Vibrant yellow-and-white beach umbrellas set against an azure sky, with crystal-clear waves rolling across soft white sandy beaches: It’s a setting that immediately alleviates stress and brings peace to the soul. If you’re looking for a pampering getaway, look no further than Forbes Five-Star Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. With impeccable service and the ultimate luxury spa, this beach resort should be on your Florida-stay bucket list. 

Located in the small seaside town of Manalapan just south of Palm Beach, overlooking south Florida’s turquoise waters, the sprawling, Mediterranean-style waterfront escape offers two outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four exceptional restaurants, all set on seven acres of lush tropical grounds. 

Upon check-in, guests are greeted with a glass of bubbly before heading to their spacious and colorful accommodations designed by Jonathan Adler, featuring soaking tubs, luxurious bedding, and private balconies with hanging chairs to enjoy ocean views. 

But amazingly enough, the luxury accommodations and the ocean views are not the main attraction for many guests. The resort boasts a 42,000-square-foot spa—a playground for adults—where all the senses are pampered and indulged. Spend any amount of time in this soothing Shangri-La and you’ll want to book your next trip.

Start your visit by lounging in the co-ed Self Centered Garden, a courtyard at the heart of the spa. The garden has several soothing water features including fountains and waterfalls and is lined with bromeliads and palms. White canvas tents shade lounge chairs, plush couches, and daybeds. Rattan swing chairs float over a shallow reflecting pool—the perfect place to rock your cares away. 

Separate lounges for men and women are located inside the spa, and just as the garden offers a relaxing setting, the interiors don’t disappoint. The oversized whirlpool in the women’s side is surrounded by heated stone loungers. This wet spa also houses the sauna and steam room. Guests can create their own body scrub at the Polish Bar before hitting the steam.

Nineteen therapeutic treatment rooms offer the ultimate “me time” experience. Among the treatments on offer are the One Love Facial, which treats the skin with Alpha Beta peels, vitamin C mask, and collagen-stimulating LED light, and the Eau Naturale Facial, an organic anti-aging facial that turns back the clock with botanicals. The Garden of Eden massage for two, and the Turkish Rhassoul Mud Ritual to soften and exfoliate skin, while sipping Champagne prove there is something for just about everyone on the spa menu. 

After a morning at the spa, have an umbrella set up on the beach in front of the hotel, where you can rent SUPs, snorkel gear, and body boards for an afternoon frolicking in the sun and surf. 

For dining, the resort offers incredible gastronomic delights. Whether you are in the mood for classic American surf and turf, sushi featuring Florida’s freshest catch, or upscale Italian cuisine, the resort has something for everyone’s palate. Angle offers a farm-to-table experience focused on regionally grown produce and prime meats and fish paired with wine from its award-winning selection. Boken shows off the creativity of head sushi chef Chris Cantrel.

For the ultimate experience, dine at chef Cantrel’s table for an Omakase meal, a one-of-a-kind tour of authentic Japanese cuisine. Or take your taste buds to southern Italy at Polpo Palm Beach. Upscale fare inspired by regional dishes with an Italian-influenced wine list is presented by Eau Palm Beach’s executive chef Neall Bailey. Choose to dine inside or out—I chose to dine outside to hear the waves lapping at the shore and see the stars coming out in the evening. 

Truly a playground paradise, this stellar spa and resort experience is not to be missed.

Real estate investment firm Trinity Fund Advisors LLC has purchased the award-winning Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida from Brookfield Properties for $835 million to private, and signed a 40-year management deal for the property with Hilton Hotels and Resorts to oversee the resort’s operation as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton brand.

The transaction is the third largest single-asset hotel/resort sale in United States history.

The property is perched on nearly 10 acres of Atlantic beachfront, overlooking both the Atlantic Surf and Intracoastal Waterway. The property – where an extensive, $90-million renovation was completed in 2017 – consists of a twin-spired, 36-story tower housing the resort rooms, a 15,000-square-foot spa and salon, six restaurants and bars, as well as multiple pools with cascading waterfalls and designer cabanas.

The Diplomat Beach Resort is the largest convention and meeting space in North and South America as well as the Caribbean. With 1,000 traditional guest rooms and suites and more than 209,000 square feet of integrated meeting and events space, the Diplomat is also the second largest beachfront resort in South Florida. Located between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport, the resort offers unparalleled access to guests from major markets throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe.

At the same time, award-winning hotel manager Dean Lane was named general manager of the property.

