By: Jean Nayar
There is no shortage of spectacular homes in South Florida. Many feature unique amenities and here are some of the standout features that define luxury living at its fines.
Family-Friendly Flexibility
At the heart of this spectacular 7,700-square-foot waterfront home on ultra-private Sunset Island, an easy-on-the-eye open kitchen seamlessly dovetails with living and dining spaces as well as the outdoors to accommodate relaxed luxury living at its best. “It’s really the centerpiece of the home,” says broker David Hunt Solomon. “The idea was to make it a place where the whole family can congregate and hang out while meals or snacks are prepared or where friends can gather while entertaining. Its clean white lacquer cabinets pop open with a push to stow kitchenware from view from the adjoining media and dining rooms while its open shelves offer a place to showcase prized china or sculptural pieces.” Calacatta marble backsplashes, granite countertops, and wide plank white oak floors lend an air of easy luxury and top-of-the-line appliances, including a natural gas stove, two dishwashers, a wine fridge, a built-in coffeemaker, and a separate ice maker, as well as ample pantry space offer everything a gourmet home cook needs for function. Another highlight of the $19.25 million, 7-bedroom home: The master suite. “It’s a showstopper,” says the agent. “Situated on the second floor of its own wing, it includes expansive windows overlooking the pool, two balconies, a sitting room, two walk-in closets, and a master bath with dual sinks and vanities and a two-person tub.” Yet, the key selling feature of the home, which was originally built in 1937 and recently renovated and expanded, is its setting, says Solomon. “Its crème de la crème gated-access location on Sunset Island nestled in the middle of Miami Beach is super quiet and secure yet also within walking distance to the restaurants, shops, and bustle of Sunset Harbor and Lincoln Road.” Best of all is the view. “The minute you enter the sunken living room, you’re greeted with a view of the pool and water beyond,” says the agent. Blending old-school Mediterranean intonations with contemporary finishes, the dwelling, he says, “is a breath of fresh air.”
2767 Sunset Drive Miami Beach
https://www.ewm.com/homes/2767-Sunset-Dr/Miami-Beach/FL/33140/122753435/
Private Paradise
Situated on super-private Sunset Key Island (accessible only by ferry and free of cars), this 3,635-square-foot Key West Conch-style home is a tropical oasis. “One of just 48 residential dwellings on the island, the oceanfront main house not only includes three bedrooms plus an office that can be converted to a fourth, all with full baths, but also boasts its own private beach, a two-bedroom cottage-style guest house with living/dining space and a kitchenette, and stunning harbor views,” says broker Maria Bradley. “My vision was to design a place where family and friends could gather and make lifelong memories,” says the original owner of the home, who worked with architect Michael Ingraham to manifest that dream. “I also wanted guests to feel part of the home while having their separate space for comfort and privacy. One of my favorite features of the home, is the outdoor kitchen and a rock pool with all its bells and whistles, including waterfalls and a slide, that my then 10-year-old daughter wanted to have. Despite my initial hesitation, to my surprise the pool has become the focal point of the house and has provided many good times for both young and old!” The home also shares amenities with Opal Resort/Sunset Key Cottages (voted by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine as “one of the 500 best properties in the world in 2021”), including concierge services, a spa, a gym, tennis and basketball courts, a pool, a homeowner’s beach, and a premium restaurant with room service. Other highlights of the $8.45 million dwelling include several porches and an upstairs patio, where you can sunbathe, relax, read a book, or dine outdoors while enjoying breathtaking views of the ocean and Key West.
32 Sunset Key Drive, Key West
https://www.ewm.com/homes/32-Sunset-Key-Dr/Key-West/FL/33040/118708361/
Tropical Wonderland
Located at the end of a cul-de-sac on a lushly landscaped 1 1/4-acre lot, this $4.995 million, 8,335-square-foot compound is a multigenerational family dream home. “It’s almost like living in a high-end tropical resort,” says broker Jeannie Montes De Oca. “It includes everything for anyone who likes the finer things in life.” Notable among the seven-bedroom home’s unique features is an air-conditioned seven-door, 15-car garage with hydraulic lifts, high-ceilinged interiors with ample wall space for fine art, an 11-person home theater, a separate gym, tennis courts, a wine cellar, a billiards room, an onyx spa bath, and a pool surrounded by a patio and summer kitchen that graciously accommodates indoor-outdoor living. “Most incredible are the grounds and landscaping, which include an assortment of beautiful flora such as orchids and mature vermillion palms among other luscious plants,” says the broker. “It’s like a mini Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden.”
7855 SW 83rd Court, Miami
https://www.ewm.com/homes/7855-SW-83rd-Ct/Miami/FL/33143/118112592/
Amid the Treetops
Tropical charm abounds in this 4,077-square-foot island-style home in the heart of the historic village of Coconut Grove. “The owners love living in Coconut Grove and walking to the village in the shade of the dense tree canopy,” says broker Riley Smith, noting the ready access to the neighborhood’s many quaint cafes, trendy boutiques, galleries, and bay-front parks and marinas. “Their home exemplifies the character of the Grove thanks to its blending of indoor and outdoor living spaces and its use of natural materials like coral rock walls on the exterior and whitewashed wood beamed ceilings inside.” Situated high on a ridge in the coveted guard-gated community of Four-Way Lodge Estates, the $4.85 million four-bedroom dwelling—originally constructed in 1981 and fully renovated in a contemporary coastal style—features a distinctive floor plan with a guest suite, a European-style kitchen, and sun-drenched living spaces that open to an ultra-private garden with lush mature trees and an oval-shaped pool on the main level. A trio of bedrooms and a shared family room—all with vaulted ceilings and a wraparound balcony surrounded by treetops—occupy the second story, while a loftlike den caps the structure like a secluded escape at the very top. A community boat basin with direct access to the ocean is an added bonus.
3451 Poinciana Avenue, Coconut Grove
https://www.ewm.com/homes/3451-Poinciana-Ave/Coconut-Grove/FL/33133/123192663/