Part work and part play, this majestic Winter Park residence sits on just under two acres of prime waterfront property overlooking Lake Maitland in Florida. The 15,600 sq. ft. home is nestled among the greats on Via Tuscany Drive, but offers a striking counterbalance with bold Neo-Georgian architecture. The intrinsic nature of this home lies within a delicate balance between a lively, outdoor entertainment space for weekend guests and the need for a full-blown official-size tennis court - a bare essential for the former tennis pro homeowner. Guided by the clients' vision of their dream home, landscape architecture firm Mills Design Group created a formal oasis with a stunning pool, ample social spaces, and emphasized priceless views of the lake.

 
The first site visit revealed a different story though. The seemingly close water's edge lapped at a mere 145' away from the edge of the house, but it was nothing compared to the twenty-three-foot grade difference that stood between the interior floors and a quick afternoon dip in the lake. The home was not yet a home, but rather the echo of a typical regional Mediterranean-style house that had once stood proudly decades ago. It had since then been the talk of Winter Park - as an eyesore wedged in the prominent view of the residents in one of Central Florida's most sought-after communities. The restoration process would take a dedicated team of allied professionals with a sense of ingenuity and fine craftsmanship to bring glory back to this residence. Armed with a vision and sense of excitement for what lied ahead, the team broke ground and completed the work in seven months.

White-washed brick front columns topped with elegant planters along with decorative gates frame the entrance view from the street. Robust layers of green hedges and shapely trees materialize the public to private gradient, allowing the curious passerby to catch views of the formal front gardens while maintaining a sense of separation from within the entrance gates.

Crisp architectural lines find themselves anchored in the grass grid of the front motor court and replicated throughout the landscape palette of the front yard. Canary Island Date Palms frame the motor court to match the two-story pillars in size and strength.

What was once an overgrown and dilapidated back yard with a thin strip of terracing became a lush oasis for private entertaining. The trickling sounds from a white marble fountain provide a serene backdrop for a fun game on the putting green or a stroll through the garden. The backyard reveals a stunning pool and an open-air cabana for additional entertaining space. Gentle risers - in sets of no more than three - move guests through the changing elevations of the space with ease. The beloved tennis court sits seamlessly in the landscape, a technical feat that neither distracts from the lakefront view nor creates a walled-off atmosphere. The careful positioning of each terraced space was constructed in such a way to eliminate the need for multiple railings while maintaining the highest safety standards.

The homeowners couldn't be prouder of the grand culmination of their long-awaited dream home. The image of a formerly abandoned house that sat for many years has become a faded, distant memory. It's still the talk of the town, however, among residents and now even city officials as one of the number one sights to behold on Via Tuscany.

As seen in LASN magazine, February 2021.