Architect Jennifer Bonner Designs Florida Home to Challenge HOA Regulations

In Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, architect Jennifer Bonner of the firm MALL created a residence for her mother, Kate, that creatively navigates strict homeowner's association guidelines. The project, completed in recent years, responds to rules mandating symmetrical street-facing facades and specific material choices. Bonner incorporated two false porches to meet symmetry requirements, with one serving as a narrow entryway. She used materials unconventionally, such as applying corrugated metal on the facade, and added daring curved eaves painted pink underneath to reference local sunsets. The interior, designed in collaboration with Carol Mockbee, features custom elements like curved white-oak walls and indigo-blue furnishings that echo the exterior's forms and coastal setting. Bonner and Mockbee aimed to rebel against traditional architectural norms, emphasizing authenticity and place-based inspiration over imposed concepts. The house reflects influences from the New Urbanism movement and the surrounding Florida landscape, highlighting a playful, emotive approach to design.