NFL Player Retires to Stunning “Smart” Ranch in Winter Garden

In July, Nick Collins was inducted into the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame and retired after suffering a neck injury at the age of 28. When he retired from a career in the NFL, Nick knew it was time to return to his home state of Florida. He grew up in a small town in the northern part of the state and wanted his wife, Andrea, and their five children to experience the joys of small town living, like he did growing up.

Rather than searching for a home that was suitable for their family, Nick and Andrea decided to build a custom home in Winter Garden. The Collinses had worked with Stonebridge Custom Homes in the past and were so pleased with the first home they had built for their family. When it came time to relocate and build in Winter Garden, there was no question that Nick and Andrea would choose to work with Stonebridge again.

Located just outside of a wooded preserve, the Collins’ 10,000 square foot ranch-style home is tailored to their family’s needs and unique sense of style. The home boasts six bedrooms, two home offices, as well as a home theater, game room, wine room, salon, laundry room, screened-in patio and luxurious pool. The home is wrapped around a beautiful interior courtyard that provides a wealth of natural lighting to the center of the home and also houses the family’s vegetable garden.

“We have a very functional and open floor plan,” Andrea said. “You can see what’s going on everywhere without getting up and walking around the whole house. It’s exactly the way Nick and I envisioned it.”

Notable interior designer, W. Scott Carter, partnered with Nick and Andrea to curate décor to match their unique sense of style. The Collinses longed for their furnishings to reflect an air of simple elegance that lends itself well to entertaining guests, but also required pieces that are functional and realistic for their five young children to interact with on a daily basis.

The home features a style that Carter describes as “barefoot elegance.” Several statement pieces such as gilded tables, a white antler chandelier and a large dining room table with a live edge catch the eye and blend well together with simpler pieces to create a sense of sophistication without sacrificing comfort.

One of the distinctive components of this home is the seamless technology integration. The Collinses consulted with local technology integration firm, Millennium Systems Design (MSD), to design a modern smart home system. Through an ELAN entertainment and control system, Nick and Andrea have the capability to control lighting, security, climate, audio and video throughout the home–all with a simple touch from a smartphone or tablet.

Though their home features many modern conveniences, the Collins family is fond of simple pleasures. Out of all the elements in his home, Nick says he most enjoys soaking up the Florida sunshine.
“I love that I can go out on the patio and get the natural sun and just relax with my family,” said Nick. “But truly, the whole home is amazing. We love the open floor plan and all of its many features. It’s perfect for our family.”

For more information on this amazing home and the companies that brought it to life, please see their contact information listed below.
stonebridgecustomhomes.com • msdhometheater.com • elanhomesystems.com