“I look forward to this new opportunity and am proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at The Diplomat Beach Resort,” Lane says. “My ultimate goal is to ensure this premiere Resort remains the unquestionable leader in the South Floridian market for both leisure and business travelers visiting the area, by delivering an unparalleled guest experiences and best-in-class amenities around every bend.”

Known for its extensive offerings, The Diplomat holds multiple award-winning recognitions and accolades, including being awarded 2022 Top Beachfront Resort in the US by the World Luxury Hotel Awards, 2022 #1 Luxury Beachfront Resort in Florida by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, 2022 Gold and Silver Awards by Travel Weekly for Best Overall Beach Resort and Best Overall Business/ Conference Center respectively, 2019 Best Family Resort by Travvy Awards, One of the Top-10 Resorts in Florida by Conde Nast Traveler in 2019 and is the recurring recipient of the AAA Four Diamonds Award®.

Taking over an iconic hotel built in 1924 on one of Palm Beach’s most fashionable main streets, The White Elephant is a 32-room boutique property (with 13 rooms and 19 suites spread across four stories) that offers the glamour of the 1920s with all the modern amenities of a five-star luxury hotel. 

The Addison Mizner–style facade was fully restored in creamy-white stucco, black trim, and terracotta roof tiles. Black-and-white striped awnings offer a polished, fabled look. Guests are welcomed by a seven-foot white elephant statue by Santa Fe–based artist Fredrick Prescott. 

Designed by Elkus Manfredi, the hotel has more of the feel of an upscale private residence, featuring a neutral color palette with metal accents, vibrant splashes of color, and more than 120 pieces of artwork, carefully curated by the owners and design firm, on display throughout the common areas and guest rooms. An original fireplace mantel welcomes guests in the lobby. The hardwood floors, Carrara marble, elegant tiles, and woven rugs offer a luxurious, textured contemporary style. 

Artists on display include Robert Rauschenberg, whose early creations in the 1950s anticipated the pop art movement, and Jennifer Bartlett, known for her small, square steel plates that are combined in grid formations to create large-scale works. Several pieces by painter Kenzo Okada, the first Japanese-American artist to receive international acclaim using abstract expressionist style, are on display, as are works by Donald Baechler, part of the East Village, New York, 1980s art movement.

A 54-inch-round acrylic work by Orit Fuchs was specifically created for the hotel and is a focal point of the lobby; six prints by Yinka Shonibare can be found on the second-floor corridor. Doodle Boy, a 10-year-old British artist, was commissioned to create 30 exclusive pieces for the powder rooms. Using clean black lines hand drawn with a thick marker, he incorporated a hidden signature elephant in each of his drawings. 

Each guest room door is outfitted with an elephant door knocker. Upon entering your spacious room, you are greeted with an impeccable designscape, featuring custom furniture and plush couches covered in soothing gray and cream-colored fabrics. The ultra dreamy king-sized beds are outfitted with Pratesi linens and upholstered backboards accented in a colorful palm and floral print. Console tables by Selamat Designs, in collaboration with Morris & Co., are wrapped inside and out with authentic William Morris “Strawberry Thief” covering. The bathrooms feature marble tiles, double stone sinks, a dry vanity, and glass-enclosed showers. Everything is automated including temperature, shades, and lighting, which can be set to any mood you wish. The guest rooms are so beautiful and comfortable, you may just forgo exploring the city.

 When you are ready to get some of Florida sunshine, an outdoor courtyard offers the perfect spot to relax or take a dip in the pool. The manicured grounds feature mature palm trees and lush, fragrant flora. White Elephant Palm Beach’s signature restaurant Lola 41—a Nantucket staple—serves globally inspired dishes and local seafood specialties. If you’re able to get a spot on the patio, I highly recommend it.  

For more information, visit whiteelephantpalmbeach.com

When Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and her husband, Erik Vogt, first arrived in the Florida panhandle to help get Alys Beach up and running, they figured they’d be back in Miami within two or three years. But the New Urbanist community hugging the Gulf of Mexico coastline became much more than a temporary stopover: In a 20-year stint as town architects for Alys Beach, the couple has brought to fruition everything from residences to retail spaces to civic buildings, setting down roots in the area and raising their children along the way. 

