author, works in South Florida where Mediterranean, Spanish and Italian architecture are commonplace. He decided to spice things up with his Acqua Liana estate. Pulling inspiration from Bali, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii and the South Pacific, he created an estate that would really set his company apart – into a class all its own.
"The most important thing in creating this home was creating a private resort for the family that was going to buy it," McKinney says.
He will tell you that the largest and one of the most important parts of any resort are the water features, and Acqua Liana certainly has its share of those. After all, loosely translated the name of the home means "water flower" in Polynesian.
The main pool on the grounds acts as a focal point on the estate. Located between the main home, the guesthouse and the 40-by-40-foot cocktail bale', the pool is a truly serene place to relax. Because of its central location, the pool is cut off from the windy noise of the surroundingocean and intracoastal waterway.
Photo courtesy of Frank McKinney
"This pool is as essential to the house as any other room," McKinney says. "A pool is to a Florida home as a great kitchen is to a Midwest home. It is the center of attention and social gathering."
The pool has a 40-foot disappearing edge, LED lights with over two million different light combinations, a floating sun terrace and underwater windows that can be viewed from the garage.
Accompanying the magnificent pool is a 16-person spa, which holds a fire feature at its center in order to keep the upper body heated. Also on the grounds is a reflecting pool that could be used as a children's pool or simply a decorative piece.
None of these pools uses chemicals; instead they use ultraviolet ionizing filters. Even the water gardens are swimmable at Acqua Liana. As if the outdoor water features were not amazing enough for any family, McKinney also created a water-themed entryway for the home.
"As soon as you walk into this home your blood pressure will drop 20 points," McKinney says. "You will have a complete sense of relaxation, your five senses will be heightened to a state of subliminal euphoria." When you step into the entryway you are literally walking on water. The 20-by-25-foot floor is covered in three-inch starfire glass that has moving water beneath it. The floor is adorned with hand-painted lily tiles and bubbles that drift under your feet.
Photo courtesy of Frank McKinney
In front of you there is a 20-foot glass wall with water streaming down it and an LED light display. A hand-blown glass chandelier and a spiral staircase accent this wall.
The setting ties the whole estate together, with the ocean on one side and the intracoastal waterway on the other. It allowed McKinney to take advantage of every water feature and idea in order to create a stunning home. To view more photos or videos of Acqua Liana, visit http://frank-mckinney.com/acqua_liana.aspx.
