Unparalleled Luxury and Coastal Elegance
$4,850,000 Welcome to a world of unparalleled luxury and coastal elegance. Nestled within the waterfront community of Island Estates, this remarkable home embodies the epitome of modern beach living, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of paradise. 42 Midway provides location, boat dock, direct Gulf access, pool, privacy, exclusivity, and, of course, the luxurious active outdoor lifestyle that comes with it all. Entertaining is made easy with access to the Gulf, exquisite pool, and outdoor spaces. This exquisite four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom residence spans 5,721 square feet of beautifully designed living space. Revel in the breathtaking panoramic views of the glistening waters from nearly every room, creating an ambiance of serenity and grandeur. The open floor plan layout, designed with the finest attention to detail, offers an ideal setting for lavish entertaining and intimate family living. The gourmet chef’s kitchen features top-of-the-line appliances, sleek custom cabinetry, and luxurious finishes, making it a home focal point. Meanwhile, the expansive living areas are adorned with soaring ceilings and walls of glass, inviting abundant natural light and picturesque views indoors. The open floor plan allows family and friends to gather easily around the heart of the home. Step outside to your private retreat, featuring a spacious patio with tropical landscaping, a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen, pool, hot tub, and a private dock with a boat lift with direct access to the open waters. The spacious patio has multiple seating areas with a view of the pool and the Gulf. This waterfront home represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to indulge in the ultimate luxury lifestyle, combining the allure of coastal living with the finest amenities and unmatched natural beauty. 42 Midway Island. Clearwater, FL 33767 Presented by: Jonathan Sadylo state license #3313398 Brokered by: SHORE PROPERTY GROUP (727) 742-1828
Magnificent Safety Harbor Estate
$1,200,000 Are you looking for privacy and lots of space? Look no further; bring your RV, UTVs, and other toys to this magnificent estate that offers both luxury and convenience in exclusive Safety Harbor. This estate is a rare opportunity to own two lots adjacent to a conservation area of over half an acre. The protected lands facing the rear of the home will give you the privacy you desire for years to come, with the flexibility to live your life the way you choose! The home offers a three-car garage and privacy behind and to the left of the home. This immaculate home was built in 2009, with no detail overlooked, from the functional and open layout, soaring 21′ ceilings in the great room, high-caliber craftsmanship, dual-sided fireplace, and expansive kitchen. The home has two 4-ton HVAC systems replaced in 2021, two 60-gallon hot-water heaters, Icynene insulation throughout, which significantly reduces energy costs, built to withstand a minimum of Category 3 force hurricane winds, aluminum shutters available, and a command center for all your security needs. Your guest will imminently notice the 21′ ceilings and craftsmanship throughout the home. Other notable features include a formal dining room with large bay windows, new 2023 built-in dual ovens, beautiful hardwood cabinetry, granite countertops, three wine coolers in the dry bar, extensive butler’s pantry, gorgeous views from the balcony walkways, a bonus room on the first level with nearby half bath, with the option to use as an office/den/or fifth bedroom, large laundry room, and walk-in closets in every room. Enjoy a beautiful kitchen., formal dining room with easy access to the dry bar. Upstairs, the split plan features the owner’s suite and additional primary suite on the north end of the home and two large bedrooms with a guest bathroom on the south end of the house. The owner’s suite features private balcony access, private access to a spiral staircase leading to the kitchen area in case that midnight snack calls to you, a grand ensuite bathroom with a garden tub, private facilities, a large walk-in shower with dual shower heads, immense walk-in closet and dual sink vanity. One master suite offers a garden tub and extra large bedroom. The second master or guest suite offers a private bathroom, large bay windows, and a walk-in closet. The home’s exterior is ready for you to make it your perfect oasis or add additional living space or storage. You could leave it open for large gatherings; the possibilities are endless! Enjoy a large bay-window in the second master suite. The second lot is water-connected and ready to expand on if so desired. Elm Street is not a densely traveled road, so worrying about