Along the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula, Mexico, lies a hidden gem that redefines luxury living and adventure: Costa Palmas. 

Having recently visited Costa Palmas, I can attest to its unique blend of luxury, adventure, and exclusivity. The property’s vast stretch of swimmable beach is a rarity for the region; the integration of organic farms within the community adds a refreshing touch to the overall experience; a combination of leading hospitality brands delivers top-notch amenities; and with the recent addition of a marina, the development is now the exclusive harbor for superyachts in Los Cabos.

Redefining residential resort living

At the heart of Costa Palmas are the residences. The community boasts prestigious names such as the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Los Cabos and Amanvari Resort and Residences, along with the bespoke Costa Palmas–branded residential and hospitality offering Casa Blake, set in its Marina Village.

Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas offers an ultra-luxury experience in Baja’s undiscovered East Cape. Designed by Brooklyn-based Guerin Glass Architects, this resort features 118 guest rooms and 23 suites spread across a low-density layout, offering breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. Since its opening in October 2019, the resort has set a new standard for luxury with amenities like multiple pools, five unique dining outlets, a full-service spa, and a comprehensive fitness center. The residential offerings, ranging from turnkey residences to custom-designed villas, provide owners with unparalleled access to the resort’s services and amenities, encapsulating the essence of sophisticated comfort and elemental luxury.

Amanvari Resort and Residences is a serene escape between the mountains and the sea, offering a peaceful oasis. With 25 bi-level hotel pavilions, Amanvari blends space, luxury, and design seamlessly, surrounded by nature’s beauty. The resort’s main pavilion is the heart of Amanvari, housing three restaurants, a library, a lounge, and a striking infinity pool. The Aman Residences offer a permanent slice of this paradise, with options ranging from beachfront to golf lots, designed to meld into the landscape with expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces. 

Aman Residences epitomize an unmatched standard of architectural design, offering a complete immersion in the Aman lifestyle. Each residence serves as a gateway to exploring the world while providing a personal sanctuary for moments of tranquility.

These residences redefine luxury living, with from two to eight bedrooms and ranging from 13,000 to 20,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space. Currently undergoing construction, the resort and residences promise a haven of privacy and relaxation.

Casa Blake the latest addition to Costa Palmas, is a curated lifestyle destination inspired by the refined luxury synonymous with the community. This marina-side haven offers residential and hospitality options, from water-view studios to three-bedroom residences. Casa Blake is a vibrant spot within the Marina Village, featuring a lively pool and bar, a secluded garden oasis, and dining options that capture the essence of seaside living. Ownership at Casa Blake comes with the privilege of joining the exclusive Costa Palmas Club, enhancing the lifestyle with access to the East Beach Club and sports center.

World-class yachting destination

Inspired by the elegance of Europe’s most distinguished yachting destinations, the Costa Palmas Marina is the first private marina under the Four Seasons and Aman brands and the exclusive harbor for superyachts in Los Cabos. This 250-slip port will soon be able to accommodate yachts up to 300 feet, complemented by the vibrant Marina Village, a focal point of the locale and a standout feature among renowned marina destinations.

Strolling through the vibrant Marina Village, I was captivated by the elegance and sophistication reminiscent of Europe’s distinguished yachting destinations—from the Martin Brudnizki-designed nightclub Chiki to Michelin-starred Nancy Silverton’s Mozza Baja at Costa Palmas to the forthcoming French-themed bistro La Plage envisioned by Fabien Cerato. 

Adventure meets luxury

Costa Palmas perfectly blends adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion. Residents and guests enjoy a variety of excursions and experiences—from sunset cruises and snorkeling to pickleball and tennis. 

I opted for a tequila tasting session led by the in-house agave master, a guided hike to the nearby flat rocks with awe-inspiring views of the East Cape, and an exhilarating ATV ride through the property’s dunes. 

If golf is more your speed, the Costa Palmas Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, offers an 18-hole journey through diverse landscapes, from sea dunes to farmlands against the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains backdrop. It’s a golf experience that’s both scenic and challenging.

Resort living redefined

Costa Palmas is not just a destination: It’s a lifestyle, thoughtfully and sensitively designed to embrace the elemental beauty of its surroundings. Whether it’s the sophisticated residences, the allure of the marina, the tranquility of Amanvari, or the vibrant lifestyle at Casa Blake, Costa Palmas is not just setting a new standard for resort living: It’s redefining it.

