Home & Design Luxury Home Magazine

Sarasota's Articles

A Key West Flavor by Kristine Hughes See Entire Article Located on Siesta Key, a barrier island eight miles long in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s no surprise that this home built by Voigt Building and Design was given a Key West flavor. The stunning two-story residence features a sweeping entry staircase that leads to a wide and welcoming front porch, incorporating such native materials as a shell stone floor with a cypress pine beam ceiling above.
Elegant Design by Christy Clark See Entire Article John Cannon and John Cannon Homes is pleased to present the latest masterpiece of design and elegance in The Kiah. This three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home is located in La Cantera, the final neighborhood to be built in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch.
Yachtsman's Paradise by Kate Pakenham See Entire Article It’s all about the water at Snook Inn, the ultimate yachtsman’s estate on Siesta Key that sits majestically at the mouth of Hansen Bayou and also fronts Sarasota Bay. Sarasota was named as one of the nation’s “Five Best Places To Retire” in Forbes’ June 2006 issue, due in large part to its rich cultural offerings, which include a ballet, opera, symphony, playhouses, museums and galleries. Sarasota’s other draw is its 35 miles of gorgeous beachfront, in addition to the Intercoastal Waterway. The magnificent Snook Inn capitalizes on its prime waterfront location and offers stunning and sweeping views of both the city of Sarasota and Sarasota Bay.
Relaxed & Rustic by Kristine Hughes See Entire Article The Jacaranda V model at Riviera Dunes, an Arthur Rutenberg Home built by M. Pete McNabb, Inc., is rich in Mediterranean details that include an impressive covered entry portico and a two-story tower element. Located on the Manatee River, the interior of the Jacaranda V is just as detailed as the exterior and features such unusual elements as rustic ashlar cut stone floors, an elevator, a two-story wine cellar, Juliette balconies and intricate wood ceiling details. With 5,596 square feet of living space and two bedrooms downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs, the home offers endless flexibility.
Building Green by Kristine Hughes See Entire Article Founded in 1987, John Cannon Homes, Inc. began with a company vision that originated many years before, when President John Cannon graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in building construction. Over the years, John Cannon Homes, Inc. has built more than 1,000 luxury custom homes in over 97 residential communities located in Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. The company has grown from two employees in 1987, to currently employing 80 employees. Today, John Cannon Homes, Inc. is considered one of Florida's premier builders of exceptional luxury custom homes.
Fabulous Formality by Helena Wellesley See Entire Article When Jim and Miriam Morton purchased their three-story town home in Riviera Dunes at the Hammocks in Palmetto, Florida, they turned to interior decorator Grace DeVito of Baer’s Furniture and Design Studio in Sarasota to assist them in furnishing their home. With 13 years of decorating experience at Baer’s alone, DeVito is experienced in knowing just what it is her clients are looking for when decorating their homes. Not only is she adept at her craft, DeVito is also a people person who, more often than not, develops relationships with her clients that last far beyond the end of a design job.
Of the Wind by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Renowned for building superlative homes that exceed all expectations, John Cannon Homes, Inc. leaves no stone unturned when it comes to paying attention to the details. The Camira, named for the Aboriginal term meaning “of the wind,” closely replicates a grand palazzo in the Piazza San Marco on the Grand Canal in Venice.
The Mallana: A Place of Many Trees by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Surrounded by a wealth of protected wetlands and Australian pine and American Oak trees, this sprawling home, with its rustic exterior colors and copious fieldstone accents, evokes the large ranch homes typically seen in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
Stealing Beauty by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article FIn Bernado Bertolucci’s 1996 movie, Stealing Beauty, Liv Tyler plays the part of a young woman who travels to Italy to have her portrait painted. Besides the absolute beauty of the first-time actress, it was the wonderful northern Italian country home and ensuing views that really stole the hearts of audiences around the world.
Announcing Saratoga Place On Palmer Ranch See Entire Article Saratoga Place, located in prestigious Palmer Ranch in Sarasota, recently celebrated the grand opening of their 248-condominium residential community. With prices starting from the $140,000’s, Saratoga Place represents an affordable choice among the many communities in Palmer Ranch, noted for its wide, tree-lined streets and lush landscaping. The community is ready for occupancy and is offering early buyers thousands of dollars in savings and flexible financing programs.
A Job Well Done by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article Five years ago, while working for another contractor, William Kelly and Mark Rausch struck out on their own to pursue a unique concept: To build a business where employees weren’t just employees, but owners of the company.
Timeless Appeal See Entire Article Unprecedented values and diverse landscapes in an environment of lakes and parks. These key benefits help distinguish Florida’s newest prestige address, The Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch’s upscale 1,500-acre private gated club community, from most, if not all, others.
A Hidden Treasure by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article If you are ready for a Florida lifestyle of casual elegance, you must see Boca Royale, a 1,000 acre, low-density, gated country club community. The gates, more a formality than a necessity, open to charming streetscapes of elegant neighborhoods that are surrounded by nature preserves, winding lakes and golf course fairways.
