Three Things: Home for the Holidays

The holiday season in Sarasota may well be the best in the nation. In addition to the parties, the eggnog, the plum pudding and the presents, we have our glorious winter weather. Relatives from up north beg for an invite, and who can blame them? It’s golf one day, the beach the next. But, best of all are the cozy evenings spent at home with family and friends, reminiscing about holidays past and planning ones for the future. Here are three Sarasota homes currently on the market that really capture the nostalgia of this time of year. And if Scrooge should show up — push him in the pool.

Happy New Year
600 Birdie Lane, Longboat Key

This large waterfront estate on Longboat Key has 5,000 square feet of elegant living space, crowned by a two-story living room that’s perfect for a gala on New Year’s Eve. You’ll have a stunning view of the downtown skyline. Totally renovated in 2005, the home features imported chandeliers, Scalamandre fabrics, Stark carpets and a heated pool with blue glass tiles. There’s definitely a French vibe, with each room detailed in a different style — the various Louises, Regency, Provencal. You’ll also find a 1,600 bottle “wine armoire” made from a single piece of wood.

Priced at $3,495,000. For more information, call Thomas Netzel of Premier Sotheby’s at 364-4000.

Small packages
1863 Prospect St., Sarasota

This beautifully updated cottage near Southside Village has a rich, stylish look that cries out for holiday wreaths and mistletoe. The current owner uses it as a refuge from a busy life up north, but it would also be a perfect full-time home for a couple or a single person. The master suite is near-new, with a vaulted ceiling and a luxurious bath, and the two original bedrooms share a bath. Pretty courtyards that function as outdoor rooms surround the home, and there’s a woodland-style pool. Wood floors, high-quality finishes and a coral fireplace mantel complete the picture. There’s a yet-to-be renovated former garage that would make a great artist’s studio.

Priced at $679,500. For more information, call Betsy de Manio of Coldwell Banker at 914-5540.

New old-fashioned charm
1752 Lincoln Park Circle, Sarasota

Built in 2003 at the southern edge of downtown, this four-bedroom, four-bath home has the classic American good looks so many of us remember from our childhoods. Located in an enclave of eight similar homes, it features a private dock on Hudson Bayou with direct access to the bay. The house boasts wood floors, crown moldings and millwork, terraces and custom landscaping, and a two-car garage. There’s also a den — or dining room — with a gas fireplace, plus a small pool. You’ll find two bedrooms downstairs, with two more on the second floor, along with a large gathering room perfect for the kids.

Priced at $1,295,000. For more information, call Kim Ogilvie of Michael Saunders at 376-1717.