noisy traffic is unnecessary. Talk about location: five minutes to the famous Main Street, seven minutes to Philippe Park, seven minutes to Gulf to Bay, and seven minutes to Countryside. Residing in this fantastic location gives you the small-town feel and convenience of a big city, living in under 10 minutes in any direction! Safety Harbor has much to offer, from picturesque waterfront walks on Bayshore Dr, a marina and pier, fine dining, spas, and outstanding school options. Painting the picture of what this home has to offer in words is by no means enough; it must be seen to truly capture the essence of living in Safety Harbor, but do not delay; an opportunity such as this does not come around every day. Presented by: Christie Altamirano Brokered by: Coastal Properties Group (727) 493-1555 765 Elm St. Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Mansion Monday: Largest Waterfront Residence on Davis Island
$23,900,000 42 Ladoga sits prominently on Davis Islands’ most prestigious street, with 464 feet on the water and 1.45 acres of premier property. This true traditional Tudor estate features 9,038 square feet with seven bedrooms, seven full and two half baths, an entertainment lounge, an exercise room, a library, a study, two laundry rooms, a pool, a sports court, plus three docks including an impressive boat house. Entertain or relax in your personal study, basketball courts, or luxury pool. Built-in 1928, this impeccable home boasts formal and casual spaces, providing ample opportunities to gather and host special occasions. The refined appointments are countless, from gorgeous millwork, wood floors, crown moldings, three fireplaces, plaster walls, and so much more. The estate-sized family room overlooks Tampa’s prized waterfront and features wood-beamed ceilings, a fireplace, and a full entertainment bar. Spectacular millwork and fireplaces are in the gathering areas of the home. The home’s expansiveness is impressive yet inviting, with a designated first-floor wing that allows for a formal living room, an exquisite wood-paneled executive office, and an entertainment lounge complete with a full bath. Traditional formal dining room has views of the extensive yard leading to the boat dock. The gourmet kitchen has chef-grade appliances, a built-in banquette, a huge center island with marble countertops, and a wine cellar. Off the kitchen, you’ll find what can be used as a guest suite or media room with an en-suite bath. The gourmet kitchen open layout is great for entertaining. Upstairs, the glamorous owners’ retreat exudes grace and style with a gas fireplace, two generously built-out custom closets, and an oversized bath with the ultimate in Bay views. Upstairs there are four more large bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. Large master suite with bath is fit for a king or queen. A recent addition provides a second staircase to a private wing with an exercise room and guest quarters. The outdoor areas boast one of Davis Islands’ most serene waterfront settings, with majestic trees, a large pool, an outdoor kitchen, and endless entertaining areas. Multiple outdoor entertaining spaces overlook the bay. The boating lifestyle awaits you with direct water access to the Bay and Gulf of Mexico. The property features an impressive boat house with a Trex dock and 55-foot, 80,000lb Neptune boat lift, a covered multi-use lift, and a separate Trex observation dock. Home features a personal multi-lift dock. This property has plenty of possibilities, from keeping the home as a grand waterfront estate, or there is the potential to purchasing the property and building your dream estate. A third option is to allow for two or three buildable sites along the 464 feet of waterfront. Presented by: Dina Sierra Smith Brokered by: Smith & Associates 42 Ladoga Ave. Tampa, FL 33606
At Home with Rhonda Shear
Hollywood bombshell, lingerie mogul, former Playboy model, actress and comedy queen Rhonda Shear lives in Snell Isle when she’s not pitching her intimate apparel on HSN, doing good deeds or promoting her new hilarious memoir “Up All Night.” With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I asked Rhonda and husband Van Fagan how they keep the sizzle in their Valentine’s Day celebration. Between touring her luxury downtown St. Pete home (which she calls her “Barbie Dream House”) and talking about her New Orleans to Las Vegas to Tampa journey and her new book, we couldn’t stop laughing. In her funny, naughty, candid book Shear shares the unforgettable story of a woman who was always “up to something”—too pretty, too funny, too ethnic, too blonde—to achieve anything, but who ended up achieving everything. Packed with vivid characters, hilarious stories and wisdom for women of all ages, “Up All Night”, proves that