Located in the cozy bayside enclave of Blackburn Estates, this family home is a stunning example of the best of contemporary trends seamlessly blended within a neighborhood that’s become known for Mediterranean-style houses. The exterior of the home features some of the traditional Mediterranean elements, but stands out with a sand-finished stucco tile roof, concrete finishes, casement style windows rather than bronze, and dramatic ipe wood cladding.
“The homeowners were hoping to have a modern, clean lined design that was low maintenance for their growing family,” according to Sybill Johnson, interior designer for Legacy Finishing Touches, the in-house interior design arm of Legacy Builders that designed the residence. “The owners are very stylish and very much into the trends of today, so that was a consideration throughout the process.”
Entering the home through the custom solid walnut pivoting door, one’s eye goes directly through the great room’s large windows and pocketed sliders to the stepping stones of a disappearing edge pool, and beyond to the Intracoastal. The house appears to be floating on water, and the sleek, modern, and low-profile furnishings allow the waterfront view to remain the focal point of the home.
“We provide a concierge level of service to our clients that is truly only seen at the multi-million-dollar level,” explains Wendy Greig, President of Legacy Builders. “We provide that level of service to every client—start to finish.” For this home, that meant incorporating an indoor basketball court, and a bonus room designed for versatility that would grow with the family and include a theater zone, a gaming area with a wet bar, and sleeping space to accommodate the children’s sleepovers and large family visits. υ
The contemporary interior includes a charcoal concrete floor by Taz Flooring for a cool, urban look. Wood elements were integrated in the design for warmth, and special attention was paid to the lighting throughout the home, including a variety of different LEDs to brighten the darker finishes and highlight structural elements such as the stacked stone fireplace.
“We are a true custom builder, “states Mike Greig, Chief Operating Officer of Legacy Builders, “Many builders start with a plan and modify it from client to client. Sybill and I start off working with the client from the beginning of the design process and we see it through to the end.” In this case, the result is a one-of-a-kind house that is fun, functional, and chic.
The pivoting, hand crafted, solid walnut door was custom-engineered for this house and opens effortlessly to the waterfront views. Gray shell stone pavers with breaks filled with black river pebbles and glass railing lead to warm wooden finish Clopay garage doors from D & D Garage Doors. Custom ipe wood cladding and trellis line one wall, while Boral Moderna Ledgestone from Old Castle Coastal frames the door.
The great room is divided into different seating areas and enjoys an expansive charcoal-stained slab floor. Each area has a layered design of three-wood veneered recessed ceilings backlighted by tape lighting, and multi-layered light fixtures like these Moooi Raimond pendants from Light Up Your Life. The fireplace has a white concrete hearth and features the same Boral Carbon Ledgestone from Old Castle Coastal used on the exterior of the home. Linear lighting highlights the texture of the feature wall. Original art is from Meg Krakowiak.
Woods, whites, and grays play off each other in this ultra-modern, high end kitchen which boasts custom designed veneered Italian cabinetry with motorized upper cabinets from Cucine Ricci. A horseshoe-shaped island has large family entertaining in mind. The backsplash is full height, set against waterfall mitered Calacatta quartz countertops from 301 Granite and Marble. The darker gray custom concrete waterfall countertop with integrated fiber optic lighting is both practical and ahead of trends. Durable professional grade stainless steel appliances and six-burner cooktop from Feguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery add function.
Two Larmes bubble light fixtures from Light Up Your Life were combined for a scale suitable to the extra-large dining room table. Old and new merge with the owner’s own antique Indian gate mounted over a clean-lined modern Restoration Hardware console. Motorized Somfy solar shades were installed at all large openings to buffer sunlight.
A custom velvet headboard brings the drama to the master bedroom with bedding in the same lush textured eggplants. The ceiling features channeled out squares back lit with LED tape lighting. Warm satin gold accents are sprinkled throughout, from the Robert Abbey Sputnik hanging pendants from Light Up Your Life to the accessories in the shagreen textured TV console. A step up from the bedroom’s wood floor from Taz Flooring is a sitting area beneath a large steel circular Hubbardton Forge Aura hanging pendant, creating a private owners’ retreat that overlooks the pool and the Intracoastal.
A Bianco Carrara marble slab waterfall detail from 301 Granite and Marble behind and above the freestanding tub is back-lighted for dimension. Natural limestone floors and custom Italian floating cabinetry by Cucine Ricci topped with Luxxor Pur White Quartz from 301 Granite and Marble create the perfect backdrop. The dual-entry shower features Kohler rain heads, body sprays, and fixed and handheld showers over an elongated linear drain from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.
This impressive sports court is an example of what Johnson calls the company’s “we can” attitude. “The basketball court was initially a joke,” laughs Johnson. “We told the client that we could deliver anything he wanted and he said, ‘How about a basketball court?’
The custom designed disappearing-edge pool by Bluwater Pools, with changing colored LED lights, goes from house to property line and consists of natural shell stone pavers, white pearl pebble tee finish, and glass mosaic tiles highlighting the disappearing edge. Additional features include floating ice decks, stepping stones, and a sun shelf for shallow play for kids. Wood cladded exterior ceilings shade the gourmet outdoor kitchen and dining area with soapstone counters and a coordinating cladded wood.
Written by Brooke Parker Photography by Jake Bibler
301 Granite and Marble 3800 North Washinton Blvd Sarasota, FL 34234 941.360.0301 www.301granite.com
Bluwater Pools 787 Commerce Dr., Suite 15 Venice, FL 34292 941.484.3344 www.bluwaterpools.com
Cucine Ricci 1515 Main St Sarasota, FL 34236 941.554.8000 www.cucinericci.com
D & D Garage Doors 1177 Cattlemen Road Sarasota, FL 34232 941.371.7242 www.DandDGarageDoors.com
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 2451 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941.951.0110 www.fergusonshowrooms.com
Legacy Builders 787 Commerce Dr., Unit 16 Venice , FL 34292 941.412.4901 www.legacybuilderssarasota.com
Legacy Finishing Touches 787 Commerce Drive, Suite 16 Venice, FL 34292 941.484.3344 www.interiordecoratorsarasota.com
Light Up Your Life 1620 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 941.330.0422 www.lights-sarasota.com
Meg Krakowiak Contemporary Art Gallery & Studio 60 South Palm Ave Sarasota, FL 34236 941.400.2478 www.megkrakowiakstudios.com
Old Castle Coastal 2200 12th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941.957.3933 www.oldcastlecoastal.com
Taz Flooring & Design 2615 Placida Road Englewood, FL 34223 941.473.3730 www.tazflooringdesign.com
Tile Market of Sarasota 1962 Main Street, Suite 120 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.365.2356 www.tilemarket.com
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