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New Life for Earle House
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.
Originally purchased as a “spec project,” the Murrays were excited with the prospect of revitalizing the historically-designated, Southern Georgian-style Earle House. Built in 1929 in the fashionable museum district, the 4,100 square foot home, which also includes a charming detached cottage, is situated on a large and mature 54,000 square foot lot that extends from the street to the Sarasota Bay.
After months of research and planning, the Murrays proceeded with the stringent architectural review process to ensure that the exterior of the historic home stayed true to its original design. The home was in need of a complete renovation, which included replacing the roof components, replacing all of the electric, plumbing, heat and air and updating and modernizing the kitchen and all of the bathrooms, as well as embellishing and adding to the existing interior architectural detailing.
But life sometimes takes an unexpected and serendipitous turn. In the midst of restoring the Earle House to its former glory, Murray’s mother, Glyn, fell in love with the home and convinced John and Steve to keep it as their own family’s home.
According to Steve Murray, “Older homes have their own quirks and unique characteristics, and that’s what makes the restoration process so exhilarating and challenging. “It’s not about ‘bigger is better,’ it’s about the craft of homebuilding and about the families who lived in the homes before and those who will live in them in the future.”
On the outside of the home, 16 coats of paint were removed from the original front door. The leaded glass radius, transom and sidelights that flank the door were also restored. In addition to repainting the exterior of the home, the existing half-moon-shaped shutters were stripped of several layers of paint and restored and the awnings and all of the windows were replaced.
Originally, a concrete driveway traveled from the street and curved behind the house for entry through the rear. To be true to the period, the Murrays replaced the drive with a circular, pea-gravel and reclaimed brick driveway with both a northern and southern gate. The new driveway passes the home’s single-story, one-bedroom, wood-framed cottage where there is also a two-car garage.
All of the landscape was entirely reworked in keeping with the original integrity of the home. Several of the existing specimens, such as bamboo, royal palms and a rare triangle palm were replanted in more advantageous positions to maximize the views and longevity of the plants. The builders brought over an artisan bricklayer from England to create a series of serpentine pathways around the home, as well as to create several large planters and a whimsical wishing well.
In the back of the house, the existing rectangular shaped pool was refinished and the pool deck covered in a tumbled marble. The original cypress pergola was restored, resulting in a dramatic backyard setting.
The home is perfectly sited for a western exposure. “When the sun goes down and you’re sitting in the living room looking out beyond the pool toward the dock, the view is absolutely spectacular,” says Murray. “The pool has decorative water jets that arch from side to side, so your eye looks through the fountains, down the rolling, carpet-like lawn, through the gazebo and straight to Sarasota Bay.”
Inside, when the builders removed the wall-to-wall carpeting, they discovered that the entire house, with the exception of the kitchen, was covered in a gorgeous red oak flooring, which they painstakingly restored.
To the left of the foyer, they opened up the existing living room and attached sunroom to create one expansive living space; incorporating the three structural columns and supporting beam into the overall design. Extensive custom millwork was added to further augment the room. The home boasts two wood burning fireplaces. The living room fireplace was restored and enhanced with a granite hearth and mantle.
Adjacent to the living room are the study and powder bath. The study was brought to life with gorgeous paneling and updated CAT-5 wiring. All of the downstairs rooms have nine-and-a-half foot ceilings. Upstairs, the ceiling height is nine feet.
The dining room is to the right of the foyer. Entering through a pair of unique, glass-paneled, folding French doors, which were a part of the original house, this room epitomizes the classical Georgian design. In addition to adding extensive custom millwork, the builders added a decorative cherry wood buffet, which has a wine cooler and several glass-fronted cabinets and a pair of matching, scallop-edged wine racks to complement the dining room’s original glass-fronted and mullioned corner display hutches.
A signature feature of all Murray Homes’ projects is the kitchen, and this one is no exception. From the dining room, the entryway into the kitchen, which includes a full KitchenAid Professional Series stainless appliance package, was opened up considerably to create more flow between the dining room and bright, sunny kitchen, where an intimate sitting room was created in place of a traditional breakfast “nook.” A profusion of sunlight enters the kitchen through six large windows. The eggshell-hued and glazed cabinets enhance beautiful Giallo Fiorito granite, which is rich with speckles of rust, brown and black against a creamy background.
Ascending to the second floor by either the grand staircase or the original elevator, the second floor is home to three bedrooms and three baths, all of which were completely renovated with beautiful tile detailing, new cabinetry and counter tops and new fixtures. In addition to adding a large walk-in closet to the master bedroom, the master bath was reconfigured, adding a large marble walk-in shower.
“Our building philosophy is in the details,” notes Murray. “We believe in the absolute and enduring quality of each and every home we build.”
Steve Murray notes that Murray Homes is a full-service family business offering convenience and service that extends beyond their construction services. In addition to their impeccable reputation as builders and developers, they also market and sell high-end waterfront properties.
“Since we custom build homes for our clients, no two homes are alike. It is our personal commitment to our customers, as well as to our craft, that whatever the customer wants, he or she gets, “Open lines of communication, strong management practices, a seasoned team of professionals and employing proven systems ensures that the customer is nurtured and completely satisfied from concept to completion of their home.”
MURRAY
HOMES
941 906.7000
Written by Marla J. Ottenstein
Photography
by Mark Borosch