when it comes to achieving your dreams, the only voice that matters is your own, and her business/life tips resonate as the real deal. First up, it was time for romance. “I always love Valentine’s Day and when I hosted “Up All Night” late night movie show, it was huge for us and in the lingerie business, Valentine’s Day is the apex, although I like to say that every day should be boudoir dress up day!” says Shear. How do she and Van like to celebrate? In addition to both being incredible home cooks who enjoy hipping up a romantic meal, topped off with good bubbly (Veuve Cliquot, of course and chocolate strawberries), they like dating and a romantic dinner. “We love Rococo Strak Restaurant, it’s so romantic and intimately dark, and the food is amazing and in Tampa, we love Capital Grille.” Shear’s home décor is “romantic, eclectic style.” With a fabulous Snell Isle bay view from the backyard, they overlook an alfresco haven complete with pool and their 52-foot yacht for cruising to the Keys or Sarasota. Van and Rhonda live there with their four Chihuahuas and one Yorkie, her “little heartbeats” and the inspiration for her latest philanthropic effort as an SPCA Tampa Bay Ambassador. “Each room is uniquely interesting and eclectic and part of our personality,” says Shear about the 10,000 square foot home with four bedrooms. “We’ve repurposed the three bedrooms and rooms in unique ways.” [uam_ad id=”29782″] “For example, we created a complete art deco home entertainment theater. Local artist Jeff Walling painted art deco canvases of old movie posters and the Hollywood sign covers a window like a black out shade. With eight leather chairs and state-of-the-art sound system, it’s where everyone wants to hang out.” They turned another bedroom into the “Zen Room,” a spa with candles, Buddhas and beautiful Asian artwork, a spa bed, high-end massage chair and cabinet with all the spa oils and creams. With a penchant for play and entertaining guests, Shear created a billiard room, and when the grandkids visit, the pool table converts to a ping pong table. Who’s the better pool player? “Van of course,” she laughs. “For charity events, we’ve covered the pool table with black velvet and shown amazing jewelry, even the Dali brought jewels never seen in the museum to the house with a security guard, of course.” Under the spiral staircase is a little round room Shear calls “my speakeasy game room,” stocked with games (poker table, Clue, Monopoly, checkers) and framed in beautiful heavy green velvet drapes with rope tie-backs. The cozy hideaway stars another of Jeff Walling’s 40-foot canvas’s showcasing his Florida vision of Monet’s water lilies, filled with mangroves and Florida birds Shear transformed the laundry/sewing room into a beauty salon and green room for photo shoots and make-up sessions. Even the mobile dog groomer sets up here, and a refrigerator full of bubbly water and soda makes it a “den for women” she calls “Spa Eukie.” Her romantic styling wafts through the house. In the living room is an elegant white couch and a teinway grande piano is the center of the Grand Salon, where she hosts 300-person fundraisers and where she and Van renewed their wedding vows. There’s a high ceiling den with a Chihuly-esque chandelier and a formal dining room that seats twelve guests comfortably. “I love tablescapes,” says Shear. The kitchen is the heart of the home with an antique wooden table from Paris, a butler area and three sinks plus a prep sink. Next to the kitchen is a stand-alone bar with 12 barstools and a pub table that’s “bigger than most bars, all mahogany, hand-built,” says Shear. The house also features three balconies, a three-room master bedroom that doubles as a den/office with a two-sided fireplace, a full gym with dance barre, a steam room and a mother-in-law guest suite with bath and kitchen. “Good thing because I will be kicking up the exercise routine now that I’ve signed to be one of Nutrasystem’s online influencers.” Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Mogul, Life Lessons from an Accidental Feminist is available on www.Amazon.com. (All photos courtesy of Rhonda Shear )
Home: Lighting the Way to a Beautiful Home