For more information, visit costapalmas.com

Today’s debut of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman brings a new dimension of luxury to the stunning Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. Developed by IHG Hotels & Resorts and Dart, this upscale lifestyle hotel features 288 exquisite guest rooms with breathtaking ocean views, diverse dining experiences including a rare rooftop lounge, elevated pool and beachside amenities, and ample event spaces. Notably, this collaboration marks Dart’s second venture with IHG Hotels & Resorts, following the success of the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, also situated on Seven Mile Beach.

Steven Andre, the General Manager of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, expressed his excitement about unveiling the hotel to the world, emphasizing the team’s dedication to crafting an exceptional experience for guests. Carol Hoeller, Vice President of Global Brand Management for Hotel Indigo, highlighted the hotel’s commitment to fostering connections with communities and celebrating local culture, making it a fitting addition to the brand’s global portfolio.

Embracing the ethos of Hotel Indigo, which seeks to capture the essence of each location, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman draws inspiration from the island’s vibrant culture and natural beauty. Its design, recognized with prestigious awards, reflects the island’s maritime heritage and lush landscapes, featuring local artwork and nods to historical figures and traditions.

The accommodations at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman provide a serene retreat for guests, with each room designed to blend contemporary comforts with timeless elegance. Family Suites cater to travelers with children, offering spacious layouts and private balconies, while the Presidential Suite offers unparalleled luxury and stunning sea views.

Dining at Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman is a culinary journey unlike any other, with a range of dining outlets curated by Executive Chef Massimo De Francesca and Beverage Manager Dominik M. J. Schachtsiek. From Catalina Bar & Lounge to the exclusive Rasa exhibition kitchen, guests can indulge in diverse cuisines highlighting local ingredients and global flavors.

The hotel’s rooftop lounge, Pom Pom, offers a unique social experience with South American-inspired cuisine, craft cocktails, and vibrant DJ-led programming against a backdrop of lush tropical surroundings.

Guests can unwind and rejuvenate with unparalleled amenities, including infinity pools overlooking the ocean, beachside service, a 24-hour fitness center, and Café Alula for gourmet coffee and snacks.

For events and gatherings, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman offers customizable meeting spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology and bespoke catering options.

Situated amidst the natural splendor of Grand Cayman, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman serves as a gateway to the island’s best attractions, from Seven Mile Beach to Stingray City and the vibrant waterfront town of Camana Bay.

Rooms are now available for booking, with special early bird offers and benefits through the IHG One Rewards loyalty program, ensuring a memorable stay for every guest.

If ever there was a house that begged to be embraced, it is the unassuming cottage on a small coastal pond in Edgartown, on the southern edge of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Measuring just 1,700 square feet, the three-bedroom house, situated on a compact piece of property, is a year-round refuge that demonstrates how carefully rendered principles of art and science can converge to give homeowners everything they need, while showcasing spectacular views, rugged natural materials, local artisanry, and sustainability.

Finding the right partner to realize the homeowner’s vision was effortless. “They knew about us and followed our work, so they just approached us and announced, ‘We’re ready to do our house,’” recalls Gregory Ehrman, partner at Hutker Architects. “It was the most natural pairing ever.”

Ehrman and Sean Dougherty, principal at Hutker Architects, saw both the beauty and the challenges of the site right away. Where a small decaying house had stood, they knew it would be paramount to weave the design with the natural setting and the Vineyard’s artistic culture to create a house that matched the homeowners’ vision. Today, the property is a joy: at once simple, dramatic, and right at home.

Approaching the residence from the parking court, a ramp gently slopes upward to take visitors to the glass front entry. The door reveals the first scenic look of the pond and ocean, which appear through generous windows on the water side of the house. The structure’s core, topped by a gabled copper roof, is its sturdy center. Adjoining are five flat-roofed cubes, built on helical piers, that appear to float on seagrass. The cubes house the more personal spaces, including a bedroom and bath and an office, appearing to float on seagrass. Says Dougherty, “The home is very simply settled on the land.” The easygoing comfort of the exterior belies the exacting science that went into its design.

“Behind the challenges of the design are very familiar forms,” Dougherty explains. “The center gable is classic New England style while the more contemporary structures are clad in shingles.” At the heart of the design are sustainability principles, where much of Doughtery’s work continues to be focused at Hutker Architects. Because of its proximity to the water, the size of the house was contained to a point just beyond the previous home’s footprint. The upward-sloping walkway that leads to the raised entrance and dwelling is carefully lined with gardens, creating the subtle elevation necessary for rising sea levels.

