Living Beautifully with Intent

Mike Assaad creates a stunning home in Port Royal.

A conversation with Mike Assaad | Written by ANN KAISER

Mike Assaad / Photo: Naples Kenny

In Naples, FL, where luxury living meets coastal sophistication, Mike Assaad of Waterside Builders is redefining the art of the spec home. By partnering with a diverse roster of interior designers, Mike ensures that each residence becomes a canvas for creativity— crafted with intention, layered with soul and infused with style. More than just building houses, Mike and his team deliver elevated living experiences that resonate with both discerning buyers and savvy investors. We sat down with Mike to learn how collaboration, innovation and market insight are shaping some of the most sought-after homes in Southwest Florida.

For Mike, it comes down to one thing: “We build homes we’d want to live in,” he says. With the care and thoughtfulness he and his team put into every detail, just about anyone would love to call one of their properties their own. Mike’s team members at Waterside Builders are the connectors and choreographers of all their projects, bringing together other design professionals involved in each spec home. In the case of 2999 Rum Row in Naples, that included an architect, interior designer and landscape architect— with Waterside as the general contractor.

“The architects and designers we work with are so creative,” says Mike. Choosing the right team for each project “is not a scientific approach,” he says. “Each pro has his own style and a passion for certain things.” Some people lean more modern in their designs, or love to go big on woodwork or tile, or create amazing cabinetry or lighting. Mike looks at what each project needs, the location of the property, its specific attributes, the project budget, the style they’re trying to achieve, and brings together the team that’s right for the job. “Then we let them do their thing,” he says.

For Rum Row, Mike had something a bit more modern and less traditional in mind. He hired John Cooney of Stofft Cooney Architects, Scott Windham as the landscape architect, and Jeffrey Fisher as the interior designer on the project. This was in keeping with a trend towards more metal, darker woods, and a warm, sophisticated feel. Though each of Waterside’s homes has its own distinct style, there are some constants in every project. High standards for building materials lay the groundwork—always. “We’re also big proponents of natural light in every room, as much as possible,” says Mike, “and we try to take advantage of whatever the property has going for it.” In the case of Rum Row, this definitely meant capturing sweeping views of the water. Luxury is a throughline.

All of Waterside’s homes have a high level of finish, and prospective buyers can expect special and unexpected touches that make every home a little different. Mike likes to include unique elements, such as a club room, private dock, water wall or live wall. In this particular house, he says, “the whole pool area is breathtaking.” The back of the property features a very creative design, with a fire pit in the middle of the pool, and lots of space to lounge al fresco. “Inspired by the gracious covered outdoor living area and vast water views, we designed a wideopen social pool,” says Scott, “It is anchored by a dramatic fire pit island between a flush-level spa and a shallow sun shelf, with pool steps and an in-pool cocktail nook with ample swimming area.”

Inside, the home also boasts a great room open to those expansive water views, and stunning stonework in the kitchen, including a spectacular backsplash and a nearly 20-foot long island with a granite waterfall edge.

Mike and his team are driven by their motto, “living beautifully with intent,” which is all about luxurious materials, and a thoughtful approach to how the design will function to allow homeowners to live well in their spaces. The bells and whistles you don’t see are just as important as the ones you do. “This house is filled with details that require a discerning eye to fully appreciate,” says Jeffrey. He points out thoughtful design features, such as the two glass cabinets in the kitchen that function as both windows and storage space, and a hallway off the primary bedroom with a built-in bookshelf that is actually a door to mechanical storage.

Mike is always thinking about how the homeowner might live, and lets that guide design decisions.

Many of his clients are from out of town—snowbirds escaping the winters of Chicago, Connecticut, Massachusetts and other northern locations. Since homeowners come to Naples to enjoy the warmer weather, outdoor living is always a huge focus. “Many people are here from November through April,” says Mike. “They may be hosting outof- town guests, or having friends over to watch football with the pool lights on. We want them to take advantage of the nice weather, and host family and friends with ease.”

Rum Row has lots of room for visitors, including space for extended visits with the kids and grandkids. The home features an upstairs lounge where grandchildren can set up an Xbox, plus multiple laundry rooms for guests. An open kitchen and family room with a connected outdoor area provides lots of space to gather. There are also places where the homeowner can retreat for some solo time, including a private office, a main bedroom suite with a balcony overlooking the pool and the waters of Treasure Cove, and a large ensuite bathroom with a shower, bathtub and double vanity.

Since the future homeowners are likely to return north during the summer, Mike added complete home automation to allow them to control things from afar, like turning on fans or unlocking doors. In all Waterside homes, features such as storm protection and generators are standard, and gyms and golf simulators are becoming more popular. Says Mike, “All our homes also have a FloLogic water pump,” which shuts off water if it senses a leak, so the homeowner won’t come back to a flooded first floor. In addition, Waterside has switched to using synthetic materials instead of maple or oak wood for outdoor ceilings. “It’s maintenance free,” says Mike, “so you can pressure wash everything. It makes it easy to come and go.”

Mike sees Naples as a very strong market for investing in luxury spec homes. “We believe we’re the greatest city in North America,” he says. “We are very bullish on the market.” There’s only so much real estate to be had and, when it looks this good, he thinks it will continue to be in demand.

Though the Waterside team builds different styles, “all our homes are designed as if I would live in them myself,” says Mike. “We want people to walk in and have no reason to say no

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