Not entirely contemporary yet not fully traditional, this 8,000-square-foot home greets guests with a massive wooden double-door front entrance. The large doors open into an equally impressive double-level foyer, natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows hitting white marble floors.
To the right of the foyer sits an office with built-in dark wood features including a concealed-panel door leading to a single car garage, arranged with an additional door to the outside for yacht-captain access. Back inside, at the head of the foyer sits the living room with a tray ceiling, plenty of natural light and added warmth from the granite gas fireplace. Through the wide accordion doors is the media room, which houses a gigantic dropdown television screen that hovers above the entertainment cabinet. Signature zebrawood paneling lines the walls and appears within the in-house elevator and the wine room, too.
The right wing of the home extends even further, shedding light on one of two powder rooms, both of which house one-piece onyx stone vanity pieces with sink cutouts and special waterspout features. Further along sits what is now a playroom for the current owners’ children, but that could easily be flipped into a VIP suite. Enhancing the potential VIP suite is a bathroom cabana with a marble walk-in shower and a door leading to the backyard pool area. The suite also sports an outdoor patio with private access that is open to the rest of the backyard.
In the home’s left wing, beyond the living room and grand foyer and opposite the media room sits a spacious yet intimate formal dining room. Around the corner through a separate entryway are the maid’s accommodations, including a walk-in pantry, kitchenette with storage cabinets, one of the home’s two laundry rooms and a door leading to a two-car garage. Additional living quarters sit beyond and feature a private door leading to the outside. Next to these quarters is the second powder room, clad with a floor-to-ceiling backlit mirror with built-in faucets.
In the main kitchen, one-piece black granite slabs rule the countertops and encase the professional cooktop, Miele built-in coffee maker and Viking Professional appliances scattered throughout. The kitchen island features an extra miniature refrigerator for isolating vegetables and fruits as well as built-in storage units on the back for miscellaneous kitchen gear. Next to the kitchen space is the wine room, which has zebrawood-lined walls and its own temperature system to keep the vino chilled at the perfect preserving-to-serving temperature.
Occupying the space beyond the kitchen island is a dining area that leads to a set of four recessive sliding glass doors, which completely open to the home’s unique outdoor summer kitchen. The outdoor extension is enclosed by dropdown screens and is fully air-conditioned, allowing for comfortable leisure and entertainment during those extra-hot summer days. This indoor-outdoor spatial versatility is a touch that was customized by the current owners.
Leaving the summer kitchen area behind and stepping onto the sun-drenched Jerusalem tiles opens the backyard to a saltwater pool. Customized with a soft-pebbled floor, a shallow “splash area” designed for the current owners’ children extends towards the home and separates from the main pool by large, raised stepping stones. Coral lines the few steps descending to the 100-foot waterfront dock, which is lined with low-lit columns and accommodates boats up to 80 feet.
When heading upstairs, you can choose the iron-detailed railing and lighted white marble staircase or that zebrawood-lined indoor elevator. At the top of the curved staircase is a spacious room with walnut wood floors and oversized windows (qualities featured in all upstairs rooms), inviting loads of sunlight to accent the tranquil ambiance.
Two bedroom suites sit to the right, one with a large private terrace overlooking the backyard and canal, and another with a terrace that overlooks the front of the home. Both bedrooms include walk-in closets clad with built-in organizational features lined with leather padding and automatic lighting. The bathrooms feature granite counters and bathtubs.
The upstairs guest suite faces the front of the home and features many of the same accoutrements as the other suites. Outside the guest suite is the home’s sizable second laundry room, with built-in hamper, ironing board and a tiled clothes-hanging area with a drain.
Finally, the expansive master suite takes up the majority of the left wing of the upper level and can be considered a home within a home. Cozy and intimate, the master bedroom features large wraparound windows that bring in lots of natural light. An extra-large terrace extends outside providing beautiful views of Lake Sylvia and the canal. The terrace is also prepped with hookups for a hot tub and Jacuzzi, so enjoying an evening dip with a stunning South Florida sunset could be an everyday experience.
Deeper into the master suite are the his-and-her bathrooms and closets. Both bathrooms are covered in giant Calacatta marble slabs, the largest bathroom having a cut-out, oversized tub. There’s also a hair treatment seat for in-home professional styling. Both master closets sport built-in organizational elements. One features clear glass cabinetry to preserve the clothing while still keeping every piece in view, and a “shoedrobe” is hidden behind the mirrored back wall.
This massive casa incorporates many different components to achieve its grand yet homey atmosphere. Traditional elements such as the iron-detailed railing and grand Roman pillars offset the contemporary parts of the home, creating a well-balanced quality inside and out.