With a primary focus on resiliency, Dougherty pushed the envelope to create a certified passive, net-zero–energy building by PHIUS + Source Zero. The home generates more energy than it consumes. The foundation and landscape elements are encased in Cor-Ten steel, which has a naturally weathered patina that grows more striking through the years.

Inside, rooms are filled with natural materials and personal artistic stamps of the homeowners, who are longtime islanders and involved in the arts. The central cathedral space, with an exposed structural steel frame and white oak ceiling, defines the dining area and the interior circulation that connects the primary social space with the private, more contemporary spaces. The more modern elements radiate from the central gable form and are tied together with a white oak floor, which changes slightly in pattern where the two types of spaces meet.

Rich details abound. On the side of the kitchen island are symbols dear to the homeowners, cut from a sheet of bronze. The leftover sheet hangs in the breakfast bar. A hutch in the dining area is topped with a wave pattern by Hutker and is reminiscent of a quilting pattern designed by one of the homeowners. Kitchen cabinets are clad in rough-sawn wood.

The work of local artisans and artists appears in almost every room, including work by the artist Allen Whiting. “The origin of the house and all that is within was inspired by our sense of place,” says Dougherty, who lives in Oak Bluffs.

Dougherty and Ehrman reveled in bringing the house to life, especially its sensibility and scale. “It was a wonderful project,” Dougherty says. “The clients are lovely people who are immersed in the local culture. It’s fitting that their home be an heirloom that will be enjoyed for generations.”

This home is featured in Hutker Architects’ latest book, New England Coastal: Homes that Tell a Story, which will be released June 12.

“New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story”

Hutker Architects is presenting this spring the firm’s third book, New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story. The book, including 200 original photographs, will be released June 12.

“Every house in this book is a residential heirloom,” says Mark Hutker, the founder of Hutker Architects, an award-winning firm in Falmouth, Mass. “Each design is deeply rooted in New England vernacular but with a modern sensibility.”

Several of the 13 houses that appear in the book have been covered in publications, including Ocean Home, Architectural Digest, and Veranda. Others have not been previously published.

New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story is available for preorder on Amazon. A collector’s edition will be available for purchase at book signings scheduled to begin in May and run through September. For event dates, visit hutkerarchitects.com.

A stunning resort on an island that once was the hideaway of notorious pirate Black Sam Bellamy has come on the market for $50 million, perfect for an upscale commercial hospitality operation or a sprawling and elite family compound.

Known today as Black’s Island, the seven-acre property, ringed with white sand beaches, sits just miles off the coast of the Florida panhandle. Accessible only by boat, seaplane, or helicopter, the island is a secluded escape. It is occupied by a four-star resort including 26 recently remodeled waterfront bungalows, each with two or three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, living room, dining room, and laundry room. The round bungalows sport balconies allowing visitors to take in 360-degree views of the palm-dotted island, the luminous waves, and vibrant sunrises and sunsets.

Beyond the individual accommodations, the resort includes everything guests need for a relaxed and luxurious getaway. A four-story clubhouse includes a bar, dining areas, game room, and lounge. Outdoors, guests can enjoy the playing some cornhole in the game area, picnicking on the spacious green lawn, floating in the 40-fott-by-16-foot pool, or relaxing on the surrounding sundecks, in the dappled shade of the palm trees. Kayaking, paddle-boarding, beach volleyball, and a water trampoline all add to the fun.

The island was once the territory of famous and feared pirate Samuel Bellamy, known as Black Sam. The richest pirate in recorded history, Black Sam was often seen as a Robin Hood figure, stealing from rich shipowners and sharing the booty with his fiercely loyal crew of some 200 men, all of whom had a vote in how the ship was run. Bellamy commanded a flotilla, including the Whydah, a former slave ship captured by the pirates after its first two voyages. After only a few months as a pirate ship the vessel went down in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717, taking its notorious captain and most of the crew with it.

Today, the island that was once a pirate’s refuge can be your escape as well. For more details and photos, visit the original listing at Jon Kohler & Associates.

Photographs courtesy of toptenrealestatedeals.com.

When a puffball cloud hovers above the terracotta roof, with a blue sky above and a luxuriously tranquil swimming pool below, a sun-starved Northerner knows she has found her slice of heaven on earth.

