Gulfshore Life Magazine

Meet Gulfshore Life's 2025 Defenders of the Gulf—visionaries working across different fields to safeguard our paradise. When challenges threaten what makes Southwest Florida special, these six local leaders step forward—not just with bold solutions, but with a commitment to protect what matters most.
 Our April Sustainability issue spotlights visionaries working across diverse fields—from Elysia Dawn leveraging the arts to unite environmental and cultural causes at United Arts Collier, to Michael Puchalla creating pathways to affordable housing while respecting our sensitive landscape. You'll also meet photographer Lisette Morales documenting Indigenous environmental stewardship, Alycia Downs whose strategic communications transformed Captains For Clean Water into a conservation force, Keith Laakkonen safeguarding Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary while inspiring the next generation, and chef Ming Lee pioneering sustainable food practices at Naples’ Nat Nat. Their stories reveal how protecting our region's treasures and addressing our challenges requires dedication and collaboration from every sector. Read their full profiles and learn how you can support their efforts in our April Sustainability issue. https://bit.ly/42q1NVs 2025 Defenders of the Gulf (pictured in order): Lisette Morales Elysia Dawn Alycia Downs Keith Laakkonen Michael Puchalla Ming Yee 📸 Anna Nguyen

Forget the fad cleanses. Your body already knows how to detox—it just needs the right support. Introducing Root & Rise, a new 𝘎𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 column dedicated to holistic wellness and science-backed nutrition. In her first installment, Naples holistic expert Jennifer Khosla shares a 7-day food-based reset designed to optimize digestion, energy and balance—without extreme measures. https://bit.ly/4hyW9Vm

Calling all SWFL wine lovers: When a celebrated Sonoma chef with deep winemaking roots teams up with four legendary California vintners, the result is something extraordinary. After captivating Gulf diners for years at the Naples Children & Education Foundation-Naples Winter Wine Festival Dustin Valette is bringing his boutique Valette Wines collection to our city exclusively—the first location outside California to experience these coveted bottles. His 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon recently earned a perfect 100-point score from 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳, and now you can find these food-friendly wines at select Naples restaurants and country clubs. Discover how this chef's culinary vision translates beautifully from plate to glass. https://bit.ly/4kTjrrO #NaplesWine

The secret garden movement blooming across Southwest Florida isn't just about pretty flowers—it's about creating community. Step inside the region's most innovative floral spaces, from Naples' Kaleidoscope Floral (with its inviting garden and bakery pop-up) to Fort Myers' Wild at Heart Flower Bar, where the '60s soundtrack and vintage jukebox set the tone for a new kind of botanical salon. Explore how a post-pandemic yearning for connection is being answered with petals, plants and places to gather. https://bit.ly/4ippN0y

When the homeowners (one a culinary-school-trained chef) approached the redesign of the Naples Tiburón Golf Club condo, they built their team strategically—starting with Italian luxury kitchen brand Poliform and adding architect David Poorman and new-wave contemporary designer L.A. DeRiggi of Hudson Park Interior Design. The result balances precision with personality through unexpected juxtapositions: a symmetrical kitchen with an off-center snack top, right-angled panels with a '70s-style bohemian sectional, and a curved entrance wall that creates intrigue from the moment you walk in. See the transformation: https://bit.ly/3DIoD14

A triathlete who learned to swim after the birth of her son in her 30s. A taekwondo master breaking barriers. A world-ranked tennis player in her 70s. An ultramarathoner finding new purpose. These Southwest Florida women prove limits are meant to be pushed. https://bit.ly/4irnbio

A vacation family beach home has never looked sleeker. Designer Dwayne Bergmann offers a masterclass in monochromatic luxury with this Cape Coral home for a big family. Focusing on a primarily gray palette, he added dimension through metallics, contrasting textures and wow-worthy details. https://bit.ly/4jDLLxI

Magic carpets may be mythical, but the treasures at Persian Galleries on Naples’ Fifth Avenue South are very real. Owner Max Kashani, who grew up in the center of the Silk Road, studying under master weavers, sources exceptional handmade rugs—some dating back to the 1850s. Each piece carries its creator's woven signature, just like an artist signs a canvas. Learn why these intricate works represent one of the world's oldest continuous art forms and how modern designs are evolving this ancient tradition. #NaplesInteriors https://bit.ly/4iSTEhB

Calling all jewelry lovers: Celebrated designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey lands in Naples for the first time, bringing the intimate stories and intricate processes behind her statement heirlooms to Marissa Collections from March 20 to 22. Defying convention with substantial forms and unabashed use of color, the California designer has become one of fine jewelry's most compelling voices since launching her namesake brand in 2017. Her background in advertising, working with brands like Adidas and Ray-Ban, translates into pieces with striking geometric precision and visual storytelling—think: diamond-filled salt shakers, sapphire-encrusted honeybees and charity heart pendants (which have raised more than $377,000). These pieces offer beauty with purpose and plenty of joie de vivre. See why Marissa’s jewelry buyers can’t get enough of Harwell Godfrey’s maximalist masterpieces: https://bit.ly/4c3hN2M

The right Tone communicates. Loud is just loud.