Tour Vanilla Ice's Lantana, FL Beachfront Makeover
With amenities like a 300-gallon jellyfish tank and pirate ship waterpark, Ice spares no expense on this multi-million dollar Lantana, Florida estate remodel from season 5 of The Vanilla Ice Project
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By:
Chelsea Faulkner
Paradise on Ice
This Mediterranean-style mansion in Lantana, FL is now the crown jewel of Rob VanWinkle's (a.k.a Vanilla Ice) extensive portfolio. The beachfront home includes a pirate ship splash pad, enormous infinity edge pool, private solarium off the master suite and views of the Palm Beach Intracoastal Waterway from every room of the house. Take a look inside!
Welcome Home
This once uninviting front door is now a gorgeous entryway fit for a Palm Beach estate. The crew replaced the panels of the 10-foot solid cypress doors with tempered glass and framed the entryway with cultured stone bricks. A rich cherry stain highlights the wood grain to complete the rustic, Mediterranean look.
Let the Sunshine In
The front door's tempered glass panels not only create an inviting feel from the outside, but also turn this once dark and drab foyer into a gorgeous, sunlit focal point.
Wide Open Space
Ice is all smiles as he shows off his ink in the home's palatial great room that features hand-strung crystal chandeliers, copper ceiling tiles and a 25-foot cast stone fireplace.
The Lap of Luxury
Metallic tinged floor-to-ceiling drapes and Turkish Emperador marble tile transform this once drafty, nineties nightmare into a luxurious space worthy of royalty. As Rob says, "Anything less than the best is a felony."
Functional, Decorative and Inviting
The great room is not only grand, but welcoming and cozy as well. Modern black furniture casually offsets the opulent fireplace and drapery for a living space that is beautiful yet also functional.
Fire and Ice
The 25-foot tall, cast stone fireplace was custom built to add character and style to the large great room. With an intricate design hand selected by Rob, this gorgeous focal point is truly one of a kind.
Jellyfish Aquarium
To attract potential millionaire buyers, Rob installed a 300-gallon aquarium filled with live jellyfish. The tank, which also serves as a window between the kitchen and the great room, features colored LED lights that give the transluscent creatures a cool glow.
Gone Fishing
Fun fact: The first jellyfish to swim in the tank was hand caught by Rob at a local aquarium store.
Dinner in Tuscany
A handpainted mural of the Italian countryside lines this elegant dining room to create the ultimate Mediterranean-style dining experience. The plaster columns were painted to resemble expensive marble and accentuate the inset wine rack and unique glass chandelier.
Wine Rack DIY
Rob and his right hand man, Wes Kain, built this rustic wine rack out of a single piece of wood using a belt sander, metal chain and antiquing stain to create a vintage look. Color-changing LED lights glimmer off the wine bottles for a cool effect.
Light It Up
What's a luxurious dining room without a gorgeous chandelier? Rob hand picked this glass piece from a local lighting store and faux painted the medallion with two tones of metallic paint to match the copper ceiling tiles.
Open-Roof Elevator
Located right off the dining room, this open-roof elevator allows users to see their ascent or descent from above as they reach any of the home's three floors.
The Heart of the Home
This gorgeous kitchen has all the modern amenities: a multi-oven cast iron stove, custom copper vent hood, signature cabinets, onyx countertops and a huge walk-in pantry.
Best of the Best
Rob dubbed this hand-welded, custom copper vent hood "The Rolls-Royce of Copper Hoods." The hood's delicate grapevine detailing is a beautiful complement to the cultured stone backsplash and onyx countertops.
Cooking for a Crew
The kitchen's cast iron stove features two hot plates, a warming pad and 5 separate ovens that simultaneously cook using radiant heat technology. Thanksgiving dinner? No problem.
From:
Vanilla Ice
Unconventional Convection
Does this cooktop look like its missing something? Instead of conventional burners, this range features two hot plates and a warming pad powered by radiant heat technology. Water boils almost instantaneously on the boiling plate while the simmering plate can be used as a griddle for eggs, pancakes, etc. A pot filler, any cook's dream, sits close by for added convenience.
From:
Vanilla Ice
Kitchen Bling
To complement the custom "Signature Vanilla" cabinets, Rob chose these blinged-out kitchen pulls embedded with real crystals.
Home Movies
The family room, located a few convenient steps from the kitchen, doubles as a luxurious home theater. For casual dining or extra seating, a four-person bar extends out from the kitchen counter with full views of the big screen.
Private Screening
Textured burgundy damask wallpaper and rich red cinema drapes give this family room a classic movie theater feel. Under the handcrafted cornices, the curtains run on an electronic track for privacy at the touch of a button.
Custom Entertainment
Sit back, relax and don't disturb the neighbors. This custom-built entertainment center is lined with acoustic fabric to absorb the echo and reverb produced by the 75" HD 4K television. For added luxury, the exterior was faux painted to resemble real wood and complement the room's zebra print rug and copper ceiling tiles.
From:
Vanilla Ice
Under the Sea
This appropriately dubbed "Aquarium Room" is decked out with zebra print carpet, an illuminated tray ceiling, plush aqua bedding and a hand painted ocean mural.
From:
Vanilla Ice
Upstairs Amenities
In addition to its beautiful decor, this bedroom also features exclusive access to the home's elevator and a private balcony with breathtaking views of the Palm Beach Intracoastal Waterway.
Leather Tile Headboard Wall
Rob added texture and character to a plain white headboard wall by installing luxurious floor-to-ceiling cushioned leather tiles.