Everything is a sensory experience at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, a Forbes Five-Star property located on the barrier island of Manalapan, Florida. From entering the resort, where guests are enfolded in dreamy interiors and fragrant fresh flowers, to the spa, where an expert massage therapist’s hands knead away post-flight stress, we are encouraged to revel in a decadent “self-centered” stay. Eventually thoughts center on dinner to come: perhaps a plate of expertly prepared local fish and fresh greens, served with a glass of good, cold white wine.

From the start, your only task at Eau Palm Beach is to drop your bags, clear your mind, and start building fresh, happy memories. Service is abundant, skilled, and delivered in a warm, welcoming manner.

It’s no wonder that many of Eau Palm Beach’s guests return year after year. A group of young women in the spa, wrapped in white robes and sipping champagne, were there for a bridal party. A mother and daughter had traveled from New Jersey to relax and catch up, as they do every year.

We’re all here to rejuvenate and refresh; but the way to that special state of well-being is very individual.

At Eau Palm Beach, with tennis courts, a gym (with chef-made cupcakes!) and equipment for paddleboarding, surfing, and snorkeling – plus two large 86-degree swimming pools – visitors can be as active as they choose.

Quieter pursuits are a joy: admiring the color-splashed flower gardens, gazing at a formation of pelicans overhead, relaxing with a book in your Jonathan Adler-designed suite (the fabrics are exquisite), or simply lounging in an oceanfront cabana to watch the waves.

Guests seeking a truly personalized experience may visit the Eau Club, on the fourth floor, accessible by special arrangement.

Eau Spa – measuring 42,000 square feet and one of just 51 Forbes Five-Star spas in the country – is a destination in itself for many guests, with enough treatments and experiences to return again and again. In the women’s spa, water is the center of the experience, with a sauna, a whirlpool bath surrounded by heated stone loungers, and a steam room with personalized body polishes. (Men have their own spa.)

The women’s spa is anchored by a palm-lined courtyard, with pools, fountains, and the soothing soft sounds of lapping water. It is best experienced at leisure, perhaps with a glass of champagne, offered upon arrival at the spa, or a bite of food from Savor, the spa’s cafe.  

Spa treatments begin with a personalizing session: You choose your scent, color, and music, depending on your mood. Beyond spa treatments are places to embrace the moment, including a delightful pool with swing chairs that let your feet move lazily through a shallow pool.

Eau Palm Beach is large enough to accommodate singles, couples, and families in their own environments. Children have their own pool at the Teens & Kids Club. Now and then, a guest is walking the halls with a dog in arms, obviously a bone fide family member; dogs are welcome here with no additional charge. (Eau Palm Beach supports the nearby Big Dog Ranch Rescue, as well as Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Jupiter.)

If the inward traveler urges you to see a bit more of the Palm Beach area, plentiful cultural and culinary adventures await you, all within a 30-minute drive from Eau Palm Beach. The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum stands as an opulent gesture to the Gilded Age, a 75-room mansion called Whitehall, which – along with Flager’s extension of the railroad to Palm Beach – ushered in Palm Beach as a winter getaway for high society in the early 1900s. If you’re hungry, you’re in luck. Shortly down Cocoanut Row is Café Boulud, a haven of fine French food in plush, art-filled surroundings.

Shoulder-to-shoulder with Palm Beach Island is The Palm Beaches, a collection of communities that shine in their own way with museums, gardens, and good food. The Norton Museum in West Palm Beach offers a collection of beautifully curated art, including an outdoor sculpture garden. Also in West Palm Beach is Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County, a hidden gem with 25 display gardens and more than 7,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants.

Back at Eau Palm Beach, it’s almost time for dinner, and we mull the menus from six unique restaurants, each with excellent food and always-attentive service. At your dinner table, the pristine attention to detail may relax you as much as did your spa visit. Eau Palm Beach staff are plentiful and always helpful, kind, and filled with good suggestions. All you have to do is ask. As an Eau Palm Beach staff member said, “It really is all about you.”

eaupalmbeach.com

Set majestically in the seaport, The St. Regis Residences, Boston, is one of the city’s most luxurious developments. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, the towering glass structure, which opened in 2023 and houses 114 condos on 22 floors, looks like a boat afloat with sails fully unfurled in the wind.

With units starting at $1.85 million, the development offers everything residents desire: a health club, a lounge and library, a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a business center, a spa. And a model unit by Boston-based Eric Roseff Designs that embraces and elevates the architecture’s aesthetics and showcases the spectacular views center stage.

