Embracing the salt life is a natural for most Floridians, especially in Sarasota, where world-class beaches intersect with the landscape’s unspoiled natural beauty. For an active couple who had previously lived here, it seemed a no-brainer to return and build a dreamy seaside home as both their primary residence and a getaway for their extended family. Their chosen spot? Oyster Bay Landings, a private enclave known for its summer-in-Nantucket feel.
Built by the local Holliday Group, with architectural planning by BSB Design based in Tampa, the steep four-story home boasts 4,500 square feet of interior space, plus an additional 3,500 square feet of alfresco living. Impeccably designed to take advantage of full rooftop views of Sarasota Bay, the architecture also affords a host of outdoor living venues, including multiple pools, outdoor decks, and a breezy rooftop lounge.
“This exquisite home represents a seamless collaboration between builder, architect, designer, and homeowner—each bringing vision and detail to create a residence that is both functional and beautiful,” says Tracee Murphy, CEO and principal designer of Sarasota’s award-winning Trade Mark Interiors. “The clients requested spaces that were neutral, cozy, and cool, designed to balance the needs of a young family who enjoys frequent entertaining. The result is a series of thoughtfully defined gathering areas—some tailored for adults, others for children, and many for the family to enjoy together.”
Bespoke design details set the home apart, from a prominent “showcase elevator” wrapped by a sculptural staircase and adjacent sitting areas, to the living room’s expansive yet unobtrusive entertainment and shelving system. Fully equipped outdoor rooms, such as a covered terrace with a kitchen and dining area, enhance the dwelling’s interior living spaces, offering limitless opportunities for open-air entertaining. At the heart of the home, an overscale dining area seats 14, creating the quintessential centerpiece for family celebrations both large and small.
“The clients are an energetic young couple with school-aged kids, and they love to entertain,” notes Murphy. “They have quite a big family, so we envisioned this house as a gathering place for their large extended group. This project was extra-special for us because the homeowners placed all their trust in us to show our creative expertise—all while embracing the process, which can sometimes be messy.”
From said mess emerged a finished design that reflects both elegance and ease, where refined style meets livable comfort for a family-centered, entertainment-ready retreat. Custom elements, such as the richly patinaed wood-slat wall treatments, integrate seamlessly into the outdoor kitchen design, the son’s bedroom, and the outdoor shower by the pool, creating cohesive visual interest that counterbalances the home’s smooth, glossy surfaces and textural elements. The kitchen, clad predominantly in a cool white Silestone quartz, effortlessly balances stained walnut accents in small yet impactful doses. In the primary bedroom, a custom upholstered headboard panel system achieves the same effect, providing a wall of plushness to softly temper wooden furnishings, lighting fixtures, and other decorative metal pieces. Throughout the home, knotted and beachy white oak floors generate an elevated coastal aesthetic—a subtle statement befitting of the stunning seascape.
“A lovely neutral palette that incorporates texture, pattern, and cool lighting with personality created this extraordinary coastal vibe,” says Murphy. “These clients were such a delight to work with because they utterly understood how complicated construction can be, and they rolled with the punches while remaining enthusiastic about all the unique design elements we introduced. Climbing to the rooftop deck during construction with the builder and homeowners to plan the ultimate layout will always conjure up a special memory for me.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design by Tracee Murphy, Trade Mark Interiors, Sarasota, FL
Architecture by BSB Design, Tampa, Sarasota, FL
Construction by Holliday Group, Sarasota, FL
Text by Jeanne de Lathouder
Photography by Ryan Gamma, Sarasota, FL
Open to see Interior Design Sources:
Sources
Rooftop Lounge
Bar table – DWR
Stools – Made Goods, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Chairs and firepit – Ebel Incorporated, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Office
Cabinetry – PDR Kitchen & Bath, Sarasota, FL
Desk chair, chair, and ottoman – Four Hands
Living Area
Pattern sofa and fabric – Vanguard Furniture, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Swivel chairs – Century, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Black ottoman table – Bernhardt
Stone table – Four Hands
Drink table – Uttermost
Area rug – Surya
Kitchen
Cabinetry and hood – PDR Kitchen & Bath, Sarasota, FL
Low stools – Century, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Lighting – Visual Comfort & Co.
Dining Area
Table and buffet – Old Biscayne Designs
Chairs – Vanguard Furniture, International Design Source, Sarasota, FL
Lighting pendants – Soft Square
Family Room
Side table – Four Hands
Totem sculpture – Arteriors
Area rug – ProSource, Sarasota, FL
Primary Bedroom
Bed and headboard – Teknique Upholstery, Sarasota, FL
Bedside tables and console – Old Biscayne Designs
Pendant lighting – Visual Comfort & Co.
Area rug – Designer’s Resource of Florida, Sarasota, FL
Son’s Bedroom
Ottomans – Surya, surya.com
Millwork – Designed by Trade Mark Interiors, Sarasota, FL, and fabricated by Holliday Group, Sarasota, FL
Area rug – Dash & Albert
Primary Bathroom
Cabinetry – PDR Kitchen & Bath, Sarasota, FL
Sconces – Visual Comfort & Co.
Tub – Oceania
Wall tile – Jeffrey Court, Florida Design Works, Sarasota, FL
Pool Deck
Dining table – Janus et Cie
Chairs – Palecek
Sofa and wicker side table – Four Hands
Lounge chairs – Tupelo Goods
Area rug – Dash & Albert
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