Contemporary Coastal

   An amalgamation of styles occurs when blending the two and one-half story, lemon sorbet hued, Bermuda-styled home with Sarasota architect, Clifford Scholz's distinguished clean, linear style, resulting in an unparalleled “contemporary coastal” design.
   From the “Old Chicago III” brick paved motor court and ornamental pineapple-motif exterior lighting, to the tumbled marble entry and solid mahogany door with surrounding transoms and side lights, this home's natural synergy and pedigree are immediately inviting and exciting.
   “The design principle of the house was to create a livable, comfortable home that would take advantage of the 273 feet of open bay water through the use of multiple French doors and windows and a multitude of graceful verandahs and decks,” says Steve Murray, vice president and co-owner of Murray Homes with his father, John Murray. “When you are standing inside the house, it feels as though you're on the deck of a cruise ship.”
   With an abundance of natural sunlight streaming through numerous windows, the square-shaped, casually formal living room, with its uncomplicated linear style, gives a taste of the beauty and simplicity that is a continuing theme in this stunning home. Soft yellow walls with wide, bright white baseboards, door and win-dow casings and double crown moulding abound throughout the home. With the exception of the bedrooms and baths, all of the flooring is a wide-planked engineered mountain hickory.
   The living room fireplace combines a Portuguese limestone mantel with a black galaxy granite hearth. The beautiful triptych configuration of paned French doors and transoms is introduced in this room and is a recurring detail in the home's design.
   To the side of the entryway, the powder room is an example of the home's astute architectural detailing. Eighteen-inch laminated basket weave patterned Crema Marfil tiles adorn the floor. The vanity, with its swirling, antiqued wrought iron design and the equally unique vessel sink, add to the elegance of the formal entryway and living room.
   Located in the hallway between the formal salon and dining room, and hidden behind French doors, the wet bar, with its black galaxy granite countertop, custom backsplash, mirrored walls and thick glass shelves, is clean, refined, succinct and functional. The subtlety of the space actually defines and confirms the home's architectural veracity.
   Once again, the repetitive triptych configuration of French doors and transoms is seen in the dramatic dining room. This home, with its expansive walls of paned windows and doors, actually frames the sweeping views of the bay, just like a beautifully framed painting. The room's design dictates a clean, concise feel and incorporates the same brass and imbedded crystal chandelier as in the foyer.
   Butterfly green granite countertops, an abundance of gorgeous Bertch® cabinets, painted and glazed in a natural distressed finish, a continuous backsplash of creamy-colored antiqued crackle porcelain tiles with glass mosaic inserts, a large center island with olive glazed cabinets, two integrated Bosch dishwashers, the six-burner Dacor professional range and oven, integrated Sub-Zero side-by-side refrigerator/freezer and two veggie drawers and a wine cooler are just some of the incredible features of this professional kitchen.
   Directly adjacent to the kitchen, the laundry area, complete with a front-loading Bosch washer and dryer, utility sink and full refrigerator, is an extension of the kitchen work area. Even the countertops and tile backsplash match the kitchen.
   Although separate entities, the kitchen, breakfast room and family room are interconnected spaces and an important part of this contemporary and airy coastal floor plan.The family room is comprised of more than 40 feet of glass-paneled doors and windows, with corresponding transoms, that replicate French doors. The architect was right when he believed it would be refreshing and more interesting to view the downtown Sarasota skyline through paned windows rather than through sliding glass doors.
   Close to the family room, a secondary powder room doubles as a pool bath, as well as an alternate route to the summer kitchen and tumbled stone, ashlar patterned wrap-around verandah, pool and deep-water access dock.
   Above the four-car garage, and on the easily accessi-ble mezzanine level, two delightfully appointed guest rooms, each with a crisp, all white bathroom and walk-in closet, are tucked away for the guests' privacy. “Subway” tiled showers with shell motif listellos, pinwheel patterned flooring, white speckled Silestone® counters and wainscot cabinet doors are further evidence of the builder's commitment to using superior materials and interior finishes.
   Murray Homes pays extra attention to designing up-to-the-minute guest bathrooms. Stylish furniture vanities with vessel sinks and intricately tiled showers, both with exceedingly up-market faucets and showerheads, are one of the company's signatures.
   Accessible from the family room and mezzanine level, the second floor is home to two large guest rooms, the master suite and upstairs laundry room. Although the entire home has structured CAT5 wiring, the center guestroom is ideal for a home office.
   A pair of double French doors open up into the spacious master bedroom where two complete walls of French doors and windows lead outdoors onto the wrap-around balcony - the perfect place to watch the sun rise over Sarasota Bay while enjoying a cup of espresso and a croissant.
   Completely tiled in Crema Marfil marble, the beautifully appointed and well-lit master bath is a harmonious study of soft cream and golden hues, which is further complemented by Sahara Gold countertops, with matching vertical inserts in the shower.
   One of the newest trends in space design is the combined his and her master dressing room, and this home is no exception. The incredibly immense closet has an abundance of storage, including: a three-way mirror with hidden handbag shelves, glass-fronted cabinets and a large, granite-topped center island.
   “Our building philosophy is in the details,” says Murray. “We believe in the absolute and enduring quality of each and every home we build.”
   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.”
   For more information about having Murray Homes build your custom waterfront home, please call Steve Murray on his mobile phone 941-350-7777.       

Courtesy of Murray Homes, Inc.
1255 Seeds Avenue, Sarasota
941 906-7000
www.murrayhomesinc.com

Written by Marla J. Ottenstein

Photography by Mark Borosch