A beachfront mansion on Longboat Key designed in the lavish style of a northern Italian lake home with detailed European influences both outside and inside has come onto the market for the first time. It is being offered by five siblings for the asking price of $10,880,000 through Judy Kepecz-Hays of Coldwell Banker.
The traditional three-level Italian villa is similar to ones that fringe Lake Como. It has a red tile roof and stucco exterior, five bedrooms, five full baths and a garage space that can accommodate six cars. Set far back from the road and partially concealed by a low stucco wall and ornamental iron gates, the property sits on nearly an acre of land and includes 100 feet of private, white sandy beach.
The home was built in 1993 by a retired Vice President of European Sales Operations for Ford of Europe. Queen Elizabeth II conferred on him membership in the Order of the British Empire, the OBE, in 1969 for services to British exports. His wife was a prize-winning gardener and designer.
They had five children and lived all over the world before deciding to move to Longboat Key and build a year-round large family home that eventually welcomed five children, their spouses and 19 grandchildren. The wife passed in 2005 and the husband last summer at age 94. He was an active member of the Audubon Society of Sarasota, the Sarasota British Club and he was a well known personality on the island. Since the five children now live in Hawaii and California, they have decided it is impractical to keep the Florida estate although they have many wonderful memories of the place they all considered their second home.
“My sister and I both got married at the property,” remembered Johanna, the eldest daughter. “We had our ceremonies on the beach and the reception around the pool. It was absolutely magical. We all gathered frequently from different parts of the county at the Longboat house for holidays, family vacations and family celebrations. I particularly remember us gathering around the fireplace in the living room for photos. I have three decades of photos of us at the fireplace.”
She remembers when the home was built. “There was an architect of record, but my parents collaborated with the builder Bill Roberson on the overall design of the house and construction materials,” said Johanna. “Our family came to Longboat Key in 1989 when dad and mom bought the lot and cleared it. We rented a house nearby and came to see the 69 pilings that went into the ground for the foundation. Dad insisted on the best quality and safest beachside home that it was possible to build. He was meticulous…
Read More: Longboat Key estate built in 1993 on market for $10.88M