I didn't think any one was still building like this anymore in Florida!!
I am in LOVE.
We ( all of us bloggers) are always saying....
'It's in the DETAILS.'
This what I am talking about.
Could you die???
Now here is the thing I wanted to point out....
The room behind this one
{through the shutters}
is the kitchen.
You can see that you are looking at the
tops of the palm trees through the window...
this means that the 'main floor'
is on the second floor ;
the living room, kitchen, den and
maybe a bedroom or two, etc etc
In the 1920's it was not uncommon
to build homes with the main floor
being on the second.
This was done because of a deadly hurricane
that blew through Miami in 1926.
This way when the hurricane
blew through and the flooding began,
it could just roll through the first floor
without flooding your living quarters.
This is Miami Beach after the 1926 Hurricane.
I grew up in a historical home on Miami Beach - Palm Island
{next to Star Island}
where the likes of Madonna and
other blah blah famous people have owned homes through out history.
The original owner of my childhood home
was the
Legendary 'Silver Dollar Jake'
Several famous people had stayed in our home
during the 1920's, 30's,40's and 50s.
I know one of them was
The President of the United States.
if you want to know all the names....
she will be happy to tell you.
*See how this was designed for the water to rush through the first floor?
The house was built in 1924.
The main living quarters started on the second floor.
The entire 1st floor was built in such a way
that the rising waters would just rush through
the 1st floor {hopefully} without reaching the 2nd floor, or 3rd....
where we lived!!!!
*This is the second floor
The new home owners made the dining room into a bedroom.
I guess they wanted the view.
It's a big house for those times....
4600 sq ft.
The view from the dining room terrace.
This is Al Capone's house during a big hurricane.
Do you see how it would be nice to have
your living quarters start on the second floor.
Do you see the dock
at the bottom of the picture?
And do you see the water has risen and flooded the island?
In fact, Al Capone's house was just down the street from my house.
Oh what fun we had playing in it,
it was abandoned for many years.
I twisted my ankle when I
fell through the spiral staircase in his living room.
This is the front of Al Capone's home TODAY.
Boring.
I hope every one has a happy holiday.
I am heading to Maine to be with my
dear ole' mom on July 6-11.
I have been crazy busy...
forgive my absence 'in the commenting department' please.
The view from Palm Island
looking at downtown Miami on the 4th of July.
P.S.
No blowing off fingers .
Please.
{Sorry that I went off a on a tangent,
but this home being designed and built
in the way it was....
just brought back memories.}
XXX's
The builder's are in Miami -
Halmac Fine Home Builders
Renée Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
To 'The Trade' Interiors,To The Trade inc. ,Boca Raton,Palm Beach,Boca Raton Florida,Interior Design Resources,All custom upholstery, wood furniture, stainless steel,window treatments,and re-upholstery. Including built-in, wall units, and built in banquette sofa seating. All Hospitality custom interior work, upholstered walls and niche doors, Halmac Fine Home Builders, Halmac Fine Home Builders
OMG!!!!!
ReplyDeleteit sold for what.?
I am sick.... Love Mamma
Beautiful! Can you imagine sitting by the pool and have a cocktail for at least a week? Perfect.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
xoxo
Wow! Your childhood home is something else!! I always wondered why building smart isn't the norm..., oh I know why. Money. I'm spending the summer at Canyon Ranch Resort Miami, 8th floor -I should be good, haha! Have a great 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful holiday weekend Renee and love to your Yvonne....xv
ReplyDeleteWhat a house! Yeah, that would be a nice little abode to have. :) Have a wonderful time in Maine - I'm sure the weather is gorgeous right now. Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post about needing to build for hurricanes. I can't believe you played in Al Capone's house! (I visited another one of his abodes a couple of years ago, Alcatraz. We took a nighttime tour and it was the eeriest place I've ever been in, gave me the chills...)
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July and have a great time in Maine!
De tout, de rien
ReplyDeletehahahah
alcatraz!
there was some great view from that house too!
xxx
Gorgeous place you grew up in! Have a marvelous 4th with your Mama!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely... and yes! it's in the details ♥
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely enjoy a view like that. And I love the structure of the house and how one room leads to another in a very interesting way.
What a lovely neighborhood! Not to mention the gorgeous views! Enjoy the beautiful weekend, Kellie xx
ReplyDeleteRenee, what a fabulous place to grow up, and the second floor living space is VERY smart in any location prone to these natural disasters!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
OMG!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a dream!!!!
lila
I've lived in several homes where the living areas were on the 2nd floor, and I LOVED it, so much so that in one house I even turned an upstairs bedroom into a sitting room so I could "live" above the street as much as possible. :)
ReplyDeleteNow - how much fun must YOUR childhood have been? I'm absolutely envious! Wish I'd been there to explore Al Capone's abandoned place with you.
Hope you're having a blast in Maine!
xo,
Susan
Thinking of old times. Mamma xxxx
ReplyDelete