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The graceful drive curves around a fountain in the front yard, and beyond is the entrance, sparkling with cut-glass in multi-paned windows.

"Sometimes I think fountains are my trademark," says Judy Appel, pointing to another one in white marble at the back of the wide foyer.

"We don’t run it anymore," adds her husband, Grant. "We got tired of listening to it day and night." This gets a laugh from Judy.

White and off-white predominate outside and inside this stylish Marco Island residence, built in 1987. The Appels bought it in 2000 and spent two years remodeling it, enduring life under a blue tarp roof for many months.

The architect would hardly recognize it now. The entire roof was replaced, the front was pushed forward several feet and reconstructed, allowing space for the enlarged dining room. A sophisticated security system was installed at that time.

The house is U-shaped, allowing for innovative use of space while preserving privacy for the owners and their frequent visitors. Straight ahead from the front door is a 16-by-22 foot sunken living room, large enough for four oversized white couches around a 4-foot glass table, with a grand piano at the rear. This whole area is surrounded by a low rock wall, painted white. Behind this is a smaller open sitting room with more couches and a window-wall looking out toward the free-form pool and the canal beyond. The half-acre lot is close to the Ten Thousand Islands.

There’s a lot to see from that window; the canal is often home to manatees and always to exotic birds, says Judy.

The only décor color to contrast with the off-white theme is burgundy, used in accents throughout the home. Otherwise, the interior was designed to showcase paintings, sculptures, furniture — much of it inlaid — and other artwork collected by the couple from around the world. Oriental rugs show well on the pale tiles of the floor.

The Appels have been traveling for years, and the home reflects their many trips: paintings from Italy, France, Mongolia and Vietnam hang above chests and cabinets from Egypt, Korea and China. Grant proudly pointed out a painting done by Judy next to the wet bar in the family room. Carvings from New Guinea, Indonesia, Africa and other places rest on the floor and furniture and hang on the walls.

"Judy loves collecting carvings," explains Grant. "I like weapons and other odd things." He shows off ancient bows, axes and elaborately carved native "head-coshers" similar to blackjacks from trips to Asia. A group of knives is on display under glass on a hibachi table in the informal sitting room. A musical instrument from Australia and a walking stick from Peru are also two of Grant’s acquisitions.

"In Papua, New Guinea, we had to ride in a dugout canoe to a remote village to find some of these exquisite and unusual items," he explains. "It was a trip we’ll never forget."

The formal dining room easily accommodates eight people at the 10-foot table, but the Appels often entertain parties of twelve there. The room has several unique storage pieces from different countries. One of these is a tall, glass-fronted china cabinet which Grant bought years before he met Judy, but he noted that it has Oriental hardware which she adores.

The kitchen beyond would be a dream for any cook, with extensive oak cabinetry and dark gray granite counters. Lighting is provided by recessed spots.

The couple spends a lot of time in a family room at the rear of the kitchen, which also has a granite table which seats eight in the breakfast area.

"Judy keeps buying larger and larger tables," says Grant with a laugh. "Right now we have a marble table top from India stored in the garage which took five men to lift when it arrived, and we can’t fit it into the house."

It’s obvious from this and from the oversized kitchen that the Appels love to entertain, and Judy is known to her friends as a superb cook. Her meals usually run to six or seven courses, often with Mediterranean fare. She’s had several careers, starting as a flight attendant for American Airlines after school, later owning an export-import business, raising greyhounds for racing and running a restaurant.

"You name it and I’ve probably done it," she says, smiling. She lived in East Africa and Egypt for many years, and began her collecting there. A close friend’s home in Cairo was once confiscated during a change in government, and the friend was forced to sell precious possessions. Judy bought some to help her out, and these bring a bittersweet memories.

Grant was a GM executive after college and a period of service in the Army. Judy brags that he was commissioned at nineteen. He says that his career was prosaic compared to that of his wife. They met at a Naples sailing club because they both owned sailboats. Nowadays they’re too busy managing real estate and traveling to use the boats much, although the craft are still at anchor here on Marco.

Judy’s family background is Italian, and the couple decided to have their wedding on Sicily, which is a story long enough for a book on its own. Italian art objects are on view in many areas of the home.

Behind the small and efficient home office is the master suite. Here the theme is predominantly Chinese, with black lacquered furniture and an oversized bed covered in pale silk.

An added feature is a mini-kitchen for fixing quick snacks without a trip to the kitchen. A step from this is a spa and well-equipped exercise room which leads to a private sundeck.

The opposite side of the house has two bedrooms and a bathroom with Jacuzzi, and another small kitchen with dining area, allowing guests complete privacy. Judy and Grant have exchange homes with people in Shanghai, South Africa and other locales, and have made many foreign friends who return to visit.

The Appels added a garage and converted the original one into a recreation room with pool table, darts and even Murphy beds for additional guest space.

All told, the home is like a personal museum, according to Grant.

"We’re running out of space," he commented with a smile, "and we’re off to Greece in August. Heaven knows what we’ll find to bring home this time."

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About this home

• Where: The Estates, Marco Island

• Size: 4,774 square feet living area, 5,274 under roof; 5 bedrooms, 3 baths

• Built: 1987

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Marion Nicolay is an At Home contributor.