ANNA MARIA ISLAND – One of the biggest events of the year is just around the corner and tickets are on sale now. The Center of Anna Maria Island’s annual Tour of Homes takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. This year’s tour features four of Anna Maria Island’s most elegant homes along with a stop at The Center of Anna Maria Island where attendees can shop, grab a bite to eat, tour the facility and buy raffle tickets for a chance to win this year’s tour quilt. The tour is dedicated to the memory of Island resident Ann Horne.
The Willow House – 222 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria
Simplicity, softness and grace welcome you to this new home, built last year by Moss Builders. This home features four bedrooms, four baths and two half-baths. The upper level of the home has an inviting living area complete with bedrooms, a TV room and a small kitchen. Don’t miss the beautiful tree trunk table!
The interior of the home is complete with hand-scraped, wire-brushed oak floors throughout. Most of the home is painted in Sherwin Williams “Extra White.” The kitchen and upstairs bar area were done by Progressive Cabinetry and the accent color cabinetry is called “Aegean Teal.” This color can also be found on the walls of the guest bedroom at the end of the hall. The powder bath and accent wall in the guest bedroom are painted with “Twilight Blue.” The dining room table and living room coffee table were custom-made by local fabricators. The upstairs bathroom color is “Sea Salt.” The master bedroom is painted in “Tradewinds Blue.” The exterior of the home is painted “Harbor Haze” with “Vanilla Bean” accents and dark glazed natural cypress tongue and groove.
222 Willow Avenue was designed by Beacon Home Designs with the selections and interior design done by Emily Moss. Lancaster Designs did the landscaping and Sanger Pools did the pool. It is currently for sale through Gulf Bay Realty of Anna Maria, Inc.
Horne Home – 8403 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach
Purchased 31 years ago by John Horne during his tenure at the iconic Fast Eddie’s, this traditional 1960s block home sitting on Bimini Bay was completely renovated in 2017, maintaining the small island charm in the of design.
John’s parents, Ann and Lynn were riding their bikes around the island and came across the house “for sale by owner (Gus Kent.)” They told John that they had found the perfect house for him to buy on the island and in usual Momma Ann style she ended her “pitch” with “…because I’m going to live there when I get old.”
Fast forward 29 years and her wish became a reality upon the sale of their two-story home on the north end of the island. John and Amanda renovated the one-story home with an eye to their parents being able to live there for many years.
We had “imagineered” many times over various projects with the talented Mike Carter and his construction team and this project was no different. We focused on a floor plan that had no doorway thresholds and in the master bedroom, again, no shower threshold to reduce the chance of tripping.
One of our favorite features is the Brazilian pecky cypress in the walls in the living and dining areas – it added warmth and a nautical cottage feel to the house paired with the oyster shell sconces and candelabras. Enhancing the nautical feel is the mother of pearl backsplash in the kitchen. Be sure to check out the kitchen cabinet handles.
The back of the house overlooks beautiful Bimini Bay and has pavers and flowerbeds. The garden was designed and implemented by Jeff Gilchrist with much input from Lynn, Sr. who requested multiple citrus trees and lychee to compliment the famous old mango tree. This mango tree is a favorite of the old islanders. Snooks Adams was known to stop by to take samples and ensure there was a tasty crop!
This home has so many special memories of celebrations over the years: oyster stew on Christmas Eve, Momma Ann and Papa Lynn’s 60th wedding anniversary celebration, birthdays … family and friends. We hope you feel the aura of love and happiness created by Ann and Lynn.
Kerschner Home – 637 Key Royale Drive, Holmes Beach
The owners, Greg and Kathy Kerchner, local architect Gene Aubry, and Shoreline Builders collaborated on the design of this coastal contemporary. The custom Sapele doors match both the garage doors and two garden gates. Wiederhold Creations custom made some of the woodwork. The eight aluminum balconies cannot be missed as you walk up to the home.
