- December 21, 2024
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Sometimes the past is hard to find in Sarasota. Brand new is the keyword these days, closely followed by bigger and better. All of which make this beach cottage on Lido such a happy find.
It dates to 1933 and is considered one of the very first homes built on the key. But if you’re expecting the lifestyle of 90-plus years ago, think again. It packs more up-to-date charm than most of its big fancy neighbors could imagine.
From the outside it appears much as it did when built. It’s pure Florida beach getaway, pre-World War II. It even has a name — the Mermaid Cottage. White, wood framed, it’s built for the perfect vacation, not real life. The beach, after all, is just half a block away. There’s a charming, trellised front porch, perfect for a relaxing old-fashioned afternoon of watching families come and go to the white sands of Lido. But when you go inside, the vision switches. Now we’re in a sophisticated contemporary home, yet one with all sorts of charming details that speak to its colorful history.
It’s much bigger than it looks. You enter a proper hallway, done in shades of gray and white. Large graphic art predominates. Just beyond is the spacious, open, all-white kitchen, complete with gas stove and upgraded appliances. Next comes the living area, with comfortable white sofas sitting on a sisal rug. From here you can see everything — the pool, the fireplace, the mounted TV, the people having fun in the kitchen. This “cottage” can accommodate a crowd. There’s an informal dining area adjoining the kitchen, and a more formal one that easily seats 10, overlooking the pool.
Dawn and Ben Schwenk had been looking a place for over a year when they came across the cottage. They wanted a second home on one of Sarasota’s keys, a refuge from their lives in Denver, where Dawn is a nurse and Ben is in the energy business. When their Realtor Holly Switow heard that the cottage was coming on the market, she called them immediately. After a hurried — and exciting — tour via Zoom, the Schwenks immediately made an offer, and the place was theirs. “We came to see it the next week in person,” Dawn remembers. “It was love at first sight.”
The history of the home is lost in the mists of local folklore, but it seems to be one of the first four cottages built on Lido in 1933. The neighbors say it was built by the Ringling brothers to house staff. “I like to think that someone amazing lived here,” says Dawn. “Like The Flying Concellos or Clyde Beatty, the lion tamer. These are the things that drew us to the house — its history and unique attributes.”
Another big plus? The previous owners had remodeled and redecorated to such a significant degree that the Schwenks found they had little to do. “They had great taste and vision,” says Dawn. “We’ve kept everything pretty much the way they had it.”
The home has a perfect layout for vacation living. The primary bedroom is off by itself, overlooking the pool. It features high ceilings and floral accents. The adjoining bath rivals that of any McMansion, with gray marble and tile detailing, a soaking tub with separate shower and dual sinks. There are two other bedrooms at the front of the house, separated by the entrance hall and each with its own bath.
And, as a special and invaluable bonus, a separate cottage stands right next to the home. The Schwenks call it the Little Mermaid and it contains an ample, smartly decorated living space of its own, with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bath. It can be rented — the entire property is classified as a legal duplex and weekly rentals are permitted — but the Schwenks never have. “It’s perfect for guests. It will sleep up to eight people. It’s particularly fun for the teenagers.”
The home’s pool may well be its heart as well. It’s surrounded by bright green palm trees and there is always something going on. In the morning it’s coffee as the day is planned, and in the afternoon, after the beach, Dan cooks dinner while Dawn and the guests relax with cocktails and music. “The pool is heated, so we can spend year-round enjoying the outdoors.”
“We love living at the beach,” Dawn says, and indeed, life at Mermaid Cottage sounds like a Jimmy Buffett song played very mellow. “It’s so relaxing to sit and listen to the waves, with that gentle Gulf breeze coming at you.” The home’s location puts all the simple pleasures of coastal living within walking distance. “My husband and son have caught many fish on the beach as well as the park at the south end of the island. We see dolphins, manatees, turtles. The mangroves are close by, and we go kayaking every time we visit.”
It’s not just nature that makes the home so appealing. A short stroll away is St. Armands Circle and all the pleasures it offers. “We fell in love with the Circle,” Dawn explains. “It’s wonderful being able to walk over to eat and shop.” Her favorite stop? “Kilwins. I go for the chocolate peanut butter ice cream and the cashew brittle. They are the bomb.”
Simple pleasures. That’s the appeal of Mermaid Cottage. An unexpected bonus was the sanctuary it provided during the pandemic lockdown. But, after four years of making wonderful family memories, the Schwenks are putting Mermaid Cottage on the market. The new owners will get a rare property with many facets — it’s historic, it’s glamorous and its location pretty much guarantees the perfect Sarasota vacation.
After all, this is pretty much where it all started.