“Most model units are neutral and vanilla white,” says Roseff. “I wanted people who see it to feel like it’s someone’s home done thoughtfully over time. I’ve added a lot of personalized pieces to make it cross the finish line.”

The resident he envisioned, well-traveled and sophisticated, enjoys entertaining, collecting art and dining out. “I thought of the owner as a couple or a single person who had left a larger home in the suburbs and really embraced city living,” Roseff says. “That’s why the dining area is small, and there’s only one TV.”

Although the developers gave him carte blanche, there were inherent restrictions. Because of the building’s shape, every unit has a different, unconventional configuration.

“With many angles, simply lining a piece of furniture up along a wall creates a challenge,” he says of the 2,589-square-foot unit that has three bedrooms and 3.5 baths. “It took a lot of custom engineering to design everything, including custom window shades and draperies. And because this is a model unit, I couldn’t add built-ins or change any major components in the kitchen or baths.”

To accentuate the unit’s sharp angles, Roseff selected furnishings that are soft and sculptural and upholstered them in neutral fabrics so they don’t distract from the views.

“The visual interest comes from texture and shape, not color,” he says, adding that the ceilings are mirror-like Venetian plaster, a reflective treatment that subtly merges indoor and outdoor spaces. “The color comes from the artwork and curated accessories, including pillows and glass vases. When you walk in, your eye goes where it should—straight to the outside scenery.”

Roseff boldly throws his first curve in the entry, where a large circular artwork by Shay Kun dominates. It’s a preview of the main living space, which is defined by an irregularly shaped custom rug, designed by Roseff, that resembles ocean waves. The room is appointed with a pair of 1970s Vladimir Kagan sofas that look as though they want to embrace each other and a pair of similar- vintage chairs whose wing-like arms conjure images of seagulls in flight. The center coffee/cocktail table is equally dynamic: Its two pieces pull apart, creating separate servers as needed.

Next to this grouping, Roseff created a conversational setting by pairing two 1970s swivel chairs, upholstered in velvet, and a swiveling mushroom ottoman from the same time period.

“A majority of the upholstery throughout the unit is solid-color fabric instead of patterned,” he says. “The fabrics are textural, and some of them, such as that on the swivel chairs, have a sheen that looks different in different light as you walk around them.”

The curvaceous theme continues in the adjoining dining area, where four round-back chairs and a custom dining banquette cozy up to an oval-shaped Italian marble table, another vintage piece. The wall, papered in the same ombre silver silk and metallic leaf mural that runs from the foyer to the windows, shimmers in the glow of the globes of a pair of floor lamps.

Roseff reserves deeper colors for the more private spaces. In the den, for instance, dark-teal drapes, offset by a virtually invisible Lucite desk in the window, create a cozy setting. The guest room pays homage to the water: Its deep blue painted walls match the drapes, creating a cocoon complete with a daybed that overlooks the seaport.

Artwork that looks like a changing, curated collection ties everything together. “I chose many pieces that people maybe haven’t seen before,” Roseff says, adding that the work over the bed in the primary suite is by Damien Hirst. “Or artists people may not be familiar with.”

(He counts himself in the latter category: He created the eight circular paintings that line the hallway.)

From the circular coin-painting in the kitchen and the round portraits in the hallway to the sphere-like globes of the ceiling fixture in the primary bedroom, every aspect of the unit becomes one great big design loop that amplifies the illusion of a place that’s well loved and well lived in.

“Several people who have toured the unit have asked who lives here,” Roseff says. “That’s the greatest compliment.”

As summer approaches and the allure of vacations beckons, many find themselves yearning for a destination that offers the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and luxury. For those seeking an escape from the mundane, look no further than the vibrant city of Miami, Florida. With its long days, sultry nights, and promise of fewer crowds, Miami proves to be an ideal destination for travelers in the know.

Summer in Miami: A Hidden Gem

While Miami is often associated with its bustling winter scene, the summer months offer a unique charm all their own. With temperatures soaring and the sun shining, visitors can bask in the warmth of endless days while exploring everything this vibrant city has to offer. From pristine beaches to world-class dining and cultural experiences, Miami promises a summer getaway like no other.

