The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 15 No. 21 - March 18, 2015

FEATURE

Tour of Homes features Island style of living

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Jack Elka Photography | submitted

Janet Schaffer • 5803 Imperiore Street, Holmes Beach

ANNA MARIA – Tour five Island homes featuring unique beach living at its best at the Island Community’s Center’s 22nd annual Tour of Homes on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The tour includes the homes of Maureen and Bill Shuman, 105 49th Street; Liz and Bob Lang, 5601 Flotilla Drive; and Janet Schaffer, 5803 Imperiore Street, all in Holmes Beach; and Barbara and Asa Cole, 218 Archer Way; and Brian Wien, 228 Willow Avenue, both in Anna Maria.

Tickets for the tour are available for $20 at various Island locations, and a free shuttle to the homes will be stationed at CrossPointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive, at the border of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. Restrooms will be available at the Holmes Beach city field at 5801 Marina Drive and at CrossPointe Fellowship.

This year’s Tropical Treasures Boutique will be located at the Cole house, where visitors will find unique items for the home with a tropical twist, can bid on silent auction items made by local artists and buy raffle tickets for this year’s Tour quilt, “Seas the Day on AMI.”

The quilt drawing and bid awards will be at 3 p.m. Quilt tickets are available at the Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, until the day of the tour.

Tour sponsors are Beach to Bay Construction, Duncan Real Estate, Green Real Estate, Anna Maria Island Sun, Bradenton Herald and The Islander. All proceeds benefit the Island Community Center.

For more information call Sandee Pruett at the Center at 941-778-1908, ext. 0

Maureen and Bill Shuman • 105 49th Street, Holmes Beach

This blue-and-white-themed home was completely remodeled in 2010 by the current owners. They included thoughtful details such as coffered and tray ceilings, a huge porch along the beach side of the house, travertine tile and hardwood floors, wine closet, built-in bookcases, wainscoting and oodles of trim.

There is a wood-burning fireplace that opens on both sides to be enjoyed in both the living room and sitting room areas. The numerous large windows offer enviable Gulf views from almost every room in the house.

The kitchen’s white cabinets are offset beautifully by the blue granite countertops and blue accented tray ceiling. In the original house, the present kitchen was the bedroom and bathroom of an in-law suite. Now, you can cozy up to the peninsula to enjoy a beverage while admiring the water view.

All three bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, and there is an additional full bathroom off the pool porch. The master suite, with its wrap-around deck and huge closet, has another bonus – whether in the shower or spa tub, you can enjoy the Gulf view.
The owners kept the original 2,200 square foot footprint of this 1940s beach house and added a 1,100 square foot second level, while seamlessly blending traditional and coastal décor in their elegant home.

Liz and Bob Lang • 5601 Flotilla Drive, Holmes Beach

The first thing you’ll notice is the location in the heart of Holmes Beach and steps away from everything. The next is size, with 10,000 stylish square feet of living space.

The house sits on the end of a canal and boasts one of the few covered boathouses on the Island. Enter and enjoy what the owner describes as “unique, eclectic, comfortable beach living.”

Built circa 1956, this house was purchased and remodeled by the owners in 2008. Extensive renovations occurred when a fire claimed the back portion of the home 2012.

Notice the artistic touch in the 223-pound fish rubbing, the lively decorated support columns and the carved concrete floors in a painted banana leaf theme.

The hub of the home is the amazing grotto pool with stone and etched concrete floors. The blue powder-coated metal stair and railings lead to the loft area for watching projection movies, sunset or relaxing on refurbished vintage barstools.

In addition to the enormous master suite are three guest suites, including the retro mermaid suite with blue tile and fixtures. In the entry/sitting room area find the wine cellar with beautiful leaded-glass door.

The kitchen has glass-topped counters, double refrigerators, semicircular peninsula and double wet bar off the pool area. Back splashes are custom-made carved stucco.

Janet Schaffer • 5803 Imperiore Street, Holmes Beach

Welcome to a big treat in a small package. Renovating one of the Island’s original, ground level, cement block houses proved fun and rewarding for this realtor/designer/owner. Originally under 1,000 square feet, it’s now about 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two full baths.

It is believed to be a Richman Home, economically built by being one block of height less than usual in order to allow more people to afford to build. Check for the curb appeal with the white exterior, blue door, pergola and inviting porch.

Check the innovative use of space with the entry/second guest bedroom with its trundle bed. This room was the original sun porch, so A/C and heat were added.

The original, oversized windows allow loads of light to enhance the white kitchen cabinets, white granite countertops, subway backsplash, farmhouse sink and peninsula seating.

The guest bath has a soaker tub. The master ensuite bath has a unique shower, which was originally a walk-through area to the sun porch.

The yard boasts a pool with changing light colors and a massage seat, plus an enclosed shower and pool toy storage box.

Barbara and Asa Cole • 218 Archer Way, Anna Maria

Venture to the end of Archer Way and you will find a welcoming yellow house with sky blue shutters built in 2014. You’ve arrived at an Island sanctuary only two blocks from the Gulf beach.

The owners wanted a place for family to visit and with four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and generous, open kitchen and living areas, there is plenty of room for them. The problem is, they’ll never want to leave.

The ground floor has an abundance of parking, storage and recreation space, leading to the private, beautifully landscaped yard, with pool, spa and outdoor seating area. A spiral staircase leads up to the wrap-around back balcony off the living room and master bedroom.

A tiled entry leads, by stairs or elevator, up to the bright, impeccably furnished main floor. The main entry is up stairs to a front balcony.

The gorgeous kitchen, with its peninsula and island seating, anchors the main level. The additional areas branch off with a spacious, comfortable feel.

Enter the luxurious master suite through double doors to find a sitting area, large ensuite bathroom and closet and front and back decks. The kitchen and bath share soothing cream-colored cabinetry and granite countertops.

Brian Wien • 228 Willow Avenue, Anna Maria

On a tranquil canal in Anna Maria, enjoy 3,400 square feet of sprawling luxury in this classic and elegant Southern beach home decorated in neutral tones and blues. The noble white exterior, driftwood gray shutters and blue front door beckon you into the split-level entry.

Downstairs enter the three-car garage, storage and lanai areas. Upstairs, delight in the spacious living room and kitchen area with two additional sets of double doors.

One opens to a private dining room with herringbone wood floor. The other to a bright and comfortable den. Family and guests will appreciate the separate loft area, five bedrooms and four and a half baths.

The high end and thoughtful finishes in this home include solid oak white-washed floors, quartz countertops, sub-zero and Wolf appliances with paneled doors, handmade shell sconces, generous wainscoting and trim, porcelain tiled baths, a free-standing copper tub, a farmhouse sink in the powder room and multiple wrap-around decks.

Outdoors, wander the lavish yard with travertine tiled pool area, enormous hot tub, and unique built-in fire pit. That gorgeous deck is a durable Brazilian teak, called Ipe.


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