39th annual Longboat Key Garden Club Home Tour: A sight to sea

Who needs a boat when you have a cruise ship-inspired home on Sarasota Bay?

Bill and Lisa Libmans’ Country Club Shores home, built in 2000, was constructed to resemble a cruise ship from the inside. Overlooking Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway, the bayside interior of the first story boasts views of the ocean with no land in sight.

“One reason we haven’t bought a boat is because we have a boat,” Lisa Libman said. “The concept is to feel like a ship so you don’t see land looking out on the bay; it’s very unique.”

Each room has its own outdoor space, from a wide expansive deck to a small, private patio.

A second-floor bathroom even leads to its own outdoor bathtub with views of the Sarasota Bay.

Outside, the pool rests at the front of the home and is sealed with privacy by an antique Thai ceiling tile framed by iron lattice panels. The pool cascades into a waterfall under the tile.

“I like how calming everything in this home is,” Lisa Libman said. “The whole house is very calming and very warm. There’s a very welcoming feeling to the home.”

— Kristen Herhold