Designed for easy indoor-outdoor living, a luxurious and stately European-style manor house on Ponce de Leon Road brims with elegance and family-friendly comfort.
Written by: Jean Nayar
Set amid the meticulously manicured lawn of an expansive property in the coveted Miami neighborhood of Ponce Davis, this stately dwelling looks as though it would be equally at home in the heart of France. Designed in the spirit of a French manor house by Miami-based architect Nelson de Leon and custom built with supreme attention to the fine points, “it’s like Paris meets Ponce Davis,” says the $11.25 million estate’s listing agent Scott Shuffield, vice president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty. Indeed, a sense of restrained grandeur was precisely what its owners were aiming for when they embarked on creating the 8,100-square-foot eight-bedroom dwelling eight years ago. Inspired by trips to France and other parts of Europe, they wanted the home to feel luxurious, sophisticated and elegant. At the same time, because it is a family home they wanted to be sure it wasn’t overly formal. So while the emphasis for the home’s construction and its materials was clearly on quality, the flow of the interiors and access to the outdoors, especially in public spaces, are all about easy South Florida living. The sense of elegance is apparent from the paved and gated motor court, which creates a sense of grand entry to the manor-like home set far back from the street. Topped with a slate roof and accessed through a pair of finely crafted double doors, the two-story home’s gracious foyer, clad with marble floors, opens on one side onto a grand staircase leading to private spaces above. On the other, it flows into a wide entrance hall leading onto public spaces on the ground level. Upon setting foot in the gracious dwelling, floor-to-ceiling glass doors at the end of the entrance hall allow views through to the rear gardens, pool deck, and enchanting two-level pool house and entertaining areas.
Designed with comfort and easy entertaining in mind, an inviting double-height living space—anchored with a fireplace surrounded by a black marble mantel and fitted out with wood floors laid in an elegant herringbone pattern—flows effortlessly to the outdoor pool deck through paneled glass doors, as do a formal dining room and a cozy family room—all on the main level. “When you enter through the front doors, no matter which room you’re in, you’re able to look out the very large French doors to the exterior,” explains Shuffield. “A little bit of the outside is brought in, it’s a beautiful way of living, especially in South Florida, where we thrive on the sunshine. Whether you’re in the downstairs master suite, the living room,
the dining room, the family room, or even the foyer, the entire home feels open because of the grandness of the French doors and the marvelous hallways upstairs.”
With entertaining in mind, the architect crafted a centrally located eat-in kitchen with a butler’s pantry and custom cabinets for ease of access to multiple areas. “There are ample private spaces to entertain,” says Shuffield.
An air of comfort and luxe indoor-outdoor living extends to the private areas upstairs as well. An expansive balcony off the generous master suite, for example, overlooks the pool deck. “It gives you a place to sit in the morning, or a place to retreat and reconnect in the evening,” says Shuffield. “It’s like an apartment within a house,” he adds, pointing to the room’s sofa, writing desk, private morning kitchen and seating area.
Created in conjunction with designer Kim Hernandez, the interiors and decor graciously blend with the spirit of the architecture with an accent on comfort. “Kim really helped the owners make wise investments,” says Shuffield. “They spared no expense.” Details, such as intricate millwork and moldings, wrought-iron stair and balcony railings with brass rosettes, and magnificent lighting fixtures by Kelly Wearstler and Aerin Lauder contribute to the overall sense of polish. “The home is luxurious, durable, beautiful, and unique,” Shuffield explains. “It’s not a cookie-cutter design. It is very, very well curated.”
Just as the inviting and expansive living spaces lend themselves to intimate gatherings and lavish celebrations alike, so does the pool house and deck surrounding the sparkling pool. A summer kitchen and covered dining area tucked into the lower level of the charming pool house offer the essentials for culinary enthusiasts while the living and sleeping quarters complete with a balcony overlooking the pool upstairs allow overnight guests to feel utterly at home in a resort-inspired setting. “The pool and garden area add an element of splendor to the home,” says Shuffield. “There’s a richness outdoors that feels overly spacious and grand.”
With dual home office spaces, a full laundry area, seven and a half baths, and a three-car garage, the expansive dwelling is as family-friendly as it is stately. “Being in Ponce Davis, you benefit from oversize lots and lush landscaping offering a very private setting,” says Shuffield. “It’s quiet, while you are still closely connected to downtown, the airport, and a multitude of schools.”