InterContinental Miami: Your Urban Oasis

Nestled in the heart of downtown Miami, the InterContinental Miami beckons with its newly renovated rooms and suites, along with a host of amenities designed to make your stay unforgettable. With starting rates as low as $179 per night, guests can indulge in luxurious accommodations with breathtaking views of the bay. From relaxing spa treatments to culinary delights at Toro Toro Pan-Latin steakhouse, the InterContinental offers something for every traveler.

For those seeking the ultimate in relaxation, the Tropical Tranquility package provides a sun-soaked retreat complete with a luxury cabana on the newly refurbished pool deck. Meanwhile, the Serenity Escape package offers a pampering experience with a Signature Raindrop Massage at mySpa, followed by complimentary access to the relaxation room, steam room, and sauna.

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa: A Paradise Within Reach

Situated on 300 acres between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. With lush greenery, two PGA championship golf courses, and the state-of-the-art Tidal Cove Water Park, guests can immerse themselves in luxury and relaxation.

For spa enthusiasts, the âme-azing Getaway Package at âme Spa and Wellness Collective provides the ultimate indulgence with massages, complimentary prosecco, and access to the resort’s fitness classes and amenities. And for golf lovers, the Unlimited Golf Vacation Special Offer allows guests to enjoy savings on golf play, along with additional perks such as complimentary replay golf and late checkout.  

Making the Most of Your Miami Adventure

Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a week-long retreat, Miami offers a myriad of options to suit every traveler’s preferences. From special offers and packages to exclusive discounts for Florida and Georgia residents, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your summer getaway.

For those looking to extend their stay, the Stay Longer, Pay Less promotion provides up to 15% off room rates, along with resort credit to enhance your experience. And with additional offers available for advanced bookings and stay-and-play packages, there’s no shortage of ways to save on your Miami adventure.

Exploring Beyond the Resort

While the allure of luxurious accommodations and world-class amenities may be tempting, no trip to Miami is complete without exploring the vibrant culture and attractions that the city has to offer. From iconic landmarks such as the Art Deco Historic District to the bustling streets of Little Havana, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Miami.

For art enthusiasts, the Wynwood Walls offer a captivating outdoor gallery featuring vibrant murals by local and international artists. Meanwhile, foodies will delight in the city’s diverse culinary scene, with everything from fresh seafood to authentic Cuban cuisine awaiting their palate.

And for those seeking adventure, Miami offers a wealth of outdoor activities, from paddleboarding along the pristine coastline to exploring the Everglades National Park. With its lush landscapes and abundant wildlife, the Everglades provide a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty of South Florida up close.

The Magic of Miami

As summer approaches and the allure of vacations beckons, Miami stands out as a destination that offers the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and affordability. With its long days, sultry nights, and promise of fewer crowds, this vibrant city invites travelers to escape the ordinary and embrace the magic of summer in South Florida. So pack your bags, book your stay, and get ready for an unforgettable getaway in Miami.

It was the views of Long Island Sound that seduced them.

The New York City couple had come to Larchmont, New York, looking for a place to rent that was an easy commute to their Manhattan jobs. Their plan was to test the waters to see whether they liked the community enough to buy. But the minute they stepped through the front door of the 1910 Spanish Colonial house, they knew that it would be the perfect place to raise their two young sons.

“When we saw the sea, it was clear that this was a special property,” says the husband.

“The view,” the wife adds, “is expansive.”

Because they had never owned a house before, they really didn’t know what they were getting into. But it didn’t matter because they were smitten. They moved in immediately and hired Charles Hilton Architects, which is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, to restore, renovate, and reshape the house to suit their lifestyle.

The house, which is in a historic district, did, indeed, need work. The floors sagged, the walls lacked insulation, and demolition revealed unanticipated water damage and rot. The Spanish-tile roof, the exterior stucco façade, and all the windows, doors, millwork, and trim had to be replaced as did the outdated mechanicals, the electrical system, and the decades-old kitchen and baths.

What’s more, the unstable sunroom was demolished and reconstructed, and the two original first-floor bay windows and two second-floor bay windows, which were later additions, were replaced with larger windows to bring the light—-and the view of the Sound that so enchanted the owners—into the family room, living room, primary bedroom suite, and boys’ study. 

“We took the lead from the house’s century-old architecture and enhanced it,” says architect Chuck Hilton, adding that the stucco façade and wood trim were replaced with more durable PVC that looks like the real thing. “At the same time, we took the opportunity to rework the circulation of the floor plans for the first and second floors to be more efficient and better meet the owners’ needs.”

