Oh, So Un-Florida: Gothic Revival Home in the Sunshine State Is Listed for $16.9M

A decidedly un-Florida-looking house in Florida has hit the market for $16.9 million.

The eye-popping property’s unusual aesthetic really stands out among the palm trees.

That’s probably because the Gothic Revival home’s architectural details originated in a different place entirely.

“They came from a New York church, and it’s very, very unique to Naples, FL,” says listing agent Paul Arpin, with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s situated on one of the nicer pieces of waterfront [property].”

‘Very pretty home’

From the moment you approach the 7,783-square-foot estate—by water or land—you notice the unique construction details, such as gingerbread gables and wide porches.

“When you look at the pictures of the outside, I think it speaks for itself,” says Arpin. “It’s a very pretty home. The quality and the detail of the house and the layout are fantastic.”

The owners built the home in 2007, using many pieces salvaged from the First Baptist Church in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, NY. The church was built in the 1800s and salvaged in 2003.

Church confessionals became an entertainment cabinet, railings from the choir area surround the staircase, and stained-glass windows are part of the entry doors.

“This home does not need to be remodeled,” Arpin says. “It needs to have [a buyer] put their touches on it.”

He explains that the home’s new owner should proceed thoughtfully with major changes, especially when it comes to the space’s church-derived details.

“If you paint, you need to be very careful—because once you do it, you can’t have the wood again,” Arpin says.

Delightful details

There are four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, plenty of living space, and even a shaft for an elevator.

“It really lives well,” Arpin notes. “You have a wonderful entrance, and you have a dining room and living room on either side; and then you walk in, and you have a family room, a sitting room, and a kitchen—all leading to the outdoor area on the back of the house.”

The half-acre, waterfront grounds offer a pool, fountain, and boat dock.

Arpin says the sellers built the place in 2007, because they liked the Gothic style. Compared to other recent builds in the area, the home definitely makes a statement.

“We call them now white boxes that are being built,” Arpin says. “People are still liking those white boxes, but they’re starting to look at other options.”

On the waterfront

The home’s list price of nearly $17 million is a good deal, mostly because of its waterfront lot, Arpin notes.

“Just the land alone in today’s market would be worth over $10 million,” he says. “To duplicate this masterpiece would be in the range of $30 million with the land and the cost of building. It’s probably close to double what they’re asking for the property.”

He emphasizes that the buyers could certainly make their own unique modifications to the dwelling.

“The owners created their own masterpiece with what they did, but somebody else can create their own masterpiece and change what they want to give it their own style,” Arpin says. “It will still be a stunning home.”

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