So when Alys Beach sold its first private Gulf-front lot, owners requested to work with Khoury Vogt Architects, to help make their dream home a reality. The original master plan for the town was by Duany Plater Zyberk & Co., but the plan for the Gulf-side blocks was further refined by London-based architect Demetri Porphyrios. He designed the lots in a picturesque, slightly staggered manner, prescribing the footprint for all homes for the Gulf front as well as the 3 tiers behind, keeping view corridors open so that Gulf views could be enjoyed by all.

“Given the value and desirability of Gulf-front lots, the footprint was smaller than other lots in Alys,” Marieanne says. “To compensate for this, the design code allowed for three floors of living space, which immediately resulted in a kind of townhouse configuration, with a main living room raised to the second floor for the best views.” While the town of Alys Beach is inspired by Bermudan architectural influences, the Gulf-side lots drew from Mediterranean precedents for this courtyard house tailored to the site’s zero lot line constraints. “We wanted an architectural form that could be sculptural without being overly ornate and that would contribute to an overall urbanism that was harmonious, cohesive, and beautiful.” 

This inaugural Gulf-front residence in Alys Beach has a striking difference from the neighbors that followed it: a forecourt, created by setting back the first floor of the house about 16 feet from the southern property line. “The conventional wisdom would call for building right up to the line to maximize views and living space,” Marieanne says, “but both the owner and we agreed that a court nestled in the scrub of the dunes and adjoined by a loggia would make for a really unique experience.” A center stair in the entry hall organizes the first-floor spaces; an elliptical opening in the pool court and a limestone-framed opening in the raised courtyard frames views of the dunes and the Gulf, while a covered loggia attached to the courts is appointed with an outdoor fireplace and summer kitchen.

On all three floors, the design emphasizes “long axes and perspectival views,” Marieanne says. “The lot size is modest, so we always want to draw your eye out and extend your views as much as possible. We tried to be judicious and deliberate in designing the floor plan.” As one ascends the first stair, one enters into a family room that spans the second floor, and one’s gaze naturally travels to a bowed bay window. The living room at the front of the house opens up with a floating kitchen wall and a dining alcove positioned toward land; on the Gulf side, opened pocket doors dial up the expansive views, accompanied by a loggia balcony projecting over the courtyard.

The uppermost floor echoes the second floor. Stairs divide the floor plate into landward and seaward sections, the master bedroom opens up to a porch with pocket doors, and the master bath floats in a vaulted space as “a room within a room with buttressed corners, like a miniaturized version of the house itself,” Marieanne says. On the northern side, an additional bedroom suite has a balcony above the family room bay below. While affording ample privacy, the third floor also offers a striking twist on the maritime ambiance. “When you’re in the master bedroom, it is akin to being on a ship as the expansive ocean is the principal view and a most desirable space to watch the sun rise and set,” Marieanne says. 

Copper awnings, limestone flourishes, and acroteria ornamentation thoughtfully embellish the residence’s exterior. Meanwhile, hewing to Fortified Standards as well as criteria set by the Florida Green Building Coalition ensures resilience and sustainability, a mandate required by Alys Beach to help give its owners assurances that their houses will withstand the harshest elements. 

“It was wonderful to work on a project where everybody was as inspired and involved as they were,” Marieanne says. “The homeowner was engaged in the design process. They were extraordinarily respectful of [my and Erik’s] very strong thoughts, but they definitely influenced the design. They pushed us, and we pushed them.” 

Learn more about the project team

Architect: Khoury Vogt Architects
Interior decor: The Iron Gate

A 14-mile-long and half-mile-wide Atlantic coast barrier island, Palm Beach beckons those searching for the ultimate luxury in Florida getaways.

Pristine beaches, Worth Avenue’s tony boutiques, five-star restaurants, and oceanfront resorts make this a place to see and be seen. At this Gilded Age winter haven of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, grand historical estates hide behind iron gates and high hedgerows.  

The Colony Hotel

The Colony Hotel, known as the iconic “Pink Lady” (the hotel is painted a blush-rose hue), opened in in 1947 and embodies Old Floridian charm. Located on Hammon Avenue, the pretty-in-pink classic Colonial-style hotel is a breath of fresh air. The interior lobby is welcoming, with a nod to the tropics, thanks to Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors who has worked to give the original spaces (first designed by the iconic Dorothy Draper & Co.) a refresh. Palm frond–themed fabrics dress the club chairs, while shimmering green crystals drip from the chandelier. 

