Castles in the Sand

77 Stallworth Boulevard

By Jordan Staggs | Photography by Tim Kramer

Walking along the white sands of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, one might look north from the Gulf and, at first glance, believe one sees a majestic life-sized sand castle nestled among the dunes. Another blink of the eye reveals that it’s actually a one-of-a-kind six-thousand-square-foot home overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Located in the exclusive gated community of Stallworth Preserve, 77 Stallworth Boulevard is unquestionably one of the most well constructed homes on the Gulf Coast and built to last for generations. Built by the prominent firm of Davis Dunn and designed by Santa Rosa Beach architect Steven Dugan and award-winning Nashville designer Marjorie Feltus Hawkins, the home is truly a unique masterpiece, perfect for a discerning buyer looking for the ultimate in luxury on the coast.

“This project was a collaboration with the owners to create spaces reflecting her interests and provide a soothing respite along the Gulf’s edge,” says Hawkins, owner of Feltus Hawkins Design. “We looked to the Gulf and nature for the interior palette, bringing the outside indoors. Turquoise is the primary palette color, with natural accents of color and pattern reflecting the sand and sea life.”

A private walled courtyard in the front of the home and the arched pergola over the entryway immediately lend an air of luxury. The homeowners, Teresa and David Disiere, love seahorses and mermaids, both seen in design elements throughout the house. Visitors are captivated by a handmade mosaic tile wall in the foyer featuring seahorses, an octopus, and a mermaid. The turquoise faux-finished Venetian plaster walls and the ceiling with metallic accents complete the magical underwater scene. The bedrooms also feature themes of ocean life, from seahorses and mermaids to seashells and coral.

“We selected ipe wood, also known as Brazilian walnut, for the staircase and flooring,” Hawkins says. “Its incredible hardness and strength make it durable and well-suited to withstand traffic.”

The first floor is inviting and comprises an open family room with a bar and built-in entertainment center, as well as two bedrooms, while the second level includes the custom designer kitchen and butler’s pantry. In the kitchen and dining room, the eye is drawn to the stunning Blue Louise granite. The dining room is in one of the home’s “towers” and features a circular herringbone floor with granite and marble inlaid to create the look of sea waves, while the countertops in the kitchen are done in the same Blue Louise granite. The custom ceiling in the dining room is mother-of-pearl and shell, and matching capiz shells are set into the bar cabinet. Whimsical jellyfish pendants serve as the lighting fixtures over the kitchen sink and bar area.

Genuine turquoise tiles provide a striking backdrop—reminiscent of the Gulf—for the powder room.

“Genuine turquoise tiles provide a striking backdrop—reminiscent of the Gulf—for the powder room, and small mosaics of the same turquoise are inset into the iron balusters along the stair rail to continue the theme from the first level up to the main family space,” Hawkins adds. The second-floor living room has beautiful dark walnut wood ceiling beams and a spectacular view of the Gulf. It also includes a study fit for a king, with exotic bird’s-eye maple cabinetry and a unique curved desk with authentic turquoise tile work.

 

The entire third floor is taken up by the master suite, with vaulted wood ceilings and a curved TV alcove. The spa-inspired bath has granite handpicked especially to complement the emerald-green waters of the Gulf. In addition, the top level features a full bar, an exercise room, and a laundry, as well as an exit to a set of circular stairs and a covered observatory, perfect for enjoying the western view overlooking miles of uninhabited beach at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

“The master bedroom is a soothing oasis, with neutral colors and accents of sea life and a vaulted wood ceiling,” says Hawkins. “For the master bath, we created a spa environment that includes a curved wall of tiles that run vertically to simulate seaweed and sea life. Vanity mirrors are backlit because wall-mounted fixtures would take away from the tile pattern of the wall. An added bonus—backlit mirrors make your complexion look amazing!”

Other luxurious finishes throughout the home include jewelry-grade turquoise walls in the powder room, glazed cabinets with raised woven silk inserts, baths with grass cloth and woven Japanese wall coverings, and more. No doubt the splendor of this magnificent estate is fit for a king—or, dare we say, Poseidon himself!

 

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For more information on 77 Stallworth Boulevard, to view video of the home, or to schedule a showing, visit www.77stallworth.com. Realtors Tracey Clay and Leslie Rudder can be found at destinlifestyles.com.
traceyclay32@gmail.com
(850) 259-9672

Castles In The Sand – Alys Beach from VIE Magazine on Vimeo.