The two-story foyer draws your attention to the incredible perimeter overflow and infinity-edged pool and spa. Overhead in the foyer hangs a 32-pendant chandelier. The globes were hand blown in Israel. The wood artwork on the wall is Fever Tree, indigenous to Africa but grown at Selby Gardens in Sarasota. Floating black walnut stairs lead to the first living area. The 14-foot dining room table was created from a single slab of sinker cypress. This massive log was underwater for over 100 years and was created by Mother Nature and embellished by local craftsmen. The second chandelier features raindrop shaped globes as a paean to the natural beauty on display outside.
The kitchen tabletop was custom built for the owners for their previous home. Greg refinished it to coordinate with the quarter-sawn black walnut flooring throughout the home. The cypress mantle over the fireplace was also handcrafted by Greg. Be sure to take notice of the of the Camphor wood countertop in the powder room as Greg, again, designed and built it himself.
The owner’s wine collection rests in a climate-controlled room of cypress racking. A wet bar incorporates a local nautical chart as a backsplash. An expansive guest suite makes a perfect in-law suite with an oversized tub, sitting space and twin balconies. The second living level includes an exercise room and office. The master suite affords a view of the sunrise from a private balcony. The master bath features marble flooring and counters. A unique tub circulates air through its jets. Bedrooms three and four are also on this level. Both feature en-suite and private balconies.
An inviting bar awaits outside with full outdoor kitchen. A water feature graces one side yard and provides a soothing visual interest.
Fangmeyer Home – 92 52nd Street, Holmes Beach
When you enter this beachfront home get ready to be swept away to the French countryside. Belle Fangmeyer designs all the charming interior. Her love of flowers and birds are ever present. As you come through the front gate be sure to see the iron sailfish artwork. This sculpture was originally a fountain in front of a bank in Tampa. You will also have an opportunity to peek over the gate at Belle’s herb garden and potting shed. Gardening is her favorite pastime. Hand-painted palm trees grace the border near the foyer ceiling, and waves greet you as you enter.
Upstairs, in the living area, is a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mexico. A large “birdhouse” in the kitchen makes you smile as you see the wine bottles tucked into the holes of the birdhouse. A handyman friend from North Carolina made the large arch over the kitchen stove as well as the mantle over the fireplace in the living room.
Dan and Belle’s favorite room is the small room off the living room they call the porch. The table in the center of the room is from Paris. In fact, many pieces of furniture throughout the home are antiques from Europe. You will notice a dry sink in their lounge room which came from their horse stable in North Carolina. Their Tennessee Walker horses are stabled there along with Boer goats they call their big pets. Belle and Dan have a 60-acre farm in North Carolina which also doubles as a wedding venue.
As you slowly stroll and take in the serenity of this home, notice the burst of flowers as you enter each of the three bedrooms. Sunset can be viewed from two of the up or downstairs porches. The backyard and pool offer a relaxing respite. Another impressive iron sculpture of a humpback whale and calf sits close to the 149 feet of beachfront property. An outdoor kitchen is near the pool alongside the “Margarita” room. This is another guest room with an en-suite bath. Murphy beds are enclosed along one wall. The Margarita “feel” flows into the bath with shower doors that are etched with a margarita glass and shaker of salt. Olé!
Dan and Belle purchased this 3300 sq. ft. home in 2017. The builder was Whitehead Construction in 2014.
Center Bazaar
The Center Bazaar is open to all and is located at The Center at 407 Magnolia Ave in Anna Maria Island. The Bazaar will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is sponsored by Duncan Real Estate. The Bazaar will feature local vendors selling art, pottery, jewelry, and more. There will be food vendors for those looking for a quick bite during the tour. The Tropical Treasures Boutique will also be located at The Center with The Bazaar. The boutique includes crafts, art, and homemade jellies all donated to The Center. The quilt created by the Eyeland Needlers will be on display at The Center and tickets can be purchased for the raffle. The quilt is titled “Mermaid’s Garden” and is sponsored by Green Real Estate.
Tickets for the Tour of Homes are $25 each and can be purchased at The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, or at each stop of the tour on the day of the event. For more information, call the Center at 941-778-1908 or email info@centerami.org.