At check-in, guests are greeted with a glass of Champagne before heading to their suites. Each room is decorated in a unique color palette. Comfortable and ultra-luxe, the accommodations are impeccable (in my room, I’m surrounded by swaths of pink and green). After unpacking, head to the pool, where even the sunbathers are dressed to the nines in fashionable wide-brimmed straw hats, chic Audrey Hepburn sunglasses, and Lilly Pulitzer shifts, finished off with Jimmy Choo jute mule sandals. 

Couples enjoy brunch at the hotel’s restaurant, Swifty’s. The patio overlooks the pool, with many men in navy-blue jackets and shorts and women dressed in crisp white linen. The pool and the lush green lawn beyond are immaculate. Take a table on the terrace, order a salad and a sauvignon blanc, and watch the scene featuring the who’s who of Palm Beach’s elite unfold. The socialite scene is alive and well and lots of fun in this pretty pink paradise in Palm Beach. 

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Vibrant yellow-and-white beach umbrellas set against an azure sky, with crystal-clear waves rolling across soft white sandy beaches: It’s a setting that immediately alleviates stress and brings peace to the soul. If you’re looking for a pampering getaway, head to Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. With impeccable service and the ultimate luxury spa, this beach resort should be on your Florida-stay bucket list. Located in the small seaside town of Manalapan just south of Palm Beach, overlooking south Florida’s turquoise waters, the sprawling, Mediterranean-style waterfront escape offers two outdoor pools, tennis courts, and four exceptional restaurants, all set on seven acres of lush tropical grounds.

But amazingly enough, the luxury accommodations and the ocean views are not the main attraction for many guests. The resort boasts a 42,000-square-foot spa—a playground for adults—where all the senses are pampered and indulged. Spend any amount of time in this soothing Shangri-La and you’ll want to book your next trip right away.

Head to the co-ed Self Centered Garden, a courtyard at the heart of the spa. The garden has several soothing water features including fountains and waterfalls and is lined with bromeliads and palms. White canvas tents shade lounge chairs, plush couches, and daybeds. Rattan swing chairs float over a shallow reflecting pool—the perfect place to rock your cares away.

Separate lounges for men and women are located inside the spa, and just as the garden offers a relaxing setting, the interiors don’t disappoint. The oversized whirlpool in the women’s side is surrounded by heated stone loungers. This wet spa also houses the sauna and steam room. Guests can create their own body scrub at the Polish Bar before hitting the steam.

Nineteen therapeutic treatment rooms offer the ultimate “me time” experience. Truly a playground paradise, this stellar spa and resort experience is not to be missed.

White Elephant Palm Beach

Taking over an iconic hotel built in 1924 on one of Palm Beach’s most fashionable main streets, The White Elephant is a 32-room boutique property (with 13 rooms and 19 suites spread across four stories) that offers the glamour of the 1920s with all the modern amenities of a five-star luxury hotel.

The Addison Mizner–style facade was fully restored in creamy-white stucco, black trim, and terracotta roof tiles. Black-and-white striped awnings offer a polished, fabled look. Guests are welcomed by a seven-foot white elephant statue by Santa Fe–based artist Fredrick Prescott. 

Designed by Elkus Manfredi, the hotel has more of the feel of an upscale private residence, featuring a neutral color palette, vibrant splashes of color, and more than 120 pieces of artwork on display throughout the common areas and guest rooms. An original fireplace mantel welcomes guests in the lobby.

Upon entering your spacious guest room, you are greeted with an impeccable designscape, featuring custom-designed furniture, plush couches covered in soothing gray and cream-colored fabrics. The dreamy king-sized beds are outfitted with Pratesi linens and upholstered backboards accented in a colorful palm and floral print. Everything is automated including temperature, shades, and lighting, which can be set to any mood you wish. The guest rooms are so beautiful and comfortable, you may just forgo exploring the city.

When you are ready to get some Florida sunshine, an outdoor courtyard offers the perfect spot to relax or take a dip in the pool. The perfectly manicured grounds feature mature palm trees and lush, fragrant flora. White Elephant Palm Beach’s signature restaurant, Lola 41—a Nantucket staple—serves globally inspired dishes and local seafood specialties. If you’re able to get a spot on the patio, I highly recommend it.

The Breakers

Gilded Age decadence is alive and well at The Breakers. The iconic Palm Beach resort has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years, offering lavish accommodations on the shoreline. In the late 1800s, Henry Morrison Flagler reimagined South Florida into a winter getaway for the well-heeled and this tradition of a luxury holiday remains to this day. Now into its second century, the resort continues its success under the ownership of Flagler’s heirs.

