Modern Luxury Never Looked This Good

Contemporary Bayfront Estate

By Jordan Staggs | Photography by Timothy Ryan, 1920 & Co.

After traversing the custom-laid Tectura Designs concrete paver driveway at 1201 Baycrest Cove, your experience begins at the tall glass front doors. The entry boasts ceilings over twenty feet high with top-to-bottom glass doors and windows, and the theme continues throughout the home as all five bedrooms and the main living areas open up to nature and the bay. The home itself is a contemporary masterpiece with a soul of Southern hospitality befitting such a residence in sunny Destin, Florida, on the state’s northwest Gulf Coast.

“One thing I love about this property is its commanding presence, with a balanced and livable scale. It is open yet inviting. The warm wood tones throughout, the fireplace, and the views bring a comfort level that a lot of modern designs are missing today,” says Chris Abbott, broker and co-owner at Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty.

Step through the front door, and the view instantly grabs your attention. The entire backside of the home, sitting on 278 feet of waterfront, looks upon the shimmering Choctawhatchee Bay. It’s also the vista from the stunning eighty-eight-foot perimeter overflow pool, which boasts a hot tub and sun deck within. An adjacent sunken ten-plus-person fire pit just off the pool deck makes the perfect spot for watching a sunset over the bay with a glass of wine or your libation of choice. Beyond the pool deck, a path leads to the private dock with room for watercraft of all types, large or small. From there, it’s just a quick zip across the water to all the excitement of Crab Island, deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, dining and entertainment at the Destin Harbor, and more.

Once you’ve had a chance to marvel at the bay, more indoor exploration is in order. Indiana-based architect George Small designed the home. It features an expansive single-story footprint with five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, a four-plus-car garage, a Sub-Zero outfitted kitchen with quartzite countertops, an office area, a spacious pantry with a hidden safe room or wine room, and, of course, plenty of outdoor living space overlooking the pool and bay. The outdoor grilling area has ample space for entertaining, along with lounge seating and a fire ribbon, and it is connected to the main open-concept living room and kitchen by a massive sliding glass door that allows the indoor and outdoor spaces to flow seamlessly.

“There are no stairs or elevators, and its versatility provides options for many different owners. It could be someone’s primary residence or a second home, and even a retreat for those seeking total privacy and serenity.”

“The estate spans over two and a half acres on the bay, providing more than ample space for over seventy-two hundred square feet of single-story living,” says Abbott. “That offers accessibility that you don’t often find in homes this size. There are no stairs or elevators, and its versatility provides options for many different owners. It could be someone’s primary residence or a second home, and even a retreat for those seeking total privacy and serenity.”

Parallel to the garage and attached to the main house is a “wetlands lounge,” as Abbott and his team call it, which provides the option of a fifth bedroom yet could be used as an entertainment area, game room, man cave, or additional garage space. Its rustic look and glass garage door lent to its original use as a tack room for equestrian equipment, but the lounge has since been home to vintage arcade games, foosball, a wet bar with minifridge, and custom-made shelving and storage for a collector’s paradise.

The home, located in the exclusive gated community of Kelly Plantation, rests beyond another gate in the neighborhood of Waterford—truly a peaceful, private refuge. Neighbors to the west are hidden from view by strategically placed greenery and a beautifully designed wall that leads from the house to the waterfront. To the east, a wetlands conservation area ensures that no development will take place and also provides a beautiful natural barrier, so the home gets a taste of Florida’s rustic side along with its gorgeous bayfront. Kelly Plantation is one of the most desirable communities in the area, offering a golf course and clubhouse, an owners’ club, an equestrian center, and much more. Its landscaping and scenery provide a lush oasis still located within the heart of Destin and just a couple miles from its beautiful white-sand beaches.

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For more information about this home or other ownership opportunities in the area or to schedule a tour, contact Chris Abbott at Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty by email at chris@scenicsir.com or phone at (850) 259-7069. You can also visit 1201Baycrest.com.