An Artist of the Sea and Sun

Photography by Romona Robbins

Costa Rican–born artist Marisol Gullo obtained her law degree at age twenty-one and was working in San José when she met Tony, a Las Vegas native visiting the city with his father. One year later, the couple married and moved to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, where they settled in and started a custom cabinetry and construction business. It grew swiftly, thanks to the area’s boom in population and new homes being built. They didn’t expect that Marisol’s new passion would also take off as a result. She began working on custom furniture, doing faux finishes, and giving new life to consigned pieces—this was the genesis of the couple’s furniture and home decor showroom, Not Too Shabby.

As her love for painting and creating unfolded, Not Too Shabby became Marisol’s full-time career, and she has since added custom artwork to her repertoire. Much of her art and the decor at Not Too Shabby feature motifs of marine life and the beach (not surprisingly, since her name means “sea and sun” in Spanish), other scenes of nature and flowers, and faith-based images. Her showroom is an elegant mix of Venetian and coastal styles, and clients often commission Marisol’s custom furnishings for their beach homes. She and Tony, along with their young son, Joshua, share their love of the area and crafting beautiful things with their clients and all who visit their stores.

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Visit the Not Too Shabby by Marisol Gullo flagship store in Miramar Beach, Florida, and the brand’s 30Avenue Design Studio in Inlet Beach. Learn more at NotTooShabbyByMarisolGullo.com.

This story is an excerpt from our coffee-table book, HOME—Inspirations for Home and Life by VIE, released in December 2020. To learn more about the book or to purchase your copy today, visit VIEmagazine.com/shop-vie.