To that end, the kitchen, pantry, and mudroom were reconfigured, and the dining room was converted into a family room. Dining now takes place in what was the old study.

Perhaps the most significant alteration was the removal of a chimney and its three fireplaces, creating a different configuration in the core of the house that allowed for a more generous closet and bath in the primary suite and a larger playroom for the boys. Original details, including the exposed ceiling beams in the living room, entry hall, and family room, were preserved and paired with new built-in cabinetry and a new fireplace surround whose design reflects the style of the house.

“We kept asking ourselves what the house wanted to be,” says Charles Hilton Architects project manager Jason Wyman. “The house reflects the personality of the owners.”

That personality—colorful, exuberant and multicultural—is echoed in the décor by Jenny Wolfe Interiors of New York City.

“We didn’t want a traditional or modern style,” the wife says, adding that they selected a palette of “pleasing watery blues and greens that transition from room to room. We wanted everything to be transitional and to pay homage to our heritage—I’m from India, and my husband is from Spain.”

It is the extensive use of wallpaper, by request of the homeowners, that defines the interior spaces. Enormous white cranes wing their way across the dining room, cheetahs leap playfully around the formal powder room, and a map of the world in the boys’ bedroom opens their eager eyes to endless possibilities.

One of the wife’s favorite spaces, an office in the sitting area of the primary suite, features a mural of a scene from her native India.

“It’s a work of art in and of itself,” the husband says.

The new-old house is designed to last for generations, and the couple feels so at home that they cannot imagine living anywhere else.

“We’re a five-minute walk from the park,” the husband says. “We love the community.”

And, the wife adds, “every room is so special that I can’t choose a favorite—I love them all.”

Its interiors may have been inspired by the historic look of Charleston, South Carolina, but a new home in Port Aransas, Texas, will never feel old.

That’s because interior designer Meredith Owen knows how to work not just with the past, but also with the future. And for the interiors of this 6,000-square-foot residence overlooking the Texas Gulf Coast, she applied that knowledge with understated elegance.

Owen, owner of the Austin-based interior design firm that bears her name, worked hand in glove with her clients for a feel that’s totally different from other homes in the planned community of Sunflower Beach. “They didn’t want it to be super-bright and white, like every other beach house,” she says. “They wanted a Charleston vibe—not white oak floors, but some darker colors and moodier counters,” she says.”

Both home and community were designed by architect Mark Schnell, principal in Florida-based Schnell Urban Design. A dedicated advocate of the New Urbanism prevalent along Florida’s Highway 30A, he created Texas coastal developments including Cinnamon Shore and Palmilla Beach. And like the Florida waterfront communities of Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Watercolor, Sunflower Beach embraces walkability, connectivity, and architectural quality.

“I’ve been involved with the Sunflower Beach project from the beginning, and I’ve touched just about every aspect of design in the community,” he says. “I designed the master plan in 2013, wrote the design code in 2014 and 2015, and provided design review for all houses and landscape.”

This house, though, was his first design in the community, and he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to create a Gulf-front home for one of its developers. “I tried to design a house worthy of the incredible views and the prominent location adjacent to the dune crossover,” he says. “With a stunning view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico, I thought it was a chance to design a landmark not just for Sunflower Beach, but also for Mustang Island as a whole.”

Peter Young, the cofounder of UWC Custom Builders in Port Aransas, was hired to build the new home. When its framing was nearly complete, ownership suddenly changed hands. “The new owners were business partners with the original owners,” he says. “They went back to the drawing board, and that’s when Meredith was brought on for additional elements.”

Inside the home’s five bedrooms on three levels, interior designer Owen and her team created spaces to welcome multiple generations of her new clients’ family. “We customized each space to family members,” she says. “We worked with them to let us be more creative, like with the chandelier in the living area that comes down three stories from the top.”

The design code Schnell wrote for residences at Sunflower Beach embraced elements like the location of the front door, the parking areas, the balconies and the three-part massing, all incorporated as signature elements for construction there. He broke each home’s design down into a primary mass, a secondary garage area, and a connector between the two. “It prevents the home from becoming too bulky, and creates a comfortable scale along the street,” he says.

Like most homes at Sunflower Beach, this one’s porches and balconies are some of its most memorable features. Schnell placed special emphasis on verticality, with the dining room, living room, and porch columns especially tall and soaring.

