Homebuyers will pay a premium for a waterfront property. In February 2023, the median home price in Longboat Key was $1.5 million, compared with prices in Sarasota (which has only limited waterfront space) where homes cost about three times less ($495,000 median price), despite the city being just across the bay, according to Redfin.

Near the front water feature is a ponytail palm. Landscape designer Stephen Hazeltine says it’s rare to see such a mature specimen of this very slow growing plant native to Mexico.

Hazeltine says the column in the pool isn’t in danger of moisture damage because of how it’s built. “The pool’s shell was poured around the column itself,” he says, “so it’s basically separate from the pool.”

Local codes prohibit building over the seawall, so in extending the deck, Perrone says, the team decided to cut down into the wall in order to extend the deck out and connect it to the dock.

The angle of the home and the landscaping create well-framed views of downtown Saratoga from nearly any window on the rear elevation.

The pool’s concrete shell was poured in such a way that it’s separate from the house, Hazeltine says, “so if there’s any movement of the pool or the home, one won’t affect the other.”

Interior designer Angela Rodriguez says she wanted the home to have a “strong feeling of connection to the land and water,” and this was a guiding principle in her design of the interiors.

While the trim and molding details are painted to mimic the look and texture of wood, they are actually made of a composite material. And their appearance looks authentic: “If you were holding the corbels,” Perrone says, “you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.”

The home’s many interior details help to provide structure and continuity throughout the home, while the spaces maintain a feeling of uncluttered openness and connection to the water views .

The home’s primary bath features a mix of natural and natural-appearing materials, from metal to stone to engineered wood.