To reach Sherry and Richard Gershenson’s island home on the southwest shore of Providenciales, visitors walk across a wooden bridge. The journey is rewarded by unobstructed views of the house and the sparkling Caribbean. “Crossing the bridge is symbolic,” Richard says. “It’s as though you transition from the ordinary to the extraordinary.”
The Gershensons, who live in Michigan much of the year, first visited Providenciales on a tour of Turks and Caicos nearly 10 years ago. “We fell in love with the water, the people, and the fabulous food,” Sherry says. “This island wasn’t too built up, unlike others we’d visited.” One day, while out for a drive, Sherry and Richard discovered a 1½-acre parcel of land for sale. Looking out over the Caribbean, they knew they’d found their slice of paradise.
Back home, the Gershensons met with Bloomfield, Michigan, architect Bob Ziegelman. They shared their vision of a home that would blur the lines between inside and out while disturbing the natural environment as little as possible. Bob drew up plans for a home that reveals itself slowly—first from the driveway, then from the bridge, and finally from the breezeway near the front door. “We set up a series of experiences, one delight after the next,” Bob says. “You are exposed to the beauty of the house, then you’re awed by the spectacle of the water.”
Enhancing the link between the house and its surroundings, the finished home takes advantage of tradewinds to keep its occupants cool even on the hottest days. Several vents in the concrete-tile roof allow hot air to escape, while coral-stone floors stay cool underfoot and simple ceiling fans circulate the air. “The louvered doors also participate in the movement of air throughout the house,” Bob says. But Sherry admits the doors are seldom closed. “We have them open all the time, so it’s really a blend of indoor-outdoor living,” she says. “That was the whole point of the house.” The bedrooms are equipped with air-conditioning, but the family rarely uses it. “We have a great breeze,” Sherry says. “We’re pretty lucky.”
Working with interior designer Dan Clancy of Perlmutter-Freiwald in Michigan, Sherry created a clean, simple look for the home. She and Dan started by choosing dark wood doors and beams to provide contrast to white walls. Blue-and-white linens and pillows accent furniture made of durable woods, such as mahogany and teak—a decorating scheme continued outdoors on lounges and in the cabana. Sherry even has dinner plates, serving pieces, and linen napkins in the same blue palette. “It’s simplicity down to every detail,” she says. “I wanted this house to be devoid of complexity.” While the effect seems effortless, the process was anything but. “We had to have everything shipped in one large container all the way from Michigan,” Sherry says, “and have all the receipts accessible for customs.”
Despite that challenge, the island home has become a great source of tranquility for the busy couple. “My lifestyle shifts when I’m here,” Sherry says. “You can always find me on a lounge chair under an umbrella, reading.” The family enjoys dining in town, snorkeling the reefs along their shoreline, and entertaining friends. “We wanted to be able to have guests without forgoing anyone’s privacy,” Sherry says. A breezeway connects the main house (kitchen, master suite, dining and living rooms) to three guest suites on the property. Sherry envisioned the suites as ideal spaces for her three children to visit with their families in years to come.
After completing the house, Sherry and Richard placed a sign at the end of their driveway. It reads “Ponte del Sogno,” which translates roughly to “Bridge of the Dream”—a fine name for a place that bridges the gap between the home they dreamed of and the paradise they built.
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