“The porch on the north side of the second level extends out from the body of the house and includes massive 12-by-12-inch brackets below and equally massive 12-by-12-inch columns that are more than 18 feet tall in some locations,” he says. 

Inside, rather than reinvent the wheel for the new house, the architect looked back to a popular floor plan as its starting point, one that had been successful elsewhere. He adjusted his design to adapt to its 60-by-100-foot lot, as well as to the needs of his clients. “The entry experience is notable for the courtyard and foyer featuring a view out to a small garden,” he says.

The first level includes two bedrooms with a bunk room and media area at its center. The second level features two more bedrooms and a powder room, plus living space. There’s a kitchen with large island designed for dining, a living room, and a dining area, each within a window-filled, double-height space with a wraparound porch. On the third level is a primary suite with private porch and expansive views of the Gulf.

For context, the home’s aligned with three others in a row, a fourth now under construction. “It’s sitting next to a house that’s blue and has brighter colors, like maroon shingles on top,” says interior designer Owen. “We wanted something softer, and to let the beach be the star of the show.”

And they succeeded—but, still, this home glows inside and out with a light all its own.

We’ve rounded up the latest in oceanfront residences and resorts.

HAVN Residences & Yacht Club, Palm Beach Shores, Florida

HAVN Residences & Yacht Club is a collection of five, three-story revitalized waterfront buildings set along the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach Shores. Comprised of 36 residences, HAVN offers two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,823 to 2,662 square feet. Each unit will be finished by interior design firm Shim Projects. Residents will have access to a 52-slip marina managed by F3 Marina, swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit, and fitness center. Pricing starts at $2 million with anticipated deliveries beginning mid-2024. havnresidences.com

The Strand, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean

The Strand, a private residential community located on Cooper Jack Bay, Turks & Caicos, recently introduced a new home design, the four-bedroom signature residences. Starting at $6.5 million, the signature residences include four single-family homes with four bedrooms, a fifth flex space, bonus office, courtyard with an outdoor kitchen, and terrace overlooking a private infinity pool. Additional homes are available at The Strand, ranging from two to six bedrooms, including two-bedroom villas starting at $2.525 million, three-bedroom villas starting at $3.3 million, and grand residences starting at $10.5 million. The Strand is on track for a fall 2024 debut. thestrandtci.com

Baccarat Residences, Miami, Florida

The Baccarat Residences is the brand’s first collection of residences to the Miami market developed by Related Group and GTIS Partners with interior design by Meyer Davis and Architecture by Arquitectonica. Part of SH Hotels & Resorts. Located in Brickell, the property will have 324 flow-through residences, eight penthouses, and twenty-eight waterfront flats. Residents will enjoy over 75,000 square feet of five-star amenities throughout five levels of the 75-story tower, including exquisitely appointed social spaces, a fitness center, La Mer spa facilities, and a private marina. Prices run from $3.425 to $21.7 million. The expected completion of the property, part of SH Hotels & Resorts, is 2028. baccaratresidencesmiami.com

The Abaco Club, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas

The Abaco Club, situated on Winding Bay, is adding The Cays, a new beachfront neighborhood consisting of 36 villa residences. Developed and managed by Southworth, the private Bahamian club’s master plan expansion also includes the Winding Bay Beach Club, which-will offer a resort-style infinity-edge pool, beach bar, and retail outlets, the renovation of existing dining venues, and the multi-phase development of an enhanced amenity corridor. 

Members of The Abaco Club enjoy annual events including wellness retreats, golf and fishing tournaments, and culinary celebrations like the Lobsterfest Food & Wine Festival, while families can partake in extensive kids programming such as “mini members” councils, themed parties and sports activations. The club’s ongoing expansion exemplifies Southworth’s “programming first” mentality, prioritizing extraordinary experiences to foster a genuine community and ultimately reimagine the private club experience. 

Phase one of The Cays will open this year; home prices range from $3.5 to $12 million. theabacoclub.com

St. Regis Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

Located on the Punta Espada Golf Course, the Residences at the St. Regis Cap Cana, the first and only five-star branded real estate offering in Cap Cana, is set to be complete this year. The property will include 70 luxury residences, with a collection of eight penthouses. The Astor collection, some of the most expensive homes in the history of the Dominican Republic, includes the Astor Penthouse, the Caribbean Penthouse, and six Astor Penthouse Residences. These Astor units, all three- to seven-bedroom homes, range in price from $7.6 to $25 million. srresidencescapcana.com