To the Manor Born by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Built by John Cannon Homes, Inc. this sumptuous, four-bedroom plus bonus room, four full and one-half bath award-winning home, has 6,159 square feet under air and an expansive 8,659 total square feet. With its lemony beige exterior, numerous gable roofs, copious cast stone trim, mullioned and arched windows and two cupolas, is the quintessence of an English manor home.
Live, Work and Play Downtown by R.P. Joseph See Entire Article Can you feel it? Ground is about to break and lifestyles are bound to change as premier developer, The Leonard Garner Group, begins construction of The Atrium on Ringling - a very special mixed-use development project on 2.2-acres at Ringling Boulevard and Morrill Street in Sarasota.
An All-Inclusive Island Oasis by R.P. Joseph See Entire Article Imagine a secure, gated community surrounded by a gently flowing river. Picture winding streets, cobbled crosswalks and panoramic water and nature views. Envision an upscale neighborhood of estate-sized homes with individual boat docks, and a private golf and country club. Now - stop dreaming and come home – home to the island oasis called Rivé Isle.
Creating Waterfront Havens by Claire M. Kingsley See Entire Article The young dynamic team of brothers Sam and Tony Asfur, local investors and principals of Lifestyle Properties and Lifestyle Realty Group in Palmetto, have proven that hard work and determination result in their extremely successful business of developing and marketing waterfront properties. Because they realize the allure of living near the water, they have constantly sought out new opportunities that appeal to clients who want their dream home surrounded by picturesque water views. Of course, the overall benefit is that waterfront homes always increase in value as well.
A New Life for Earle House by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Preserving the intrinsic integrity and beauty of the older neighborhoods and homes in Sarasota is an important part of the city’s plan for growth. Builders, such as father-and-son team, John and Steve Murray of Murray Homes, believe in the importance of preserving the past to grow the future.
On the Waterfront by Kinsey Chaplin See Entire Article There’s just something about water — people are irresistibly drawn to it, like iron to a magnet. Waterfront property is the most prized real estate on earth, and in Florida, a home with water views is the ultimate dream home. Though there is clearly a limit to land at water’s edge, area developers are maximizing every square foot of waterfront property to offer homebuyers a smorgasbord of choices in homes with a view — everything from top-of-the-line estate homes to no-maintenance villas to state-of-the-art condominiums.
Preventing Mold Problems in New Construction Courtesy of Tim Killeen, president of Mold Grad See Entire Article Home builders and buyers should be aware of the numerous problems caused by mold. There are however several economical solutions to combat the dangerous fungi.
Location, Location, Location! by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Situated on the Manatee River, just a stone’s throw away from Tampa/St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Bradenton, the Gulf beaches and the Interstate, Laguna at Riviera Dunes has the enviable advantage of being close to several metropolitan areas, while still maintaining the charm and laid-back comfort of a luxury resort community.
The Founders Club: A Passion for Perfection by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article In their eternal quest to take Sarasota residential development to the next level, Jay Tallman and Tom Brown of U.S. Assets Group have joined forces with industry veteran, Fred Starling of the Starling Group to build and develop The Founders Club, an exclusive 700-acre golf community...
Beauty, Poise, Elegance… See Entire Article A Phipps Design, Inc. has emerged as a premier Custom Home Designer, taking designs to the upper echelon, to what founder and owner Brian Phipps describes as “ultra luxury” spectacular homes that fulfill the client's wishes and dreams in every detail.
Building A Custom Home by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article For some, the thought of building a luxury custom home can be overwhelming, but by hiring the right builder, everything falls into place. Building a sound foundation based on trust is the most important piece of the puzzle. The other pieces automatically fall into place when the general protocol described below is followed.
Elements of a Great Floor Plan by Teresa A. Morgenstern See Entire Article What would it take to fall in love with another house? In a compet-itive market, home designers and builders push the envelope to reach the most discriminating of well-versed home buyer. In Florida, we’re all familiar with the open floor plan.
To Be or Not to Be Green? By Linda Sechrist See Entire Article While green may not be the hottest hue in color trends for your home this season, it will always be the first word to roll off the tongue of interior designers who specialize in green interiors for residential design.
Camera Ready Bathrooms: Luxury on a Grand Scale by Casey McCabe See Entire Article Interior designers and builders are pulling out all of the stops to create gorgeous bathrooms chock full of functionality.
The New Essential Room by Linda Sechrist See Entire Article The emergence of the home office, the den or the home library as a necessary room in the majority of floor plans offered by Florida homebuilders conjures up the age-old question of which comes first, the chicken or egg.
The Staying Power of Home Entertainment by Linda Sechrist See Entire Article Man has been entertaining himself, family and friends at home in one form or another — board games, cards, crossword puzzles, dominoes, chess, dice, jigsaw puzzles, pianos, jukeboxes, stereos and computer games — forever.
Modern Cooks Rattle Those Pots & Pans by Bonnie Brownell See Entire Article Maybe Grandma’s stove was coal-fired, or she might have been among the first to have a harvest gold oven in the wall. Both appliances were light years behind what she could have today.
Perfectly Planned Pools & Spas by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Designing living spaces for the outdoors is no longer just about a pool in the backyard. “People want an attractive setting that is virtually an extension of their homes. They want a backyard environment,” says Mike Kiebler, vice president of AquaScapes Pools & Spas in Sarasota.