Lighting a room is more than hanging a chandelier and buying a couple of table lamps. Today, designers are taking advantage of advances in lighting technology to create rooms redefined by multiple layers of lighting. Julian Exclusa, spokesperson in Florida for Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, says planning a home’s lighting today is exciting because there are so many ways to use light exactly where it is needed, resulting in rooms where the space is not dominated by a single bulb but is instead illuminated by a collection of discrete, often hidden, fixtures. Lighting, in fact, has come so far Ferguson’s consultants undergo a six-month certification through the American Lighting Association, to fully understand dimmers, wattages, products, and architectural details that impact the type of light needed for a specific space, he says. Advances in LED lighting have led the charge towards this “layered lighting” phenomenon. Today’s LED lights last upwards of 50,000 hours, can be used with dimmer switches, and come in lighting “temperatures” to compliment any application. Quality control is so good, lighting companies now offer products that take full advantage of LED’s long lifespan. For example, PureEdge Lighting, sold through Ferguson, manufactures frames that sit inside drywall. These linear systems house single rows of customizable, commercial-grade white or color changing strips that project a line of bright clean light without excess heat. These striking designs turn a plain wall into an architectural statement while providing enough light to illuminate a room or can be cut to size to showcase a single piece of artwork. Recessed lighting, as well, has changed completely. Gone are the days of six-inch flush mounted lights with white plastic edging propped up against a ceiling. PureEdge’s Aurora Adjustable Accent lights are finished flush to the ceiling and are paintable. They come in sizes as small as 1.3-inches, are available in round and square shapes and offer LED lights in red, green, and blue. Choosy homeowners can create pockets of ambiance with two-inch lights that simultaneously compliment and support the primary lighting from the larger cans—all with the hardware hidden in the ceiling. For increased efficiency and ease of install TaskWork LED Tape Light by Kichler® offers fully customizable lighting for odd spaces inside and outside the house. Frequently, these intricately designed strands run along toe-kicks in kitchens, under cabinets, and even in bathrooms as nightlights, say Ferguson’s sales staff. The result is light where it is needed, as it is needed; from the beauty of a crystal chandelier in a foyer to task lighting at a workspace to illumination along an adjoining hallway and a spotlight on a single piece of artwork—each layer leading the way through a beautiful home. Tampa offers many options in lighting and for additional shopping choices consider visiting Lights & More in Tampa.
Home: What's Trending – Get the Latest in High-End Bathroom Designs
A home’s style is a reflection of its owner, and that’s true of your bathroom space as well. If your master bathroom or even one of your spares doesn’t speak to your favorite design, it might be time to consider a fresh face to those spaces. We’ve talked to some of the Bay area’s most in-the-know bath experts to give you four aspirational ideas for your next project. From spa inspiration and free-floating storage to additional seating options and natural stone, there are solutions for all tastes and styles. TREND #1: GO SPA-LIKE Who doesn’t love the spa? Well, now, you can incorporate some of those same luxuries into your own home bath. Add push, touch and feel into your new timeless modern bath-room design. For instance, the Hansgrohe allows you to push the user-friendly and easy-to-clean select trim to create your ultimate shower experience. Nancy Braamse of Olde World Cabinetry has several ex-amples, saying, “Therma Touch by Thermasol gives you a com-plete spa experience. One touch gives you light, sound, steam and music, all for you to relax by. Linear drains add elegance to your shower floor. No longer do you need a center drain that is pitched in four directions for you to stand on. Linear drains by Watermark can be placed on any wall or the en-trance of the shower, which allows for a clean curbless look.” Olde World Cabinetry, Plumbing & Hardware, 3751 62nd Av-enue North, Pinellas Park. 727-530-9779 or oldeworldcabi-netry.com. TREND #2: TAKE A SEAT Adding seating to your bathroom takes it from a functional room to a place to enjoy and escape to. The LC7 chair, designed in 1927 by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand is included in the Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art and makes an excellent statement piece in your bathroom space. Eric Cross of Home Resource elaborates, “It is also available for outdoor use and would make a great vanity seat. There is also the LC9 bath stool designed in 1927 by the same three designers, a symbol of personal hygiene, a matter of great concern for the Modernist Movement of the 1920s. Two chrome-plated steel tubes act as support from which two cross-bars can be removed, making it easy to replace the toweling seat.” Home Resource, 741 Central Avenue, Sarasota. 