Beachfront midcentury time capsule asks $1.9M

The southwestern coast of Florida is packed with well-preserved midcentury gems, but one of its most unique is this four-bedroom, four-bath home on the Gulf of Mexico. Sarasota Magazine called the house the most mysterious of all the famed residences that make up the Sarasota School of Architecture, in no small part because it has remained untouched and in the same family since it was built in 1953.

The rarely seen 2,987-square-foot house was the writer’s studio of Walter Farley—author of the Black Stallion book series—and was designed by Sarasota architecture icons Ralph Twitchell and Jack West. It’s a time capsule in the truest form, with original details like Ocala block construction, clerestory windows, and mahogany louvers that let in the ocean breeze.

Huge windows look out to the water, and other features include terrazzo floors, eight-foot tall doors, and large built-in closets, desks, and cabinets. A sculptural fireplace designed by Paul Rudolph was originally created for the Revere Quality House, and the galley kitchen boasts all vintage cabinets.

The main house sits directly on the beach, and behind the house is the thick Florida jungle and a natural creek. The grounds and the home both need work, but the home offers an alluring prospect for a preservation-minded buyer. Love what you see? 1100 Sunset Drive originally hit the market last year for $2,400,000, but had a recent price reduction to $1,900,000.

Photo by Glenn Johnson, Coastal Photography