MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE ESTATE

Yes, it’s that house – the one everyone stops to admire when they find themselves under the live oak canopy of this famous and beloved street. Built slowly and thoughtfully in the 1930s, this Mediterranean-style residence has undergone a complete restoration in the past five years. Timeless in its appeal, virtually every room is rich with original architectural gems. Presiding over Magnolia Avenue from its half-acre, the quality of construction speaks to you from the street.

The double brick construction is very rare in St Augustine and you can’t help but notice how solid and true the house looks and feels inside and out. A wide entryway divides the common rooms with a living room to the left and formal dining to the right. Step into the living room and the multipaned window overlooking the fountain and bamboo thicket will catch your eye. Cypress beams span the ceiling and a woodburning fireplace will warm up a chilly evening. A library with two walls of windows is tucked behind the living room. With antique quarry tiles on the floor, this cozy room is a favorite place to light. The game room next door (think chess, checkers, cards and backgammon, please) has a small corner hearth, an immense wooden window seat and a classic wet bar behind beautifully grained cypress doors. An oak and copper clad kitchen is new but fits seamlessly into the period and enjoys an exposed brick wall with butler’s pantry, office and 3/4 bath within easy reach. The dining room will accommodate any number of people and its large bay window alcove looks over the front lawn so you can see guests arriving. A treetop master occupies the north half of the second floor with windows on three sides. The second and third upstairs bedrooms share a bath and the eastern room has a private dressing room. Sunsets are especially beautiful when enjoyed from the second-story porch which spans 37′ across the front of the house.

A later addition on the south side created another ‘residence’ on one floor. Connected by a gardening/hobby room that also opens to the patio, the suite contains a casual kitchen, a bedroom/office with half bath and an immense living room with two walls of huge windows looking out over the lawn. A ell-shaped brick patio wraps around the back of the house with a pergola adding architectural detail and a place to for jasmine to bloom. Rare for the time, there’s a two-car garage with a deep driveway. A rare jewel indeed –