Now Available: Gulf-Front Home at Cinnamon Shore

 

Working closely with some of Florida’s most acclaimed designers, the current owners of Cinnamon Shore’s 214 Seaside Drive knew what they wanted for their family of five: a haven with beach cottage appeal, sophisticated coastal style, and, above all, an incredible deck with an incredible view. “If we were going to do this and invest in a beachside lot and house, it had to have a great deck,” says owner Glenn Sutton.

 

 

Glenn and his wife Amy asked urban designer Mark Schnell and interior designer Paige Schnell of Florida’s 30A resort area to help make their dream home — and its large main deck — come together with incomparable style. They worked with Mark, principle of Schnell Urban Design, to ensure that the 15-by-38-foot deck off the main living area had expansive views, room for family and friends, and a spot for a grill well away from the crowd. 

 

 

A marine-grade wire railing offers clear views over grassy dunes to the uninterrupted views of Gulf. “Even in the height of summer and height of the crowd, we could sit on that deck and look at the ocean, and the car traffic on the beach and people would be just beyond sight, below the dune line,” Glenn says, adding that on the hottest Texas day the deck is shaded and catches the breeze.

 

Inside, the main living space was designed to showcase stellar water views, too. Paige Schnell selected sand-colored panel drapes with simple turquoise borders to frame the windows that open to Gulf views.

 

 

 

Throughout the home, neutral wall colors and upholstery serve as a backdrop for bright accents of aqua and coral accessories and upholstery, all selected by Paige, who owns Tracery Interiors at Florida’s Rosemary Beach. “Amy wanted light and airy interiors – beachy but not too kitschy,” Glenn says. She worked closely with Paige as the rooms came together, and ultimately, the home appeared in Paige’s coffee table book Tracery: The Art of Southern Design (Harry N. Abrams, 2015).

 

 

In the main living space, the open floor plan calls for the designer kitchen with double stove top and ovens to open to the dining area and living room. A polished wood floor unifies the main living areas, while rustic, wood beams define the living room ceiling and add character.

 

 

The kitchen features two white islands with seating for six—perfect for casual dining on bar stool-height chairs with aqua-colored linen slipcovers. Prep can happen on one island, while kids snack at the other. And the cook still feels connected to a group in the dining area or those watching the wall-mounted TV over the fireplace in the living room. “When we had family gatherings and had friends down there’s a  lot of group time in the kitchen,” Glenn says.

 

 

Chairs slip-covered in white surround the gracious dining table, illuminated by a contemporary, rectangular chandelier crafted of natural wood and wire. It’s a warm place to come together for a convivial dinner after a day on the beach!

 

 

Before you can experience the main living space, enter the four-story home by way of a driveway entrance. It opens into a foyer that’s lined with coat hooks and built-in benches, an area flooded with natural light from atrium skylights high above. The entry passes through to the two-car garage and outdoor shower. An elevator, behind a charming, barn-door style door, and a handsome stairway lead to the three levels above.

 

 

The second level features a small den with TV, a great place to gather away from the bigger crowds. Here, one of two master suites offer a luxury getaway. “Guests love to be in that room,” Glenn says, pointing out its private bathroom and private back porch with dune and water views. “They feel like they could lay in and stay in all day. It’s like a resort hotel room.”

 

 

A fireplace offers cozy warmth on cooler nights. Paige selected white furnishings with turquoise accents, including the handsome oatmeal-colored bedspread with turquoise crewel embroidery, a handsome turquoise rug, and a pair of turquoise lamps.

 

 

The darling master bath on this level features walls clad with horizontal shiplap, mostly painted white with a few boards painted teal for a nautical look. Double sinks and coastal artwork complete the charming bathroom.

 

 

The other two guest rooms on this level both enjoy water views over the undulating dune line, and each has creative interiors. For instance, one features a grey-white-and-blue rug with a chevron pattern under a bed topped with a grey-and-white striped duvet – mixing patterns in a fun way that works well. White-washed paneling and window shades made of natural fiber lend a coastal feel. In another, oar artwork above the bed offers a nautical touch.

 

 

Back on the third floor, behind the gorgeous kitchen and living space, a fantastic bunk room doubles as a media room. Two pairs of bunk beds and two daybeds line the walls, leaving the main part of the room open for comfy seating before a wall-mounted TV.

 

 

"Our boys, now in college, and their high school sport team friends enjoyed it,” Glenn says. “You could put the whole crew out there, and when they’re not at the beach or the pool that’s where they spend their time. It’s separated from the main living space.”

 

 

The bunk room has its own spacious bathroom, with two storage nooks, dual showers, and a lavatory with three sinks. Walls painted complementary tones of teal and blue, teal cabinets, and white countertops have subtle coastal charm.

 

 

Finally, the fourth floor features a master suite that’s almost like a private luxury apartment. A white cathedral ceiling with exposed rafters and natural wood beams soars above a lovely bed with luxury linens. “You can lounge here to your heart’s content,” Glenn says. “There’s a picture window that looks out at the Gulf, and we had drapes on it, but there’s no reason to shut them. We wake up to the sun coming up.” 

 

The drapes of powder blue with coral panels at the bottom are simple and stylish, continuing the color palette that works with crisp white upholstery throughout the home. Roman shades in the master bathroom over the stand-alone tub coordinate with the drapes. And the walk-in shower has handsome tile work and double showerheads.

 

 

The master suite opens to a balcony shaded by a pergola, a breezy, private place to take in some of the very best views at Cinnamon Shore. Other side porches on the second and third floors offer views over the community to the bay.

 

 

The fourth-floor luxurious master suite also features an adjoining study/office area with built-in bookshelves and a fireplace, a cozy place to read. A desk at the window looks to the Gulf. In addition, the fourth floor offers its own bar and an alcove with a second washer and dryer.

The house fared well during Hurricane Harvey, well-protected by the sturdy dune system. It has a brand-new standing seam metal roof.

 

Glenn is replacing the marine-grade wire railing the home’s street-facing balconies with brand-new wood railings for ease of maintenance. He is, however, leaving the wire railing on the main, Gulf-front balcony deck, along with the formula for keeping it rust-free, for the next homeowners so they can enjoy those see-through views.

The home also has newly installed touch-pad controls for lighting, sound, and security control. Seven exterior security cameras monitor the home. A convenient app allows remote monitoring.  And a new Yamaha receiver for digital stereo and TV systems.

The Suttons are willing to leave behind a golf cart and four beach bikes – a few toys to get beach life started for the new owners.

Gulf-front homes rarely come on the market at Cinnamon Shore, and this one offers exquisite style and function—all with one of the largest decks in Cinnamon Shore. At $2,850,000 with 4,350 square feet of living space, this showstopper will become an anchor for a family who wants to make memories on this stretch of Texas Shore. Memories of views like this.