Richard Schechter lives surrounded by rich colors, handsome woods, deeply piled Oriental carpets and lush appointments. Add 1 dog, 4 cats, 9 birds and a 12-stall barn to the mixture, and the result is a style of living that is posh, but low key. And this master of the house likes it that way.

As Chairman, CEO and Managing Partner in Bain¬bridge Companies, a national real estate develop-ment company, Schechter’s year-round residence in Wellington’s horse country, Bainbridge Farm, sports a 4-car garage, 12 paddocks, a riding ring and horse heads bobbing out of the 12 stalls in his well-crafted barn. Activity is the name of the game from early morning on, as riders and grooms all go through their daily exercises in preparation for the equestrian challenges that lie ahead. “I’ve always enjoyed sports, and indulged in sailboats for many years. When I started riding in 1986 my attentions turned to amateur polo. It wasn’t until I moved to Wellington that I explored the horse shows and the world surrounding them,” explained Schech¬ter, an engaging personality who truly loves and appreciates all that he has built on his 4+ acre.

Ground was broken for the stately yellow home only 3 years ago, and what started as an existing blueprint for a 3,000 square foot home soon expanded to become a customized 8,500 square foot residence. Schechter credits decorator and consultant Jennifer Reid with the improvements to the plan and the resulting home that is unique in many ways.

“Richard entertains a lot,” explained Reid. “And this being Florida where so much of the lifestyle is outside, he needed to direct traffic through the home to the loggia and terrace beyond the living room.” To achieve that flow, Reid expanded the formal foyer to accommodate a proper welcome, then separated the massive living room into two separate sitting areas, thus creating a pathway down the center that leads directly outside. “Creating a balance is Jennifer’s expertise,” said Schechter, “And the success of the party I gave during this season’s National Horse Show, where over 300 people were in the home, is evidence that her vision worked for my home. She also didn’t take the design over the top, which isn’t my style.” The result both in layout and interior decor works

Originally a two-story design, Schechter and Reid pared the plan to one level, expanding the room sizes as they restructured the design. Once the walls were up, the fun began as the interior started taking shape. “Richard’s love of art and his extensive collection was the backdrop to all the interior design,” explained Reid. He wanted a Ralph Lauren style to the home, with extraneous influences.” To achieve the look, Reid and Schechter used only natural woods, lush fabrics, antique Persian carpets purchased from well-known horse trainer Gary Duffy, and wallpapers that evoked a feeling of elegance.

Right: Le Grande Jockey, a bronze by French artist Isidore-Jules Bonheur graces the fireplace mantle. Flanking the floor-to-ceiling flagstone chimney is a distressed leather chair on the left and a textured fabric chaise to the right. An oil by artist John Leone hangs above.

John Leone, the American artist who specializes in horses and western art, and well-known for his oils and watercolors of the world of polo, is another artist who figures prominently in the Schechter home. “The serenity of Ribas is devoted to the master suite, and the excitement of Leone and the horses occupy the rest of the home,” Reid pointed out as one after another Leone painting came into view. Interspersed with the art, whether on the walls or atop the furnishings, are lush floral arrangements, cut crystal accessories, massive candles, plush fabrics that encourage touching, and bibelots that demand more than a passing interest.

Spanish artist Lluis Ribas, known world-wide for his contemporary oils of life around the Mediterranean, is the prominent feature of the grand Master Suite. “Ribas captures the water so well, it was a natural fit for him to be represented in this part of the house,” explained Reid. Working with Wally Findlay Gallery in both Palm Beach and New York, and the Guarisco Gallery in Washington, D.C., the flow of artwork into the Schechter home was constant. “They would send us a steady stream of art so we could choose what went well in a particular place,” said Reid. The same held true for sculptures and both are represented wherever you turn.

Underneath all the refined art and the exceptionalpieces in Schechter’s home is the solid base from which it all grew. Insisting on only natural fabrications, the look begins with American Walnutrandom inlaid floor planks. Placed over a plywood subflooring, the craftsmen from Absolute Hardwood in West Palm Beach varied the 2-9 foot planks, which were imported from Canada. Jerusalem stone covers the floors of the master bath, and what was to become a private garden outside the bath evolved into an aviary. “It was Jennifer’s idea,” smiled Schechter, “And I love the sound the Goulden Finches make.” The misting system in the aviary creates a rainforest effect, both for the birds and the plantings which originate from gardens around the world.

The power system of Bainbridge Farm is backed up with a 135KV generator that runs off of 2 one-thousand gallon propane tanks that Schechter had sunk on his property. “It gives off enough power to keep the house and the stable running without a blip for ten days,” Schechter explained. Another forward-thinking plan that evolved was the “safe room” built as a master closet. “There’s room on both sides of the center island for twin beds, and everything I would need to sustain myself in a time of disaster is here,” he continued.

But disaster is the farthest thing from anyone’s mind when inside Richard Schechter’s Bainbridge Farm. Surrounded by luxury furnishings, extensive art, resting on plushly cushioned sofas, and sitting in front of a roaring fire while music emanates softly from the grand piano, Bainbridge Farm evokes a sense of life as it should be lived, and an appreciation of all things fine. “My home is complete,” Richard Schechter smiled. “There’s nothing more I would add, so I will just enjoy!” Jennifer Reid has a happy client, and for a young decorator with a world of clients ahead of her, the accomplishment is notable.

Jennifer Reid
Jennifer Reid and Associates
JReidandAssoc@aol.com
561.578.2251