Elegant French chateau in Sarasota on the market for $4,399,000 – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Marsha Fottler| Correspondent

Situated in Sarasotas South Poinsettia Park amid leafy streets named for flowers, a chateau-like compound at 1807 Oleander Street is setting a neighborhood standard for curb appeal while offering 9,492-square-feet of European sophistication and outdoor areas that are lavish and beautiful. This property, which was built on three adjacent lots, has a separate guest house and garage bays for five cars. Its is on the market for $4,399,000 through Anita and Frank Lambert of Premier Sothebys International Realty.

Homes in South Poinsettia Park date back to the 1920s and its always been a desirable residential neighborhood, today significant for its West of the Trail cache. There is no homeowners association in South Poinsettia Park and no neighborhood fees. But, there are multiple stately homes on these flower streets named orchid, tulip, magnolia and jasmine and owners are conscientious about maintaining their investment.

The 1807 Oleander Street residence was built in 2006 by a local builder as his family home. The present owners, retired bankers who wish to remain anonymous, bought it in 2013 and immediately began a massive remodel that took about two years during which they collaborated with an interior designer, landscape designer and a pool designer.

We started with an overall design and did the master bedroom suite first, said one on the homeowners Next up was the master bath and then closets. The remodel was total involving nearly every space in the house with changes in wall surfaces, lighting, custom cabinetry and flooring, everything. We paid extreme attention to tiny details because we wanted it exactly right both in the main house and in the guest house. Then we moved to the outside and the pool. I think we ended up with one of the most beautiful outdoor living areas that anyone could dream of. But, through the whole process we were conscious of balancing style with comfort and livability. This is our year-round home and we wanted it to function perfectly besides being lovely to look at.

The multi-level manse and guest house have a total of five bedrooms, seven full baths and two half-baths. On opposite sides of a handsome paver motor court are garage bays for five cars. The doors look like barn doors, not conventional garage ones. The floors throughout the house are wide-plank walnut and the high ceilings are coffered or beam. The double-volume living room, with its impressive raised-hearth stone fireplace, is open to an upper wrought iron gallery where there is a library and sitting area. The kitchen is separated from a formal dining room (beam ceiling) that opens to the outdoors with a double set of French doors. Two highly ornamental wrought iron and crystal chandeliers are suspended over a dining table that seats fourteen.

The kitchen is the heart and soul of this house, said the homeowner. The section with the bar/island works well for kitchen cocktails or for cooking dinner for two or twenty-two. And, its honestly a pleasure to cook there. We put in a six-burner gas stove with two ovens, plus a wall oven, microwave drawer, two refrigerators, upright freezer in the walk-in pantry, two dishwashers and two sinks. The counters are quartz and there is more than enough storage in the white cabinets. But, what people always notice are the custom mosaic backsplash and the range hood. Over the years weve found that this kitchen is amazingly functional and totally pleasant to work in.

Natural light, views to the outside, coffered ceiling and two glamorous chandeliers make the room refined but also comfortable. The homeowners carved out space in the kitchen for a desk nook and a flat-screen TV.

In the vicinity of the dining room and kitchen is a wine room that features a unique floor. The brick was rescued from a smaller house that originally stood on the lot. The space is for temperature-controlled wine storage but its also fitted out as a tasting room. The home also has a big home office with a separate entrance.

French doors in the owners bedroom open to the patio and swimming pool part of the property. Theres a handsome fireplace in the master bedroom, a beam ceiling and two more of the homes signature chandeliers. The bath features a free standing marble tub and a large walk-in shower.

Upstairs off the gallery is a library sitting room. A two-bedroom guest suite, private and separate from the rest of the living quarters, is above the garage.

Additionally, there is a two-story detached guest house on the property. It faces inward to the pool pavilion and covered outdoor spaces. The guest house has two bedrooms, two baths, full kitchen, laundry, and a living/dining area.

The unique T-shaped, 45-foot-long lap swimming pool weaves through the property bringing the three segments of the compound into harmony. The architecture was a joint effort among Artistic Pools, a landscape designer and an interior designer, said the homeowner. When we bought the house there was no pool, just a patio. So we had all the lush landscaping removed, transported and planted temporarily in a nursery where it was stored for the entire year that we created this new outdoor expanse. It seemed like a monumental task while we were at it, but when we look at it now or are outside enjoying it all, we know it was worth the effort. Its something special with stretches of patio, loggia, covered garden rooms, an al fresco dining area with a huge stone fireplace, ivy covered walls, and everywhere plants and flowers. The main house has eight sets of French doors that open wide to the natural environment.

To furnish the home and guest house, the two owners brought with them family pieces as well as American and European antiques and art they have acquired over the years. We worked with an interior designer to make the rooms more current, said the homeowner. We added some Asian accents throughout the whole property. We think the Asian artifacts blend nicely with what we already had and they add even more character to the outdoor rooms.

This French-inflected estate is the culmination of what these homeowners envisioned when they first saw the property seventeen years ago. And yet, they have decided to part with it.

Were retired now, said the homeowner, and I think we are ready to downsize. We intend to stay in Sarasota and make this our year-round home, but we both want to take the time to explore new and different vacation destinations. This home is ready for people who like to entertain, enjoy being outside, or plan to host out-of-town friends and relatives.

Lucky guests.

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Elegant French chateau in Sarasota on the market for $4,399,000 - Sarasota Herald-Tribune