The architecture, based on the Villa Medici, built in Rome in the 1400s, is of the Mediterranean-style and features an eight-story palace with Belvedere towers and graceful arches throughout. The palm-lined approach road leads to a Florentine Fountain based on one found in Florence’s Boboli Gardens, and the hotel’s breathtaking lobby is inspired by the Great Hall of the Palazzo Carrega in Genoa.

The 538 guest rooms, including 68 suites, offer views of the ocean or the manicured gardens and landscape. For an intimate and customized experience, the resort’s Fllagler Club is an exclusive, 25-room boutique hotel atop the resort. With a private entrance, the club offers well-appointed accommodations and personalized service throughout your stay, including chauffeured Tesla car service and a full-service team to cater to your every desire. 

With a full-service spa and hair salon; multiple pools; watersports on the half-mile private beach; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; and 10 dining options, including Sunday brunch in the Circle, a rotunda with 30-foot frescoed ceiling and eight oval murals depicting Renaissance landscapes; there is no shortage of indulging, pampering, or entertainment. In 2022, the resort completed a full-scale renovation of the Rees Jones golf course. The resort is a must-visit on any trip to Palm Beach.

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

Sophisticated and stylish, the Four Seasons offers the seasoned traveler unparalleled service, breathtaking ocean views, and a relaxed vibe that melts away the stress of life. Authentic experiences abound and are inspired by the barrier island’s heritage and charm, such as a private luxury yacht sunset cruise, snorkeling in the Atlantic, or taking in a polo match while sipping Champagne at the International Polo Club. There is no shortage of unique and elevated activities at this five-star beachfront masterpiece.

With picturesque pools, six acres of private beachfront, five-star spa, fitness center, tennis classes, a luxury-goods boutique, and Krigler Perfumery, a stay at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach offers a relaxing oasis of the world-class amenities and 207 guest rooms and suites. Experience dining at Florie’s by Mauro Colagreco, the flagship restaurant and bar in partnership with the chef behind three-Michelin starred Mirazur, which celebrates Florida’s seafood and local farm produce.

The common areas and guest rooms, designed by acclaimed interior architect and designer Martin Brudnizki, pay homage to an elegant yet laidback coastal lifestyle with a fresh, modern color palette. For an elevated getaway that brings together the best of resort vacations, the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach should be on your list of stays in this Florida paradise.

Rosewood Residences Lido Key, Florida

Rosewood Residences Lido Key, a development by The Ronto Group and Wheelock Street Capital with residential services by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, is a collection of 65 three- and four-bedroom beachfront residences priced from $6 million. Ranging from 3,350 to 4,942 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space, the residences have expansive terraces, summer kitchens, and outdoor dining areas. Each plan features a private elevator, gallery hallway leading to a grand salon, and open dining room. Amenities include an infinity-edge swimming pool with sun shelves, day cabanas, pool pavilion, fire pits, and paddleboard storage. Purchases of Rosewood Residences Lido Key are now being accepted. residenceslidokey.com

Waldorf Astoria Residences Guanacaste, Costa Rica 

Revolution Places and IMI Worldwide Properties have released a new luxury residential offering in Latin America, the Waldorf Astoria Residences Guanacaste. The development will feature 19 condominium residences and 22 estate homes. The property’s condominium residences range from two to three bedrooms across 1,509 to 2,209 square feet, the four- and five-bedroom estate home floor plans range from 3,996 to 4,996 square feet. The 19 furnished oceanfront condo residences will start at $1.944 million for two-bedrooms and $3.264 million for three-bedrooms. The 22 furnished oceanfront estate homes will start at $5.31 million for four-bedrooms and at $6.37 million for five-bedrooms. waldorfastoriaresidencesguanacaste.com

Gulfside Twelve, Fort Myers, Florida

Gulfside Twelve, one of the first new developments in the Fort Myers Beach/Estero Island area following Hurricane Ian last fall, has entered the final phase of its construction. Heralded by Dublin Real Estate Investment Group, LLC, the 12 units will each consist of 4,000 square feet of interior space and start at $4.1 million. Each unit in the pet-friendly community will boast four en suite bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a large lanai, plus a flex room, all overlooking 180 feet of beachfront living. GulfsideTwelve.com

