By Julie Gedeon
Photography by Michael Price
Living on a ranch was not what renowned architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace ever had in mind. But she embraced the idea after her now-husband, former Canadian polo champion Bobby Genovese, bought a property in Ocala, Florida. “Horses are his passion, so I wanted to make his dream of living on a ranch truly beautiful and a place our whole family would love to be, too,” says the founder of Taylor Hannah Architect in Toronto. “I kid about adding the elegant touches, like Eva Gabor’s character in Green Acres.”
Horse riding, jumping, and polo games are just some of the blended family’s activities on the 100-acre property. “Our two daughters ride, but our two boys aren’t into it,” Eustace says. There’s also a pool, pickleball court, and trampoline. The existing merry-go-round, along with a small train that her guests board to tour the ranch, required some love and attention. They use the train while enjoying their cocktails. New guests are often surprised by the concrete elephants, rhinoceros, and other animals that came with the ranch. Eustace had them painted and furred for whimsy. “My husband has this amazing love of life,” she says. “His hashtag is #whohasmorefunthanus?”
She says that anyone who dreams of having something unique as part of their home should keep an eye open for it from unexpected places. “It’s amazing what you come across, as well as what you can repurpose,” she says. The home’s interior required extensive work after sitting empty for two years. Eustace set out to make it a home in harmony with the realities of ranch life. “I didn’t get caught up in ego, but rather looked at how I could simply make it absolutely beautiful in still practical and lasting ways,” she explains. “For instance, I just changed the pool table’s felt to grey rather than buy a new table. We ordered most of the furniture online with truckloads of deliveries.”
Sophisticated ease defines the decor. “The rules of good design—access, symmetry, and repetition—are still at work but in simpler, sometimes more casual ways for the ranch vibe,” she says. A cowhide blanket on the back of the sectional sofa creates a back-country feel. The fresh flowers arranged in steel buckets and the herringbone blankets cinched with a leather belt are other rustic charms. “My architectural background has me looking at everything structurally,” Eustace says, explaining that it’s essential to repeat decorative elements to establish a pattern.
White paint throughout the house established a cohesive canvas. Eustace then added personal touches, such as the couple’s recent wedding photos displayed in similar black frames and the coffee table books that she selects and stacks for browsing. “Different colours in connecting rooms can be jarring and make a space look smaller,” she says. “By having one colour, either white or grey, you create a continuity that makes a home feel more expansive.” The dark flooring is forgiving of the family’s two dogs and anyone who enters the space with muddied riding boots. “I also picked linens and other durable fabrics so that people could feel right at home in putting their feet up without it being an issue,” Eustace says. By having ottomans as side tables, desk chairs, and footrests, the home is intimate and spacious when just the couple are there but has plenty of seating for when family and friends gather. “While always cozy, the space could just as easily host a corporate event or large retreat,” she adds. Other than the fresh paint, she has left the indoor kitchen and bathrooms as they were. “Perhaps I’ll do them one day, but that’s not where any of us spend a lot of time,” she says.
Cookouts are common on the patio. With the family gathered at the ranch during the pandemic, Eustace reworked the patio with the outdoor kitchen, large pool, and exquisite gardens. “This area in northern Florida is so enjoyable with its magnolias, large oak trees, and cooler nights,” she says. Outdoor pizza nights are all about having fun; everyone rolls dough and chooses their favourite toppings. “I’ve lost count of the number of pizzas I’ve forgotten and burnt,” Eustace admits. “It’s not so much about the food as it is about making wonderful memories with family and friends.” The pool is positioned to catch the day’s every last ray and then to admire the picturesque sunsets. Nearby planters and fire bowls layer the surrounding landscape before it opens into a broad horse oasis. A casual setting with beautiful horses is what this stunning property was always meant to be.
