|
Kathi and Tom Holland describe their home at 323 Arabian Road as embodying "Key West style," but its provenance is Palm Beach all the way.
The white frame, two-story house with green shutters - set amid tropical landscaping on the northern tip of the island - was built in 1937 for Bror J. Carlberg from a design by one of Palm Beach's first-generation architects, Maurice Fatio. Among its notable features is a hanging balcony on the front facade, a typical feature of Monterrey-style homes on the island.
Like their house, the Holland family has had a long history with Palm Beach, although their primary residence is in Los Angeles. "My husband's parents had a store on Worth Avenue, the Holland House," Kathi says. "During the season, they'd be here, and in the summer, they had two stores in The Hamptons. They retired in Palm Beach."
The Hollands eventually inherited the house that belonged to Tom's parents. But 16 years ago, the couple needed a larger residence, saw the one on Arabian Road and fell in love with it. "We loved the home's charm, its Key West style and the tropical foliage," Kathi explains.
They love the North End, too. "We have the best beach in town," Kathi says, also noting that the inlet and Lake Worth are close by.
 |  |
| A hanging balcony distinguishes the front facade of the four-bedroom home, which is listed for sale at $2.75 million by Martha A. Gottfried, Inc., in Palm Beach. | A railed sundeck is positioned on top of the enclosed loggia. |
The Hollands plan on staying in town but are looking for a smaller beach house to use when they retire. As a result, their 3,700-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath home is listed for sale furnished in a turnkey arrangement for $2.75 million through Martha A. Gottfried, Inc., of Palm Beach.
The house does have plenty of architectural charm - a bay window, porches, balconies and sundecks - and is lushly landscaped with a variety of palm trees and other tropical greenery.
From the columned front porch, one steps into a foyer, where a staircase is set into an unusual curvilinear stairwell on the east side. Like the walls, the stair's risers are painted crisp white, while the top of each step sports dark hardwood, the same material used for floors in the main rooms downstairs.
To the west of the foyer is the living room, which is painted a very light yellow with white trim. A Colonial-style fireplace with a marble surround and a white wood mantel, flanked by two windows, creates a focal point. The room is furnished with sofas and armchairs slip-covered in pale linen. Plantation shutters cover the windows, and built-in cabinetry has been incorporated into the decor. For example, separating the living room from the enclosed loggia are columns that delineate two doorways into the loggia. Meanwhile, the design of the two bookcases on either side of the entry from the foyer mirrors the rectilinear motifs of the columns.
The loggia, just adjacent, has walls paneled in white, tiled floors, a built-in bar and two full walls of glass doors that open to a very private backyard with a pool and patio.
The dining room is accessed by way of the entry and the loggia. It is painted a light sand color and features a bay window and built-in cabinetry for display and storage.
Generously sized and recently updated, the kitchen has tiled floors, white cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances and white Corian countertops in the main area. There is also an area set up for cooking and baking with a Wolf gas range, as well as a food-preparation area with a vegetable sink and butcher-block countertops. A passageway through the kitchen leads to the attached one-bedroom guest cottage.
The master suite, upstairs, has a balcony that overlooks the front gardens. Off the master bedroom, a sitting room with a pitched ceiling opens to a large sundeck, where a spiral stairway leads downs to the pool area. The large closet is lined with cedar, as are all the bedroom closets, and the master bathroom boasts a spa tub.
Also on the second floor are two guest bedrooms that share a bathroom.
 |  |
| A floor-to-ceiling bay window flanked by lighted display shelves adds drama to the dining room. The doorway at the left leads into the renovated kitchen. | Opposite the fireplace, a wide doorway leads into the foyer, with its circular stairwell. Floors are covered in hardwood. |
"We have done extensive renovation, and since we love the house, we wanted to stay true to its architecture," Kathi says. "Our big loggia is a very casual hangout room, where our friends and family can come in with their wet bathing suits and not worry. But for the holidays, we use the formal dining room. I love the bay window.
"It's a lovely combination of casual and formal."
For more details about 323 Arabian Road, call listing agent Charlie Romanoff at (561) 714-4321.
By Christine Davis
Marketing Writer
Thursday, July 9, 2009 - PalmBeachDailyNews.com
[ return to news index ]
| 