Versatile Square Footage
Rob increased the home's value by transforming the awkward upstairs loft space into a multi-purpose extra bedroom complete with tin ceiling tiles, stylish metallic wallpaper and a custom-built Murphy Bed for guests.
World of Possibilities
Featuring a world map wall mural, this upstairs bedroom could be used as a kid's room, study or library, but Ice chose to turn it into a game room complete with a ping pong table. Game on!
Disaster Bathroom No More
This once wrecked upstairs bath got a chic makeover with shiny metallic wallpaper, a vessel sink, elegant mirror jewelry and stylish new fixtures.
Turkish Bath
Attached to a third floor bedroom, this bath features chic Turkish marble tile and offers stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Master of the House
This master bedroom is the ultimate in comfort and relaxation with a rich purple color palette and electronic blackout drapes. A copper tray ceiling leads the eye toward the room's focal point: a temperature controlled solarium with an unlimited view of the pool and beach.
Jellyfish Galore
Ice continues the home's fun aquatic theme in the master bedroom with this mini glow-in-the-dark jellyfish tank.
No Sweat Sunroom
The exterior wall of the master bedroom was knocked out to build this custom, all glass solarium lounge. The room's UV-resistant panels allow full access to the Florida sunshine while maintaining a consistent, comfortable indoor temperature year round.
Celebrity Design
HGTV Design Star, David Bromstad helped turn this old office space and hallway into a lavish master bathroom retreat complete with a raised bamboo deck, recessed tub, freestanding faucet and soft LED lighting.
Showered in Luxury
A nineties-chic glass block shower was torn out and replaced with Turkish marble tile, tempered glass doors and 12 adjustable shower heads. The old vanity was also updated with custom cabinets, a natural onyx countertop and swanky mirror jewelry.
Everyday is a Spa Day
What would a multi-million dollar bathroom be without a personal spa? This soothing cedar-lined sauna was hand crafted to sweat away the toxins in the privacy and comfort of home.
From:
Vanilla Ice
Chilling Poolside
Vanilla Ice hangs out by the home's incredible infinity edge pool with a backdrop of the gorgeous Palm Beach Intracoastal Waterway.
That View!
Flanked by a herringbone travertine deck, this pool features a swim up bar and a sunken hot tub that fills up and heats in less than 2 minutes.
Summer Glow
The pool is lined with glow-in-the-dark glass tiles that shimmer underwater when the sun goes down.
Toes In the Water
In addition to the infinity edge that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, the pool also features a wet edge perimeter that seamlessly blends the travertine deck with the water. Don't want to swim? You can still dip your toes in simply by walking to the edge.
Poolside Lounge
Just steps from the pool and solarium, this cozy outdoor lounge features stylish live-edge wood furniture and a unique LED lit artificial cherry tree.
Unique Outdoor Lighting
Opting for non-traditional outdoor lighting, Rob installed this unique Bright Baum cherry tree to illuminate the poolside lounge.
Bright Blooms
The tree is made from water-resistant resin and features more than 700 bright white blooms that appear blue or purple at dusk.
Beachfront Dining
With a stunning view of the beach, this poolside dining area is perfect for entertaining or relaxing. A blue shade canopy protects the handcrafted wood furniture and and gives guests a cool retreat from the South Florida heat.
Outdoor Kitchen
The outdoor kitchen is fully stocked with a propane rotisserie barbecue, ceramic kamado grill and built-in refrigerated drawers. Keeping with the home's Mediterranean style, a cultured stone backsplash and granite countertops lend aesthetic warmth to the stainless steel appliances.
Grill and Chill
Ice cuts no corners when it comes to kitchen appliances. The Delta Heat propane grill comes equipped with ceramic cooking briquettes and a rotisserie rack while adjacent refrigerated pull out drawers chill beverages to a precise 37°.
State-of-the-Art Grilling
This ceramic kamado grill can be used as an oven, grill or smoker and reaches temps up to 800°.
Bridge to Paradise
No grassy feet here! A wooden footbridge conveniently ties the home's outdoor kitchen to the splash pad and beach beyond.
Ahoy, Matey!
The Florida estate's most unique feature, a custom 500 square-foot pirate ship waterpark and splash pad, truly blows the competition out of the water.
Captain of the Ship
With real features like a turnable ship wheel, this pirate ship provides kids (or kids at heart) with endless hours of imaginative fun in the sun.
S.S. Vanilla Ice
The unbelievably realistic ship was constructed by a Texas company that specializes in building theme park structures. Artfully designed to look dilapidated, the ship will actually withstand years of water, weather and harsh sun.
Take No Prisoners
This splash pad definitely passes the kid test with authentic looking pirate ship details and programmable water canons that can be aimed by hand.
Welcome to Pirate's Cove
This waterpark is a playground for all ages.
Shipwrecked
No detail went amiss to make this pirate ship look like it had truly washed in from the sea. Lush vegetation surrounds the ship and the splash pad to enhance its authentic marooned feel.
Good Eye, Captain!
Fun Fact: Ice freehanded the landscape layout for the splash pad with a large stick and a can of spray paint.
Shiver Me Timber
The backyard's palm trees were removed and relocated to accommodate the waterpark and other amenities, like this relaxing hammock.
Yard Art
The beachfront backyard is dressed up with a handful of exotic sculptures, including this charming giraffe.
Top Dock On the Block
The ultimate in waterfront curb appeal, the home's Intracoastal Waterway pier features cool-to-the-touch composite decking, a jet ski hoist, chic iron lamp posts and a flush mount hammock. And when night falls, the entire dock lights up with electric blue underwater lamps.
