Could You Die?

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.

go see me mom @ her blog and ask her

 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

click here to go to site

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
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