The Strand, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

The Strand offers a limited collection of 41 luxury beachfront villas and custom residences ranging from $2.49 to more than $12 million, all with direct ocean access. The developers introduced three-bedroom villas in 2022 in response to shifting buyer demand for rental opportunity and income. The villas are designed to operate as either a single villa or can lock off on each floor for rentals. The three-bedroom villas start at $3.3 million and offer 4,036 square feet of interior and exterior living space combined. Private residences, two- and three-bedroom villas, and custom homesites are currently available. thestrandtci.com

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Developed by Catalfumo Companies, The Ritz-Carlton Residences Palm Beach Gardens is a marina-front residential community featuring an exclusive collection of expansive three, four, and five-bedroom residences, within three, seven-story residential buildings. The development offers an array of amenities including an infinity-edge heated swimming pool with cabanas overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, waterfront clubhouse with entertainment spaces, spa with various treatment rooms, and a 29-slip private marina with a limited collection of boat slips accommodating vessels up to 75 feet. Pricing starts at $4 million. theresidencespalmbeachgardens.com

For Jeffrey Dungan, architecture starts with art, pure and simple. The features of fine art that pull our eyes and imaginations—an instinctive play of light, the sensuous use of curves, and shapes that feel inborn—are some of the longtime architect’s favorite principles to draw on in his work. 

So it’s only natural that when Dungan, the principal of Jeffrey Dungan Architecture, was asked to design a home in beautiful Alys Beach, Florida, he immediately began to think of natural, pleasing shapes and malleable materials—something, in fact, like a sandcastle. 

“One of my favorite things is to dig into walls, nibble around the edges, and carve, like we did as kids with sandcastles,” Dungan says from his Mountain Brook, Alabama, office. “I also wanted to do something that felt simple.” His materials of choice for the three-story Alys Beach vacation home, concrete and stucco, fit his vision perfectly. “With concrete, unlike wood, you have this great flexibility in formwork, and I’ve always been drawn to curves. I just wanted to play with different opportunities.” 

Rather than a hindrance, Dungan found the Alys Beach design dictum—that homes have a white exterior—to be a lovely opportunity for creativity. “White is powerful; it’s a monochromatic palette,” Dungan says. “You’ve got all this white stucco. Shadow striking a white surface is very pure. I found that to be fascinating. What you’re left with is the detail.”

The home’s exterior details are stunning: deep windows with charcoal-colored frames; a porch with fluted walls; a chimney that becomes an artful creation, complete with teardrop shapes on top, almost like tiny fish. “The voids are also curved,” Dungan says, “so you get these delicious shadows.”

The interior architecture is more complex, with its varying layers, shapes, curves, and occasional vaulted ceilings. On the main level are the primary living spaces, including an elegant little pool set in a courtyard. The second floor holds the bedrooms, a den, and balconies for faraway views. The third floor is reserved for a terrace, bar, and hot tub. White oak cabinetry, designed in-house, and floors are bathed in a warm-hued stain. The creative work of many people—carpenters, builders, masons, metalworkers, artisans, and plasterers—lends the house a one-of-a-kind, easygoing spirit.  

“The house exterior has some muscular moments,” Dungan says. “We wanted the interiors to feel a little soft, a little quieter.” Paint colors in the interior, harmonious with nature, work beautifully on stucco, which takes on a creamier hue indoors. Interior designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano supported the interior’s architectural detailing with a light touch that is both sophisticated and calming. 

Dungan worked with meticulous detail on the play of light and the strong heat of the Florida sunshine. “When I design a home, one of the first things is to have an understanding of how the sun moves across that particular piece of dirt. Then you can understand your light source. I’m always interested in making the most of the natural light. I find natural light and the way it moves into the box can be very powerful, very emotional.” 

Unsurprisingly, Dungan entered architecture through an artist’s portal. Long before he designed homes, he painted watercolors and drew. The author of The Nature of Home: Creating Timeless Houses (Rizzoli), Dungan takes his cues from natural sources. He was very happy when the homeowners told him their simple request: that their vacation home have a relaxed vibe and be welcoming to children. Alys Beach, with stunning vistas and white sand like powdered sugar, was the perfect setting. 

The home’s north side, long and broad, has plentiful glass, allowing natural reflected light to drift in. “I was able to construct a carefully considered structure to allow in morning light but largely avoid direct sun. It’s fabulous,” he says. The garage is tucked on the west side, which in another location could have introduced harsh sun. 