941-366-6690 or homeresource.com. TREND #3: BE FREE Free-floating bathroom vanities along with free-standing tubs are very popular. They open up small spaces, and also allow for easy cleaning. Marc Hammar of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery says, “Free-standing tubs are the rage; almost 80 percent of our tub sales are free-standing. These are available as soaking tubs, as well as air baths. Again, they open up thespace, allowing smaller areas to look larger, and they come in traditional, transitional and contemporary styles.” Additional trends include integrated countertops made from ceramic, solid surface or glass as well as more modern and contemporary bathroom faucetry with older-looking finishes like antique golds, satin golds, mink and platinum. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, 302 N Willow Avenue, Tampa. 813-251-1690 or www.ferguson.com/showrooms. TREND #4: STAY NATURAL Top designers and homeowners are taking full advantage of the limitless possibilities of natural stone, incorporating Travertine and Marble throughout their bathrooms. Using natural stone throughout the home is definitely the trend once again, but how it is being used is new and unique. Past trends often focused aesthetically on uniformity, with sizing and finishes of the stone being the dominant contrast throughout the build, but that’s changed. Stone-Mart’s Omer Ozer explains the new trend in more detail, saying “Current trends are accentuating the depth of the color tone layers in natural stone, which cannot be replicated in a man-made products, providing the opportunity to use natural stone in multiple color-contrasting selections and finishes throughout their designs to create a one-of-kind signature build for your bath.” Stone-Mart, 6005 Anderson Road, Tampa. 813-855-6900 or www.stone-mart.com
Garden: Landscape Designs
Whether you have a passion for plants and an eye for good design like Harry Teasley, Jr., or you leave it to the experts at Argentine Landscaping, a landscape plan that complements your home adds considerably to its aesthetic appeal. Scale, color, balance, size and placement are a few of the elements to consider. “Plants can serve many functions in the landscape, from providing shade, privacy screening, wind and noise abatement, to way-finding and security,” say Joe Argentine, owner of Argentine Landscap-ing, and head designer Bart Beck. Elements, such as lighting, walkways and irrigations are also im-portant considerations and “can provide the framework or bones that the rest of the plan can build upon,” says Argentine. Lighting makes the space more functional for both day and evening, provides safe passage and adds a level of security. Irrigation sustains the plants’ health, making sure adequate water is delivered with minimal waste. Drainage goes hand in hand with irrigation, pre-venting problems that could later cause extensive property damage. HARMONY INSIDE AND OUT Argentine also points out that the best landscape plans make it pos-sible for a seamless flow between the interior and exterior of the home. He says this is accomplished by schematically designing indoor and outdoor “rooms.” Harry Teasley, Jr., would agree with that idea. His beautiful 2.6-acre property in South Tampa, has a half-dozen outdoor spaces, each with a different eco-system. Florida Cypress stands guard at one end of a large lily pad and koi pond, which serves as a reservoir for the sprinkler system. It’s fun to watch the occasional heron land next to realistic looking statues along the banks of the pond, which is lined with Water Oak, Jacaranda, Royal Poinciana, Hong Kong Orchid, cycads and much more. So much lush foliage fills the yard that it provides a nice barrier both visually and for sound. Standing inside, you would never know the property fronts busy Bayshore Boulevard. Around the side of the house, you’ll find fruit trees, including mango, star fruit, pink grapefruit, bananas, Surinam cherries, macadamia and oranges. By the pool, there are huge gardenia and croton bushes shaped like giant balls. A LABOR OF LOVE “I’ve probably tripled the biomass of this place in the last 25 years,” says Teasley, who has a gardening crew of three to help him with the grounds. Near the house, bougainvillea leans against the wall in the French knot garden. A conservatory is filled with bonsai and orchids. And next to a walkway, African lily, calla lilies, hibiscus and birds of paradise are lined up in a row“my Florida version of an English perennial gar-den,” says Teasley. His gardening secret? He prefers a natural look and he has an ap-preciation for texture, color and water elements. “I simply bought plants and figured out what I could do with them one at a time,” he says. “I like the idea of looking around 360 degrees and always seeing something beautiful and different in every season. It’s a lot of work, but I love it.”