A visitor senses that the house is exactly where it should be, in this stunning beach community. “Every house tells a story,” Dungan says. “The story starts with the roofline. It continues on the interior, but it’s more intimate. There is continuity. You want it to be the same story. Here, it’s the emotional feel, the vibe.” 

For more information, visit  jeffreydungan.com

Address: 301 Polmer Park Rd., Palm Beach, Florida
Price: $33,000,000
Area: 8,473 square feet
Acres: 0.53
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 7 full, 1 partial

This Palm Beach residence is a stunning example of Palladian-style architecture, featuring the stately symmetry, elegant proportions, and classical elements that are hallmarks of the style. Spacious rooms, generous ceiling heights, many skylights, and floor-to-ceiling windows that admit plentiful natural light give the interior a bright and open feel, creating an easy flow from indoors to out. The home includes formal living and dining areas, as well as more relaxed, casual spaces, making it ideal for both family relaxation and entertaining.

Outdoors, beautifully landscaped grounds wrap about the home, which also features a three-car garage and plentiful driveway parking. A heated swimming pool is surrounded by ample room to lounge in the sun and gaze at the palm trees peeking over the walls. On the north side of the pool, a cabana with a full guest suite makes it easy to share your beautiful surroundings with family and friends.

For more photos and details, visit the full listing.

Before hammer hit nail, there were 21 schemes—meticulous line drawings—for the new home that would be positioned a stone’s throw from Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. After an intense six months of sketching, it clicked: The staff of Ferguson & Shamamian Architects in New York City found the key to unlock this treasure of a house in Jupiter Island, Florida. 

Stephen Chrisman, one of the firm’s six partners, recalls the process, which included countless conversations with the homeowners. Says Chrisman, “A lot of work went into making this look effortless, to make the project feel like it’s always been there.”

With a spirit that is both easygoing and balanced to precision, the Anglo-Caribbean style house, with nuances of Colonial character, is welcoming and stately. The central portion of the home—including a centered front entry that provides a view straight through to the water—remained mostly unchanged throughout the 21 iterations. Wings, which extend forward to hug the property, encompass the kitchen, shared family space, and bedrooms. 

The entire second floor is the spacious primary suite with an adjoining covered porch. A separate guesthouse provides space for the couple’s grown children to visit. Terraces, decks, and porches add space and a charming touch. 

The exterior is right in step with Anglo-Caribbean style with a large hipped roof, simple framework enclosing five bays, and custom mahogany window frames. The windows, with large glass panes, render views of the Intracoastal. Shutters, painted an appealing gray-blue shade suggested by New York City interior designer Victoria Hagan, add warmth to the stucco walls. 

The couple had fallen in love with the two-acre setting and the Jupiter Island community, and committed to full participation in their home’s design—enough so that they practically lived on the property for long periods. “They wanted to know where the sun came up and set; the views and the landscape; what you see at different times of day. They wanted to truly learn the land,” Chrisman says. Having worked previously with Ferguson & Shamamian, the couple confidently depended on Chrisman and the team, including partners Oscar Shamamian and Tom McManus.

For the landscape design, the homeowners and designers wanted an easy flow of native plantings, which would gently segue into spacious neighboring properties. Jorge Sanchez of SMI Landscape Architecture in Palm Beach spoke their design language. Sanchez’s philosophy started with an emphasis on the relationship of the house and its lush setting, allowing much of the property to remain a bit overgrown. Layers of plantings edge the lawn, while palm trees and old ficus trees grace the property. 

It was imperative, Chrisman says, that the architect, interior designer, and landscape architect work closely together for a seamless whole: “We thought about architectural character of the property a lot.”

Inside, each room stands on its own, enfilade style, directly linking the spaces rather than depending on corridors. The arrangement encourages the interior’s beautiful natural lighting and gives the house a cozy feel. An interior palette of light, neutral shades and minimal but very special art, allow the architectural lines to fully shine.  

The home design’s biggest challenge, and the way Chrisman and his team approached it, resulted in one of its most appealing features: a covered porch off the second-floor primary suite, which the clients had specifically requested. Considering the hipped roof and the home’s overall style, the team at first was puzzled. Then the answer emerged in somewhat nontraditional fashion—creating space for the airy porch by incorporating an open-ended bay. It has become one of the homeowners’ favorite places, sitting on the porch, amid the tree tops, morning coffee in hand.  

The challenge also became one of the best moments in the design process, says Oscar Shamamian, who founded the firm with his longtime colleague Mark Ferguson: “It was fun and scary. The homeowners put us to the test, in all the right ways.” 

Learn more about the project team

Architect: Ferguson & Shamamian Architects
Interior designer: Victoria Hagan
Landscape architect: SMI Landscape Architecture

Three floods in 12 years led Brad Herman to an abrupt epiphany about his Coconut Grove home: “After Hurricane Irma in 2017, there were three to four feet of water in the house and I said: ‘I’m over this,’ and I decided to raze the house and build a new one.”

He endured a final six-month cleanup at his 1923 Spanish Mediterranean Revival on a canal 900 feet from Biscayne Bay, then toured Miami to scope out new homes and their material palettes. One in particular resonated. It was designed by Jacob and Melissa Brillhart of Brillhart Architecture.

“I contacted Jake,” he says. “And I discovered that what I wanted and what he could do gelled.” Herman wanted an urban industrial look, with materials that could stand up to South Florida’s rising waters, steamy climate, and salty air. Since the Brillharts had been practicing their savvy brand of tropical modernism since 2007, they were a natural choice. “We bounced some ideas off each other,” he says. “It came down to concrete, glass, and steel.”

It was a smart move. Miami’s sea level is expected to rise 10 to 17 inches over the next few years. There’s a FEMA mandate that a new home’s first floor must rise 12 feet above grade. So the initial design idea was a no-brainer: Build the house above any flood threat.

Stilts were one possible option, but Herman demurred—and his architects looked back to Swiss modernist Le Corbusier. “This was built with three Corbusian sculptural columns, or cilopes, at the bottom in a grid,” says Jacob. “There’s a stiffness to them, and they’re large enough to house storage space in the garage.”

Then there’s a series of slender steel columns for further support of two upper levels. The ground floor is also home to a small, artificial-turf-clad soccer field for Herman’s son. Now when sea waters rise, damage will be minimal.

“The bigger idea is that the ground plane is sort of an afterthought,” Brillhart says. “You come in past a coral rock wall, saved from the original homesite, to concrete piers that hold up the house. There’s practicality, but it’s beautiful.”

Herman now drives under his house and ascends a stairway to a breezy, open-air deck and lap pool. “The deck on the first level with the pool is 3,000 square feet, and we added another 500 square feet on the porch above,” says Melissa Brillhart. “It’s a total of about 6,000 square feet, with the understory deck and the porches above.”

Besides the Brazilian Ipe deck on the first level are enclosed living and dining areas, as well as kitchen, gym, bath, bedroom, and powder room. The master suite, two bedrooms, and two baths are above that. “Every bedroom and every living space has outdoor space connected to it,” Jacob says. “It’s only one room deep, so they’re immediately connected with balconies, decks, and windows—it’s an important part of living in the tropics.”

The material palette was limited but imaginative. “I wanted a minimalistic house, but not one without any warmth,” Herman says. “The entire interior upstairs have vaulted wooden ceilings, and there are exposed glass and concrete walls.”

The concrete was board-formed from Western cedar. “That gives an incredible texture to the home, so it doesn’t look like a concrete box,” he says. “People ask: ‘What kind of wood is that?’ because it has the texture of rough cedar.”

The Brillharts worked with general contractor Martin Rodriguez to bring the concrete to life. Trained as an architect, Rodriguez sees eye-to-eye with Jacob. “We have a real cohesion,” Rodriguez says. “And we really care about our concrete—it has to be perfect, poured at the right temperature on the right day.”

The roof is steel-framed and copper-covered, with overhangs kicking out three-and-a-half feet so rain doesn’t run down the structure’s side. Insulation was added below the copper to keep it cool, with plywood beneath. “It’s an Oreo sandwich with black plywood, white high-density foam insulation, and then the roof,” Herman says. “It’s seven inches thick and rated R-40—it’s incredibly efficient and it gives us a nice, thin roofline.”

In essence, as Melissa Brillhart says, the structure itself is the architecture. “All our projects use the chemistry of space as ingredients—they create atmospherics that affect us emotionally,” she says. “You can feel the site, weather, material, light, color, craftsmanship and local hands doing the work.”

Adds her husband: “You feel the weather with the overhangs,” he says. “The house is ready for the rain, and you feel the wetness.”

Then there are the serendipitous beams of light that penetrate, cathedral-like, between deck boards. “It’s a happy accident,” he says. “The natural world did its thing.”

But it had huge help from a material-driven team of architects. 

For more information, visit brillhartarchitecture.com